Mixing ammonia and bleach is not safe and can be life-threatening depending on the amounts you use. When bleach is mixed with ammonia, toxic gases called chloramines are produced. Exposure to chloramine gases can cause a range of symptoms, including coughing, nausea, shortness of breath, watery eyes, chest pain, irritation to the throat, nose, and eyes, wheezing, pneumonia, and fluid in the lungs. In high concentrations, coma and death are possibilities. If you breathe in the fumes of a bleach and ammonia mixture, you should move to a safe, well-ventilated area immediately and carefully follow cleanup instructions from your local poison control center.

It is important to note that bleach should not be mixed with other substances, including acids, drain cleaners, oven cleaners, hydrogen peroxide, and some insecticides. Pool chemicals frequently contain calcium hypochlorite or sodium hypochlorite and should not be mixed with other cleaning products. To prevent accidental poisoning with bleach and ammonia, store them in their original containers and in a safe place away from children and pets.