Many people ask if they should use a glass cleaner with or without ammonia. The true answer is that it depends on the application, BUT in almost all typical use situations it's better to go ammonia free! This goes for use in the home and most professional applications as well.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
With that being said, ammonia can be known to cause damage to surfaces such as rubber, vinyl, plastic, paint, and chrome trim which are found all throughout your vehicle. Ammoniated glass cleaners can also deteriorate wax, so we highly caution against using these types of products on any such surface.
No Smell. After using ammonia-based cleaning products, the smell of ammonia will linger after the job is done. A good ammonia-free glass cleaning product such as Sprayway Glass Cleaner will leave your glass smelling fresh, without any offensive scent.
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.
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.
But for convenience and safety, the simple solution of white vinegar and distilled water is the best DIY window cleaner. It's non-toxic, unlike most commercial cleaners, and versatile enough for several cleaning projects around the house. Plus, it's arguably the cheapest cleaner you can find!
Use straight vinegar.
If you have really grimy windows, you'll want to wash them with an extra strength solution. Simply warm 1 cup (240 mL) of white vinegar and apply it directly to glass (a spray bottle is best for this particular solution).
Ammonia-based products
Many household cleaning products contain ammonia—think Windex—and leave streaks that can create glare as you drive. The ammonia present in these products will cause any tint on your glass to peel off, leaving you with a terrible-looking windshield and windows. Avoid the ammonia-based products!
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.
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.
Ammonia is corrosive. The severity of health effects depends on the route of exposure, the dose and the duration of exposure. Exposure to high concentrations of ammonia in air causes immediate burning of the eyes, nose, throat and respiratory tract and can result in blindness, lung damage or death.
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.
A mop can help you reach windows from the outside. To get streak-free windows, mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a bucket. Then, dip a standard mop or a microfiber cloth in the cleaning solution, and wipe down the window's surface.
A big problem is the evaporation rate. If you're cleaning your windows on a warm sunny day, the liquid part of the solution evaporates quickly and leaves behind a residue that appears as streaks. On the other hand, if you don't entirely remove the liquid you can also be left with a streaky window.
(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.)