What Cleaning Products Have Ammonia?

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Not all cleaning products have ammonia, but most commercial ones do. Ammonia is quite efficient with lifting off grime from various surfaces. At the same time, ammonia needs to be handled with care because it can also be dangerous when used too much or incorrectly.

Regarding your cleaning products, you’re welcome to choose whatever cleaning product fits your needs, whether it has ammonia or not. For you to make that decision, you need to be able to know what cleaning products have ammonia in the first place.

Cleaning Products With Ammonia

Since liquid ammonia is considered the most frequently made industrial chemical, you can practically see it in every cleaner you pick up. Below are some of these examples and how they work:

Multi-Purpose Cleaners

Since ammonia-based cleaners are powerful enough to clean almost any surface, companies have made effective all-purpose cleaners.

Cleaning Solutions for the House

You can make your cleaning solutions at home with commercial ammonia. Different ratios work with other materials, depending on what you want to clean.

Floor Wax and Floor Wax Remover

There are several versions of ammonia cleaners that can wax your floor but also remove the wax from it as well. Best to check the label to know which is which.

Furniture Cleaners

A cleaner containing ammonia is the way to go. This is your solution if your furniture has mildew or mold stains. It eliminates the issue quickly and easily.

Stainless Steel Cleaners

Stainless steel is notorious for being susceptible to watermarks and fingerprints. Lucky for us, ammonia is strong enough to remove these stains, even after a few rounds with other cleaners.

Windows and Glass Cleaners

Another factor for the effectiveness of ammonia in cleaning is how fast it evaporates. That’s beneficial for cleaning see-through and reflective materials, like windows and glass, without leaving streaks behind.

Oven Cleaners

This cleaner is harsh and can get through the crustiest stains, including the ones in your oven. A good tip is to heat a pot of water in your oven beforehand to loosen up whatever oils are caked there while baking.

Toilet and Drain Cleaners

Those water stains will be gone with cleaners made with ammonia. Products like these are also excellent for clogged drains. Don’t forget to leave it there for a few minutes.

Ammonia’s Other Uses

Otherwise known as ammonium hydroxide or household ammonia, this is a natural substance that’s both colorless and pungent. It’s found in soil and, of course, our cleaning products. There are other uses for this versatile compound.

1. Gets Rid of Paint Smells

Newly-painted walls can always brighten a room, but their smell doesn’t. Place small dishes of ammonia around the room to ease the odor (and to avoid any potential headaches from the fumes alone). Be careful to put them out of reach of your little kids and beloved pets.

2. Nourishes Your Plants

Ammonia contains a large amount of nitrogen. Nitrogen boosts the growth of leafy plants, especially for plants that love alkaline. That’s why it’s present in fertilizers to use on crops and other plants.

3. Keeps the Animals and Pests at Bay

Not all of us like the smell of ammonia. That includes small animals and pests that feed off your trash. To discourage another late-night garbage looting, spray a solution of ammonia all over your bags and bins.
You can also shoo away the pests inside your household. Wipe down your drawers and cabinets with a solution of ammonia and water. Moths tend to dislike the smell of ammonia as well. This is a good alternative if you don’t have any mothballs handy.

4. Alleviates Itchy Mosquito Bites

There’s also a use for ammonia for the lumps that other pests left behind on our skins. For those pesky mosquito bites that don’t seem to let you chill in peace, drop ammonia on them. The itch to scratch will be gone as long as you only put it on when you don’t rupture the skin.

Cleaning Solutions Without Ammonia

As for alternatives to cleaning products with ammonia, several cleaners don’t have them. Most of these items are hydrogen peroxide-based or even just castile soap. It would depend on the formulation of the product itself. Here are some you can try too:

  • Baking soda and vinegar
  • Baking soda, water, and essential oils
  • Castile soap
  • Lemon juice
  • Olive oil

How to Tell If  Cleaner Has Ammonia

The people who make these cleaners need to put all the ingredients they use on the labels of every product they make for safety and transparency. It should be there under the active ingredients list.
A quick Google search will answer your questions if it’s not there. You can always call the manufacturers and ask whether or not their products contain ammonia.

How to Use Ammonia Cleaners Safely

Although ammonia-based cleaners are handy for cleaning and other things, there are still some safety precautions we need to take to ensure that we’re using them correctly.
First off, always make sure to read the instructions on the labels and guides thoroughly. When handling it, remember to use the proper safety gear like gloves and goggles and only use it in a ventilated area. For storage, keep it sealed tight to avoid any accidents.

In Conclusion

Ammonia and ammonia-based cleaners are one of the most potent cleaners you can possess. It’s present in many cleaners, so knowing what cleaning products have ammonia will save you time and energy.

It’s the person’s choice whether or not they want to use a cleaning product with or without ammonia. As long as you know how to handle them carefully, then you’re good to go. Rest assured, you’ll be able to clean your home in no time safely.

About Emily Leake

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