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Lesson of the day

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 dameia (original poster member #36072) posted at 6:11 PM on Friday, May 3rd, 2013

The lesson today...

I decide to mop the floors in the kitchen and bathroom, only to discover I'm out of cleaning solution.

"No problem," I think, "I've been wanting to make my own cleaning solution for awhile."

So I google "Homemade floor cleaning products."

Wow, super easy! Equal parts hot water and vinegar. Or for extra powerful cleaning, 1 gallon of hot water and 1/4 cup of borax.

"Well", I think, "I really want super cleaning power, but I don't think I have any Borax."

Then genius strikes....why don't I put a little bleach in the vinegar water solution? Brilliant!!

So I put the 2 year old down for a nap, fill the mop bucket, and just as I'm about to add the bleach something in my brain says, "HMM...you and I both know you never paid attention in chemistry. So maybe this isn't a good idea. Let's google it..."

So off to google I go, only to discover mixing vinegar and bleach results in a lovely combination know to us lay people as CHLORINE GAS!!!

Crisis narrowly avoided, I manage to dig up some 3 year old borax and now the floors are nice a shiny.

The lesson learned today is:

I might not be smart enough to know that mixing bleach and vinegar is a bad idea, but at least I'm smart enough to google it before doing it.

Me: BS
D-Day: 7/7/12

Trust is like paper. Once it's crumpled it can never be perfect again.

posts: 1470   ·   registered: Jul. 9th, 2012
id 6322116
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jrc1963 ( member #26531) posted at 7:53 PM on Friday, May 3rd, 2013

Yikes

Me: BSO - 56 Him: FWSO - 79 DS - 23 D-Day - 12-11-09, R - he finally came homeYour life is an Occasion. Rise to it. - Mr. Magorium, "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium"

posts: 26375   ·   registered: Dec. 14th, 2009   ·   location: Michigan
id 6322272
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Newlease ( member #7767) posted at 8:02 PM on Friday, May 3rd, 2013

I know someone who got permanent damage to his lungs from using that combo. Glad you knew enough to check it out before doing it.

NL

Even if you can't control the world around you, you are still the master of your own soul.

posts: 8471   ·   registered: Aug. 1st, 2005
id 6322283
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 dameia (original poster member #36072) posted at 8:24 PM on Friday, May 3rd, 2013

NL,

Wow, that's awful!! Now I'm really glad I looked it up!

jrc, hope you feel better soon!

Me: BS
D-Day: 7/7/12

Trust is like paper. Once it's crumpled it can never be perfect again.

posts: 1470   ·   registered: Jul. 9th, 2012
id 6322313
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Sad in AZ ( member #24239) posted at 1:42 AM on Saturday, May 4th, 2013

I always thought it was ammonia and bleach that created chlorine gas. I better check this out.

You are important and you matter. Your feelings matter. Your voice matters. Your story matters. Your life matters. Always.

Me: FBS (no longer betrayed nor a spouse)-63
D-day: 2007 (two years before finding SI)
S: 6/2010; D: 3/2011

posts: 25351   ·   registered: Jun. 3rd, 2009   ·   location: Arizona
id 6322667
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Sienna500 ( member #38832) posted at 1:50 AM on Saturday, May 4th, 2013

Vinegar and ammonia become neutral.. So, rubbish cleaner

Me: WW 27
Him: BH 28
M: 5 years, together 8
3 kids (aged 3, 4 & a baby born 5 Sept 2013)
3 ONSs in 2 weeks
DDay: 20 Jan 2013 (a week after)

posts: 200   ·   registered: Mar. 29th, 2013   ·   location: UK
id 6322674
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 dameia (original poster member #36072) posted at 3:32 AM on Saturday, May 4th, 2013

Sad, that's what I thought too! Thank goodness I had read that in a book, because that's what set off the bells in the back of my mind.

Me: BS
D-Day: 7/7/12

Trust is like paper. Once it's crumpled it can never be perfect again.

posts: 1470   ·   registered: Jul. 9th, 2012
id 6322764
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cinnamongurl ( member #37879) posted at 12:29 PM on Saturday, May 4th, 2013

Just a note on borax. Though it is often recommended as a "safe" and "green" alternative, it contains a form of boric acid and can be toxic to children and pets. Its a powder, so it leaves a residue which can be picked up on shoes, clothing, hands, feet or paws and accidentally ingested.

I clean houses for a living and try to be as green as possible. Before you mop the floors give them a good vacuum to remove all loose debris. I add a tsp of dish soap (blue Dawn works the best) to the vinegar water solution. I also add about 10-15 drops of an essential oil (lavender or lemon are my favorites) for fragrance. I find this solution can work really well on any surface floor, no matter how dirty, plus its safe and much much cheaper than store bought cleaners. So glad you didn't add the bleach! That would have been a disaster!

Me:FWS 42 He: FBS 43 and my heart
Together 22 years. We survived infidelity. "Healing takes courage, and we all have courage, even if we have to dig a little to find it." Tori Amos

CG

posts: 626   ·   registered: Dec. 22nd, 2012   ·   location: by the sea with my love
id 6322956
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