Ammonia-based glass cleaners should not be used to clean your car's windshield or windows under any circumstances. You may cause damage to your windows or other surrounding components, as well as jeopardize your health!
The third reason to avoid ammoniated glass cleaner is because it can damage acrylic, plastic, optical and UV coatings, car windows (tinted or not) and many other glass-like surfaces.
The Consumer Reports window and glass cleaner recipe calls for 1/2 cup soapy ammonia, 1 pint of rubbing alcohol and 13 1/2 cups of water to make one gallon.
In addition to harsh ingredients like ammonia, most window cleaners are packed with chemical compounds that can cause irreversible damage to delicate electronics—especially laptop screens and displays. Your best bet is to clean your computer screen with a soft microfiber cloth and distilled water.
You can clean your windows with vinegar and water or water with a few drops of dish soap. If you opt for water and vinegar, you'll need equal parts white vinegar and hot water. To use dish soap, combine cold water with a few drops of dish soap.
Ammonia has a favorable characteristic of evaporating rapidly. As it evaporates, it doesn't leave behind residue that attracts dirt and dust. Because it evaporates quickly, it is less likely to leave streaks, which makes it a popular choice as an additive to glass cleaners.
Both vinegar and ammonia are good cleaning agents, but if you want to be on the safe side, then it's best to go with vinegar. Vinegar is less hazardous. When it comes to actually wiping the windows down, however, microfiber cloths are the best thing to use for absorbency.
Some formulations of Windex contain ammonia. These products should never be combined with bleach when cleaning. Combining bleach and Windex that contains ammonia can lead to the formation of chloramine gas. Chloramine gas is highly irritating to the nose, mouth, and throat when inhaled.
Do not use cleaners with heavy ammonia bases. These too can damage the mirror edges and backing and result in a ruined mirror. Never spray any cleaner directly on to a mirror. Instead, apply the cleaner to a soft cloth and then wipe the mirror.
In cars with tinted windows, Windex may cause damage. While there's evidence that the ammonia in Windex will not cause damage to window tints done by the factory, it's not recommended to use Windex on tint installed by a third party. Furthermore, Windex is also known to leave streaks if not cleaned properly.
Window washing solution: This is very important because it removes dirt and helps reduce the number of streaks. A typical solution used by professionals is 3/4 cup clear ammonia or white vinegar, 1 gallon of water and 2 to 4 teaspoons blue Dawn dishwashing liquid combined in a bucket.
Spray a stronger mix of 1:1 water and vinegar (or Windex, or glass cleaner) at your window, so that the solution covers most of the glass. (I found Windex to work better, but if you have pets—or kids—who frequently lick outdoor windows, vinegar may be the best route for you.)
Ammonia is super cheap and great to use as a homemade household cleaner by itself or mixed with other on-hand products. It leaves a streak-free shine making it great for cleaning glass, stainless steel, and porcelain. It's also wonderful at removing baked-on grease and grime.
According to Wikipedia, Windex contains Household Ammonia, otherwise called ammonium hydroxide. Pure ammonia is actually very harmful to your body, which is why the household cleaning version contains added water and ranges in concentration from 5-10 percent of pure ammonia.
It's true. Using Windex, which contains ammonia, can cause damage to glass cooktops that manufacturers won't cover. Ammonia can etch the surface of the cooktop.
In a spray bottle, combine ¼ cup of white vinegar with ½ teaspoon of liquid dish soap. Dilute the solution with 2 cups of water, then shake the bottle vigorously to mix the components. If you don't have white vinegar on hand, you can substitute it with lemon juice.
Ammonia in Household Cleaning Products
Ammonia also is effective at breaking down household grime or stains from animal fats or vegetable oils, such as cooking grease and wine stains. Because ammonia evaporates quickly, it is commonly used in glass cleaning solutions to help avoid streaking.
Cloudy ammonia is a combination of ammonia and soap, and has a milky colour compared to undiluted, clear ammonia. Cloudy ammonia is used in household cleaning. Cloudy ammonia is slightly milder than clear ammonia, but still effective in an ultrasonic cleaner. Cloudy ammonia can be bought at most grocery stores.
Mix 1 cup of ammonia with 1 cup of warm water in a spray bottle. Add 1/2 cup of vinegar and 1 drop of dish soap. Shake well and spray onto the window. Let sit for 5 minutes, then wipe clean with a lint-free cloth.
Most Effective: Windex Foaming Glass and Window Cleaner
Using an ammonia-based, foaming formula, this all-purpose cleaner can eliminate even the toughest marks on your glass.
Wear Protective Gear
Whenever you're working with a chemical like ammonia, you'll want to wear the right protective gear to keep you and others in the working area safe. You should wear goggles and a mask to reduce the likelihood of the solution getting into your eyes, mouth, or nose.
Window cleaning professionals suggest avoiding window washing on very sunny days or at a time when a window is in direct sunlight, as the heat may cause the glass to dry too quickly and cause smears.
Combine two parts water with one part white vinegar in a spray bottle and you'll be all set with a homemade window cleaner. You can also combine warm water with a few drops of dishwashing soap if you prefer. Invest in a glass spray bottle to mix up your formula.