How do I counteract these cleaning product fumes?

November 27, 2020 4:53 PM

We just moved into a new apartment and the landlords cleaned the crap out of it earlier today with bleach, Fabuloso, and Clorox bleach-free wipes. I have chemical sensitivities and the fumes are so bad I don't know if I can sleep here tonight. We have all the windows open and a fan going, but is there something we can rinse the cleaned surfaces with to get rid of any residue? Besides just water?
posted by Jacqueline to Home & Garden (8 answers total)

Response by poster: Half the internet says rinse with vinegar or lemon juice, the other half says that combo creates a toxic gas. I'm so confused.
posted by Jacqueline at 4:56 PM on November 27, 2020

A citric acid plus acetic acid won’t produce some other worse acid. Air the room out, vent the place as best you can and and if you can, light scent less candles in every room?
posted by mhoye at 5:07 PM on November 27, 2020 [1 favorite]

I would use warm soapy water (using your preferred dishwashing liquid). Then wipe down with plain water afterwards. I hope it helps!
posted by kinddieserzeit at 5:28 PM on November 27, 2020 [1 favorite]

Can you get an odor neutralizing candle? Multiple fans. douse everything with dawn and water mixture and let it sit for a bit?
posted by mokeydraws at 7:59 PM on November 27, 2020

Baking soda is basically made for this and does wonders for this. I would buy some fridge packs like this one and put them around the house.

They work great in cars too!
posted by bbqturtle at 8:07 PM on November 27, 2020 [2 favorites]

If you can find a Bad Air Sponge, those help a lot.
posted by radioamy at 10:09 PM on November 27, 2020

Febreze does a pretty good job. If only they had an unscented version! The linen scent isn't offensive
posted by Enid Lareg at 7:52 AM on November 28, 2020

Simple water is not a terrible idea, since you're dealing with things that are water soluble (that's how they got on there). And water is not going to react to any of these things. But I'd probably use your preferred and presumably unscented dish soap in case some of the chemicals need a bit of encouragement to dissolve.

Acids mixed with chlorine bleaches are the main 'will kill you' problem, though probably not in the quantities you have left on a surface (versus how much bleach is sitting in the U bend). Also avoid ammonia, but I imagine that's low on your list.

Heat and time is probably going to be the best fix, if absolutely the most annoying.
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 8:14 AM on November 28, 2020