(COLORADO SPRINGS) — With the weather warming up and the potential arises for more house guests, many may be looking to freshen up their living spaces. While it can be tempting to add a little bleach to certain household cleaners for that sparkly white clean, you may want to be aware of dangerous chemical interactions before you pull on those cleaning gloves.

Two people were sent to the hospital and a third was treated on scene at a Colorado Springs nursing home on Tuesday, April 22 due to vapors resulting from improperly mixed chemicals, which serves as a timely reminder that even some of the most readily available household chemicals can pose a real threat if not carefully handled.

While many cleaning products are perfectly safe for use around the house, if they are used improperly or mixed together, they can cause eye irritation, burns, difficulty breathing, vomiting, or organ damage. For example, did you know adding bleach to toilet bowl cleaner can result in the creation of chlorine gas, which can be extremely hazardous and sometimes fatal?

According to Poison Control, while it may be tempting to mix chemicals for a quicker or more efficient clean, you should never mix household cleaners and follow all directions for use on the product’s packaging.

Here are just a few mixtures you might not know are dangerous, courtesy of the Toxicology Education Foundation:

Cleaning ProductToxic Chemicals Formed When MixedHarmful EffectsHydrogen peroxide and vinegarPeracetic acidHarm to eyes, skin, nose, throat, damage to the lungsAmmonia and bleachChloraminesIrritation of eyes, nose, throat; chest pain, damage to the lungsRubbing alcohol and bleachChloroform, hydrochloric acid, chloroacetoneDamage to the nervous system, eyes, lung, skin, liver, kidneys-Bleach and toilet bowl cleaner
-Bleach and mold/mildew remover
-Bleach and oven cleaners
-Bleach and vinegarChlorine gasBurning in eyes, nose, throat; coughing, breathing difficulties, nausea, vomiting, death

Avoiding mixing cleaning products is just one of a few cleaning safety tips Poison Control recommends. You should also make sure you have good ventilation in any area you are cleaning, use gloves and protective clothing, and make sure cleaning products are kept out of reach of children, preferably with child-resistant latches.

If you realize that you or a loved one may have been exposed to harmful chemical mixtures, the Poison Control triage tool can help you figure out what to do based on the specific chemicals and factors that led to the exposure. You can also call Poison Control anytime at 1-800-222-1222.

If the person has a seizure, passes out, has trouble breathing, or can’t be awakened, call 911 immediately.