The 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' joke, explained. Brian Capell of the Perelman School of Medicine says there's no evidence that topical applications of Windex work on any skin condition.
Windex Original Glass Cleaner is not a disinfectant and it will not kill germs. But there are some Windex products that do kill germs, like Windex Disinfectant Multi-Surface Cleaner. To keep glass germ-free, use a disinfectant first and then wipe it down with Windex Original Glass Cleaner.
"There's really no evidence that Windex would ever work for really any skin condition, let alone psoriasis or poison ivy," Capell tells TODAY.com. "Given safety issues, there are a number of chemicals and irritants in Windex."
You should not recommend using Windex as a skin cleaning solution. It is not safe for use on skin and prolonged contact can cause irritation or burns even on healthy skin. And in people with sensitive or compromised skin this could act even more quickly.
You can use Windex® Ammonia-Free Glass Cleaner on your car's tinted windows, mirrors, glass, chrome, stainless steel, plastic, and vinyl surfaces. For a streak-free shine, clean car windows when the surface is cool and out of direct sunlight whenever possible.
It's also important to mix vinegar with other ingredients carefully. “Never mix vinegar with other cleaning products like bleach or ammonia or those 'blue' window cleaning products [like Windex], because they can create dangerous chlorine gas,” Gayman says.
The chemicals present in Windex can cause eye irritation and can potentially cause eye injuries. If someone gets Windex in their eyes, immediately irrigate the eyes with room-temperature tap water for 15–20 minutes to flush the chemicals out of the eyes.
Beat the heat. Hot surfaces can make the product evaporate before you get a chance to wipe. Avoid cleaning windows on hot, sunny days and make sure surfaces like glass stovetops are completely cool before cleaning with Windex® Original Glass Cleaner.
In 2009, S.C. Johnson started publishing ingredients for all of its products, including Windex. The S.C. Johnson website lists Windex's ingredients as water, 2-hexoxyethanol, isopropanolamine, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, lauramine oxide, ammonium hydroxide, fragrance and Liquitint sky blue dye.
To eradicate poison oak and poison ivy chemically, use an herbicide that contains glyphosate, triclopyr, or a 3-way herbicide that contains 2,4-D amine, dicamba, and mecoprop.
Applying topical OTC skin protectants, such as zinc acetate, zinc carbonate, zinc oxide, and calamine dry the oozing and weeping of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Protectants such as baking soda or colloidal oatmeal relieve minor irritation and itching. Aluminum acetate is an astringent that relieves rash.
If you have contact with poison ivy, oak, or sumac , immediately wash areas of the skin that may have touched the plant. Sometimes the resulting rash ( contact dermatitis ) can be completely avoided by washing the affected areas with plenty of water and soap (such as dishwashing soap) or rubbing alcohol.
This product will clean and shine surfaces without any dull residue. When used as directed, it kills 99.9% of germs‡ and bacteria† on hard, non-porous surfaces. Great for cleaning bathrooms, kitchens, tiles, stainless steel, and more.
CR's tests help "clear up" one big misconception: vinegar shouldn't be your go-to for glass. It removed the messes, but it did leave noticeable amounts of streaks behind, so it requires a lot more wiping. And while ammonia-based cleaners like Windex are known for their cleaning power, the smell isn't so great.
Toilet bowls
Spray a little Windex into your toilet bowl, let it sit for 5 minutes, and brush scrub as you would with any other toilet bowl cleaner. This solution does a great job at removing even the toughest stains.
Bleach and ammonia
Many window cleaners, such as Windex, contain Ammonia. If mixed with bleach, it produces a toxic gas called chloramine. Fumes from this gas can cause side effects including sinus congestion, choking, shortness of breath, and coughing. In some cases, it can even cause chest pain.
One major drawback of Windex is that it only helps with half the battle of glass cleaning. Windex cleans by helping to dislodge dust, debris and grease off the surface of the window. Once that material is disrupted, however, you still have to remove it.
Eye contact : Redness, Pain, Irritation Skin contact : No symptoms known or expected. Ingestion : No symptoms known or expected. Inhalation : No symptoms known or expected. Environmental Effects : This product has no known ecotoxicological effects.
Household cleaners: Most general purpose cleaners (e.g., Windex, Formula 409) are fairly safe, but concentrated products like toilet bowl or drain cleaners can cause chemical burns. Flea and tick spot-on products for dogs: Those that are pyrethroid based (e.g., Zodiac, K9 Advantix, Sergeant's, etc.)
For best results, make sure you completely rinse suds. Do not allow product to dry before rinsing, rinse windows from top to bottom and use Windex® Outdoor Sprayer when the temperature is above 55º F. If the product is applied to eaves or siding above windows, it may drip down on windows.
Surfaces that often get ruined by vinegar are stone countertops, like marble and travertine. The acidic nature of vinegar can cause etching and dullness on natural stone surfaces, and it may eventually dissolve the stone. Vinegar can also degrade sealants applied to more durable surfaces like granite.
DIY Window Cleaner with Rubbing Alcohol
To make this homemade window cleaner, first add 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol and 2-3 Tbsp. distilled white vinegar to a spray bottle. For best results, make sure your vinegar says "made from grain" on the label. Then add 1 cup distilled water.