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Module 7 of 8 · 20 min

Chemicals: bleach, ammonia and labels

Free cleaning and disinfection course: read the module, review with the questions and move on to the next one. At the end, a test and a PDF certificate.

Module 7 of 8 · Course contents

Cleaning products are mixtures containing substances that can irritate or burn the skin, eyes and airways. The most aggressive in common use are bleach, hydrochloric acid (agua fuerte), caustic soda products, descalers and strippers (INSST, BASEQUIM 022).

The INSST rules

  • Do not mix products. Bleach with acids or ammonia-based products releases toxic gases that irritate the eyes and airways.
  • Stronger does not clean better or faster: dilute as the manufacturer says.
  • A cloth or pump dispenser is better than spraying: sprays put more product into the air.
  • Containers tightly closed and labelled; if you decant, keep the original label and never use drink bottles or food containers.
  • Do not sniff containers to find out what is inside.
  • Clean with the premises ventilated.
In practiceTo «boost» cleaning in the toilets, someone pours in bleach and then an acid descaler. The strong smell is chlorine: get out, ventilate and do not go back until it clears.

Source: INSST, BASEQUIM 022: Limpieza de edificios y locales (chemical agents in cleaning, in Spanish), chemical agents, health effects and measures on working methods

Quick review

Check that you've understood. These are questions from the final test: tap an answer to see whether it's right and why.

What happens if you mix bleach with an ammonia product or an acid?

Can bleach be decanted into an empty water bottle?

How do you identify the product in an unlabelled container?

Course contents