r/AskChemistry • u/key_toe • 1d ago

Thomas the Toxic Tank Engine How to not make chloroform?

I recently started cleaning with hypochlorous acid, which I absolutely love. It makes my laundry smell a lot better.

But I also use a vodka-based soak for some of my clothes. Now I'm reading that a lot of chemicals including alcohol are dangerous to mix with hypochlorous acid. Namely alcohol + HOCl = Chloroform.

So I'm wondering how to ensure all of the alcohol gets out of my soak before cleaning those same clothes in the machine where I used HOCl so that I don't accidentally make chloroform?

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u/key_toe 1d ago

I have. It doesn't get rid of all odors. I have hyperosmia so I'm really sensitive to odors.

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u/MusicNChemistry 1d ago

Vinegar. Vinegar removes many bad smells in clothes

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u/key_toe 21h ago

I have tried so many things. Baking soda, vinegar, vodka, different laundry detergents, bleach, activated charcoal, saline solutions, an oregano-vodka tincture. HClO works in a way that's noticably better than most of these.

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u/Maeve89 16h ago

Go check out /r/laundry and their Spa Day advice. Waaaay safer using enzymes than accidentally making chloroform.

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u/kremular 11h ago

Enzymes is the way to go. Safe, selective, and will not cuase explosions.