Several FB users have reposted a tip about combining bleach and hydrogen peroxide to whiten clothes—but this advice is dangerous and lacks important context. Mixing these two chemicals triggers a harmful chemical reaction and should be avoided.
At least five different posts circulated the exact same message, advising users to mix Zonrox bleach with hydrogen peroxide, which read:
“TIPS: ZONROX + HYDROGEN PEROXIDE tag Php25 lang yang hydrogen peroxide. Ibabad muna sa tubig na walang sabon, after ilang minutes banlawan bago ibabad sa powder, with ZONROX and hydrogen peroxide, as in naninilaw talaga siya nong di pa nalabhan.”
(TIPS: ZONROX + HYDROGEN PEROXIDE hydrogen peroxide is only PhP 25. Soak the clothes first in water without any detergent, after a few minutes wash before soaking in detergent powder with Zonrox and hydrogen peroxide, the clothes were yellowing before they were washed this way.)
Some reposts included “CTTO (credit to the owner)” at the end of the caption. Others attributed the original author, FB user Sam P. Sinajon, who uploaded the post on Dec. 24, 2023.
Mixing bleach and hydrogen peroxide can cause a dangerous explosion of oxygen gas.
“In general, mixing household cleaners and similar products is highly discouraged due to the potential production of toxic chemicals,” said Karl Albright Tiston, a chemistry instructor at the University of the Philippines and a Balik Scientist awardee of the Department of Science and Technology.
Mixing bleach and hydrogen peroxide may violently release oxygen gas. Though oxygen gas is generally safe, the rapid rate at which it is released during the reaction can result in an explosion.
Bleach and detergent powder are a safe and common mix of household cleaners. On the other hand, Tiston advises against mixing detergent powder and hydrogen peroxide.
As of June 19, re-shares of the original post from June 7 onwards have collectively garnered over 5,700 reactions, 1,000 comments and 6,400 shares.