What Cleaning Products Contain Ammonia?

cropped picture of a woman with a bucket full of chemicals and spray bottles

What Cleaning Products Contain Ammonia?

By : Angelina
Ammonia is an active ingredient in many commercial cleaning products as the gas in a liquid state can clean effectively and efficiently. Full-strength ammonia is also available in hardware shops and drugstores in Canberra for cleaning.The solution is dangerous when handled without knowledge. Although ammonia is an excellent sanitiser that can remove stains, spots, and grime from almost any surface, it should be used with caution or not at all. Experienced end of lease cleaners in Canberra may use ammonia or its products to clean empty real estate professionally. However, for regular cleaning, you should avoid using cleaners with ammonia. Here is your complete guide outlining cleaning products containing ammonia and why this ingredient is effective. Also, read on to know why you should avoid using it and much more.

Cleaning Products with Ammonia

Surprisingly, a host of sanitation products available in markets of Canberra contain ammonia which is listed as ‘ammonia hydroxide’ on the labels. Outlined below are the products that you are most likely to encounter containing this ingredient.
  • Drain Cleaners
  • Oven and Stainless Steel Cleaners
  • Polishing Waxes for Floors and Furniture
  • Toilet and Bathroom Cleaners
  • Window, Glass and Mirror Cleaners
  • Multi-purpose Cleaners
Ammonia is available in undiluted and concentrated form as well, which is extremely dangerous to use without personal protective equipment or professional expertise.

Why is Ammonia Used?

Although it is a dangerous and toxic chemical, it is still added to commercial cleaners for the following reasons.
  • It can remove grime and grease from almost any surface without effort
  • It kills mould and mildew
  • Cuts through soap scum
  • Excellent for killing bacteria, viruses, fungi, and many other microbes

Why Should You Avoid Using Ammonia?

Professional end of lease cleaners in Canberra may use ammonia to remove stubborn stains and clean heavily soiled areas. However, they are trained and skilled, which is why they use ammonia safely and have everything under control. But when non-specialists use ammonia, they are usually unaware of the risk and issues that can arise. For example, ammonia or its products should never be mixed with bleach. Professional end of lease cleaners in Canberra know this information, but most non-specialists don’t. The two ingredients react and create chloramine, a gas that can cause shortness of breath, chest pain, skin/eye/throat irritation and much more. Other reasons why you should avoid using ammonia are listed as follows.
  • Full-strength ammonia can burn your skin
  • Its fumes are hazardous for people with asthma and allergies
  • You can experience coughing, burned mucous membranes, headaches, nausea and various other health issues
  • Ammonia and products with the ingredient can comprise your home’s indoor air quality if it is poorly ventilated, causing household members to fall sick repeatedly

Natural Alternatives for Ammonia

Ammonia is a potent cleaner, but it can affect your health adversely. Therefore, you should use natural and organic alternatives that can clean as good. 1. White Vinegar White vinegar contains acetic acid, an excellent component for removing grease, gunk, grime, and various other contaminants. Vinegar is a natural and organic product that can remove stains from almost any surface except natural stones like marble, granite etc. Other reasons why it is a great substitute for ammonia are:
    • White vinegar can kill mould and mildew
    • It can sanitise and shine stainless steel and chrome items, surfaces and fixtures
    • It can be mixed with other natural ingredients for making homemade cleaners
    • Green end of lease cleaners in Canberra often use non-toxic and eco-friendly products like this for cleaning
2. Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) Instead of cleaning glass and mirror surfaces with ammonia, try using baking soda paste made with water. Sodium bicarbonate powder is mildly abrasive, organic, and excellent for cleaning glass and mirror surface without leaving streaks or a muddy film. For sanitising any such surfaces in your house, you can use the paste, and it will remove grime, dust, dirt, and other pollutants without causing swirls or scratches. What’s more, for unclogging drains and pipes without ammonia, you can use baking soda, white vinegar, and boiling water. Pour boiling water in the drain, followed by baking soda, then white vinegar (after 15 minutes). Let the ingredients fizzle and when the bubbles subside, wash everything with boiling water again. Note: Not only will baking soda sanitise the surfaces, but it will also deodorise them, making it a much better alternative to ammonia which has a pungent and unpleasant smell.

The Bottom Line

Professional end of lease cleaners in Canberra use ammonia and products with this ingredient for sanitising homes because they have personal protective equipment, experience, and training to handle such products without causing harm. However, as a non-specialist, you should avoid using this chemical and its cleaning products as listed above. Understand the reasons why you shouldn’t use it and opt for natural and organic alternatives to clean and sanitise your home without any health risk or stress.