Bleach is an effective cleaning agent, disinfecting and whitening surfaces with ease. That's why it's in various cleaning solutions and other household products. Thanks to its active ingredient, bleach has a distinct smell that can become overpowering quickly. If you breathe in enough bleach fumes, it can cause you to cough, feel dizzy, or it can cause more serious health issues. But even if the bleach you use to clean your house isn't enough to overpower you and pose a health risk, it will still leave a strong smell behind. If you're wondering how to get rid of bleach smells in your house, there are a few different routes you can take.
4 Easy Ways to Get a Bleach Smell Out of a Room
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1. Fresh Air
The first thing you should try when getting rid of a bleach smell in a room is introducing fresh air. Open windows and exterior doors where possible to improve airflow. Fresh air may flush out the strong bleach smell. Not only will opening the windows allow the bleach particles to escape, but it will also let fresh, clean-smelling air in. To go a step further, open multiple windows and turn on a fan to help circulate the air.
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2. Baking Soda
Baking soda is a natural deodorizer. Fill a dish with about 1/2 cup baking soda and set it in the room you're cleaning — giving it a few hours to work its magic and absorb the bleach smell. This is an effective, natural way to get rid of bleach smell and it's a great option if you're cleaning a room that doesn't have any windows or ventilation to work with.
Tip
Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil (we like this lavender one from Amazon) to dish of baking soda to help it infuse the smell into the room while removing the bleach odor. Scatter multiple dishes of baking soda and essential oil throughout the space to act as DIY air fresheners.
3. Activated Charcoal
Like baking soda, activated charcoal absorbs smells naturally. Activated charcoal is actually more effective at absorbing smells than baking soda, but you might have to take a special trip to a health food store to find it, while baking soda is likely already in your pantry. Use activated charcoal the same way you would use baking soda — place some in a dish and set it in the room. The bleach odor will be gone in a few hours.
4. Vinegar
There's a reason why white vinegar is in so many DIY household cleaners – not only does it clean well, but it also effectively removes unpleasant odors. Pour about a cup of white vinegar into a bowl and place it in the room you're trying to remove bleach smell from. Shut the door and let the vinegar sit overnight. The bleach smell should be completely gone the next day, though the room may have a lingering smell of white vinegar instead. The vinegar smell should go away on its own after an hour or so.
Warning
Bleach and vinegar mixed together can create a lethal chlorine gas. This gas is deadly in high volumes. Avoid this dangerous concoction by only using vinegar to address the odor of bleach in a room when the bleach has evaporated or dried. After using bleach to clean a room, wet a wash cloth with warm water, wipe down surfaces, then dry them with a clean microfiber cloth. When the bleach is dry, it’s safe to use vinegar to get rid of the smell.