Ammonia window cleaner is a great choice for streak-free, crystal-clear windows. It's also great for cleaning other surfaces in your home, such as countertops, appliances and more. This powerful cleaner can be diluted with water and used to clean windows, mirrors, countertops, appliances and more.
Steer clear of ammonia-based cleaners
In addition, when used in an enclosed space like a garage, these fumes tend to accumulate and can lead to several health consequences. Streaking: Another problem noticed with ammonia solutions on the windshield is that they often leave huge streaks across the glass.
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.
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.
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.
If you touch your eyes or skin when cleaning, spill the product, or inhale it in a closed room, you're at risk for irritations. Once inhaled, ammonia immediately interacts with moisture in the mucus to form caustic ammonium hydroxide, a very corrosive chemical that damages cells in the body on contact.
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.
Ammoniated glass cleaners have been known to cause more streaks than non-ammoniated versions. This can be especially true for windows exposed to sunlight because the suns rays can actually make the solution dry too quickly, causing more streaks to appear on the glass.
Mix 1 cup of ammonia with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Add 1 tablespoon of vinegar and 1 drop of dish soap. Shake well and spray onto the window. 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.
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.
Use a cleaning solution: Like Glass-Rite cleaner! Or we also recommend a simple solution of equal parts vinegar and water, a Windex solution in water is good also. Do not use glass cleaners that are ammonia or alcohol based. They may leave streaks or make a film that attracts moisture or dust.
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.
Liquid ammonia will attack some forms of plastics, rubber, and coatings.
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.
How to clean windows like a pro. Mix ½ cup sudsy ammonia, 1 pint rubbing alcohol, and 1 Tablespoon hand dishwashing liquid (do not use more than 1 T or streaking may result). Add enough water to make one gallon. Plain household ammonia in water (1/2 cup per gallon of warm water) also works well for less dirty windows.
Mix 1 cup ammonia with 1 gallon of water in a bucket and apply it to the stains using a big sponge or mop. Let sit for about 20 minutes, and then scrub the stain with a bristled brush. Rinse or hose the area with clean water.
Professional window cleaners like Window Genie are trained and experienced in this battle. Window Genie uses a polishing paste specifically designed to fight the minerals that create these stains. The paste is applied to a non-abrasive cleaning pad and the window is lightly scrubbed.
Mix up your window-cleaning solution: In a plastic spray bottle, mix together 2 cups of warm water with 1/4 cup white vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon of Dawn.
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.
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.
Another potentially risky combo is ammonia and vinegar, which creates a high-pH solution that can cause skin irritation or burns. “Additionally, the combination can produce an unpleasant odor,” Vuong says.