Glass cleaning products like Windex® contain solvents, surfactants, and ammonia to clean glass surfaces. Some products also contain fragrances and dyes. Small ingestions can cause minor mouth and throat irritation, stomach upset, and vomiting. Brief contact with the skin can cause minor redness and irritation.
However, Rosenberg says, the products actually contain toxic ingredients such as butylphenyl methylpropional, linalool, 2-hexoxyethanol and isopropanolamine, all of which are toxic. The Windex class action lawsuit explains the chemicals have been linked to various illnesses.
When mixed, the contents of certain cleaners can trigger dangerous chemical reactions, such as the combination of ammonia and bleach. Mixing them produces toxic fumes that, when inhaled, cause coughing; difficulty breathing; and irritation of the throat, eyes and nose.
Plus Invisible Glass is ammonia free and safe to use on tinted windows. You're left with a professionally clean windshield, windows, and mirrors.
Inhalant abuse is on the rise, and because the inhalants are legal, this can become quite dangerous. Inhalant abuse is the consistent sniffing of household products in order to get high. These products include cleaning items such as bleach or Windex, and other common items like sharpies.
Both professional car detailers and professional window tint companies use ammonia-free glass cleaners such as Sprayway Glass Cleaner due to their non-toxicity and versatility.
According to the EWG, Windex scores a “D” in categories related to human health and environmental impact. The inclusion of ammonium hydroxide in Windex formulations is of the highest concern.
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.)
A: Windex® Electronics Wipes are safe to use on television screens, laptops, computer screens, phones, and camera lenses. These wipes are safe and effective on removing fingerprints, dust and grime without damaging the screen.
The problem with Windex is that it includes phenols in it's list of ingredients- a substance known to be toxic to cats. If they cleaned cages with it it could have been absorbed through the skin or licked off the feet. An animal shelter should know better than to use phenols around cats.
Even though Clorox wipes claim to eliminate 99.9% of germs, they contain chemicals that can be dangerous to ingest and as a result shouldn't be used where your pet will be eating or drinking.
If I had to guess, I'd say the dominant ingredients in Windex are water and ammonia. There might even be a little ethylene glycol (a.k.a. coolant) in there! RAY: There's a small amount of soap in Windex. But my guess is that any suds would be suppressed by the high pressure inside the cooling system.
Bottom Line. A mix of rubbing alcohol, vinegar, cornstarch, and water is an excellent Windex alternative because it's non-toxic, relatively easy to make, streak-free, and inexpensive.
Vinegar Cleaner
One of the safest and most effective windows cleaning solutions is made with a mixture of water, cider vinegar, rubbing alcohol and orange essential oil. Mix two cups of water with 1/2 cup of cider vinegar and 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol.
If all you're dealing with are those smudgy fingerprints, you can give your stainless steel appliances a quick touch-up using glass cleaner. Brands like Windex will do just fine, here. Once again, spray the solution onto your cleaning rag and apply it to the smudgy areas on your appliances using a circular motion.
Cleans and shines the first time, every time. Windex® Original Glass Cleaner is perfect for cleaning windows, mirrors, glass shower doors, glass top stoves, and more. Thanks to its formulation with Ammonia-D®, it starts working on fingerprints, dirt, and other messes even before you wipe.
Give glass surfaces a streak-free shine. This product is formulated with vinegar and doesn't leave behind the smell of ammonia. It's safe to use on all glass surfaces.
Glass cleaner: Some contain ammonia, a poison that can irritate skin, eyes, and the respiratory system. Some also contain butyl cellosolve, which is potentially toxic.
Sniffing common household products, such as gasoline, nail polish, bleach, paint solvents and cleaning spray is like taking poison and many people do not understand the risks or consequences, the health officials said. Inhaling vapors to get high, or “huffing,” can cause cardiac arrest.
Don't Get High with Household Products
Household drug use is just as dangerous as abusing illegal drugs. These products are used to clean the home, act as decoration, or used for consumption sparingly. They may produce euphoric effects, but they also come with deadly consequences.
Do not use Windex on car paint. Windex is much too harsh to use on the paint of your car, and it could cause some significant damage. When you clean glass with Windex, you will notice that it essentially strips the glass of any dirt, grime, or streaks.
The effects are even more damaging if you ever add Windex to your wiper fluid or replace it for your fluid altogether. Windex includes chemicals that could damage the washer system, and contains chemicals that could damage the paint on your car.
Can You Use Windex on Car Windows? One of the most frequently asked questions on the subject of cleaning car windshields is, “can you use Windex on car windows?” The short answer is in fact, yes.