Does a Bleach Pregnancy Test Work? Here's What the Science Says

You may have heard of the toothpaste pregnancy test… 🦷

Or perhaps even the salt pregnancy test… 🧂

But, have you heard of the bleach pregnancy test? 🧽

We’re here to debunk another pregnancy test rumor, and give you all the facts you need to know about the bleach test.

Let’s get right into it! 👇

In this article: 📝

What is the bleach pregnancy test?

So, the theory is that mixing bleach with hCG (the hormone levels tested for in pregnancy tests, which are significantly higher when you’re pregnant) will cause a reaction.

And this reaction supposedly determines whether you’re pregnant or not.

So, what are you looking out for? 🔍

If the bleach foams, or froths up, then this (apparently) indicates you're pregnant. 🫧

But how accurate is a homemade pregnancy test with bleach?

There haven't been any trustworthy studies on how reliable bleach is for detecting pregnancy, so there’s no scientific evidence to support the test.

So, in short, we can’t say it’s an accurate way of determining if you’re pregnant. 🤷‍♀️

How to use bleach as a homemade pregnancy test

Although the results aren’t proven, you may want to give this test a go for yourself — just for fun! 😊

If you wanted to try it, all you’d need is:

• Bleach (regular — rather than colored or scented)
• A cup to pour the bleach into
• A cup to hold your urine

You’d then slowly pour the urine into the cup holding the bleach, and wait a few minutes. ⏳

(If you do want to try this one out, be careful with the bleach and use thick rubber gloves — it can be harmful to your skin.)

How does pregnant urine react with bleach?

So, does urine cause bleach to fizz?

Well, that’s the thing.

In theory, if the bleach fizzes when it reacts with your pee, this could mean you’re pregnant.

But in actuality, any urine — pregnant or not — might react with bleach, causing it to fizz, or froth, or foam up… as there’s been no scientific tests, we just don’t know!

So, remember, if you do want to do the test at home anyway, keep in mind the results may not be at all accurate.

And you’ll likely need to head out to the store to pick up a standard home pregnancy test anyway. 💁‍♀️

How does a positive bleach pregnancy test look?

In theory, if you are pregnant, mixing your urine with bleach should create a foamy or frothy reaction. 🫧

That’s because it’s thought when bleach and hCG (the pregnancy hormone) mix, a reaction takes place.

But, as we mentioned earlier, a reaction could happen whether you’re pregnant or not… so it’s not a reliable test. ❌

Why is my bleach pregnancy test positive, but my home pregnancy test is negative?

Well, put simply, because a home pregnancy test with bleach doesn’t work.

It can’t be trusted for accurate results, so you may well end up having a false-positive result.

And, we know how painful this can be — especially if you’re TTC. ❤️

So, we’d say it’s best to save yourself any emotional distress, and put your trust in a home pregnancy test from your local drugstore — it’s much more reliable than bleach.

Should you mix bleach with urine?

If we’re completely honest with you, no, you probably shouldn't mix your pee with bleach.

With the test being as unreliable as it is, it would be a waste of bleach, a waste of your time, and a waste of your mental energy.

And as for whether you should from a risk POV, there are some things to consider here, too.

As there haven’t been any reputable studies around bleach and pregnancy tests, there aren’t any official risks associated with it.

But, bleach is a mixture of powerful chemicals…

Ones that can cause certain reactions.

Playing around with bleach could be a risk in itself — you could accidentally get bleach in your eye, which can cause irritation and blurred vision.

Or you could get it on your skin, which could cause redness and irritation.

But, the biggest risk of using a bleach pregnancy test is the emotional risk.

You could get a false-negative or a false-positive result.

Either of these can be emotionally tolling and upsetting.

So, our advice?

Don’t waste your time and mental energy. ❤️

Head down to your local drugstore instead and pick up a standard home pregnancy test for the most accurate results.

And put the bleach back in the cleaning cupboard where it belongs…

🔍 De-bunked: DIY Pregnancy Tests

So it's best to steer clear of the bleach pregnancy test — it's not trustworthy or medically proven at all.

But we get it — with so much information out there, it’s hard to know what’s accurate…

That’s why we’re here to make things a bit clearer for you, no judgement.

And if you want to talk to other women who are on their own TTC journeys, you’re always welcome to join us on Peanut.

We're having the conversation. 🥜