How to Neutralize Ammonia

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Ammonia is a base compound that can be hazardous and toxic in high quantities. Ammonia is produced with the breakdown of animal and vegetable matter, including the breakdown of protein in urine. Pets and cleaning products are the main ways that humans come into contact with ammonia. If you're dealing with an ammonia spill, cover it with a mixture of baking soda, clay cat litter, and dry sand, then scoop up the mixture. Finish up by applying a weak acid or alkaline liquid compound to the spill area and mop the surface.

Best Tips for Neutralizing an Ammonia Spill

Mix together equal parts baking soda, clay cat litter, and dry sand. Cover the ammonia spill with the mixture and scoop the mixture into a container. Then, apply a weak acid or alkaline compound to the area where the spill occurred, and mop the surface thoroughly.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Neutralizing Pet Ammonia

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  1. Apply layers of paper towels as soon as you discover the urine stain. Stand or walk on the paper towels to increase absorbency. Try to soak up as much as possible before moving on. [1]
  2. Mix a solution of one part white vinegar to one part water. Transfer the mixed ingredients into a spray container or cleaning bucket. Spray or pour the solution onto the area. If the area is carpeted, apply a generous amount of cleaning mixture.
    • You want to use enough solution to soak into all areas of the urine stain. You must be careful not to let the solution sink into the subflooring. [2]
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  3. Wait 10 minutes. Return and blot the area again with paper towels. You can also blot with washcloths, but use only old ones, as the ammonia might be difficult to remove. [3]
  4. Let the area dry until it is slightly damp. Sprinkle the area with baking soda. Let the baking soda sit for 15 minutes. Baking soda is a mild alkali that dissolves dirt and grease with water effectively.
    • Put a laundry bucket over the area while the baking soda is cleaning the area. This will prevent your pet or any small children from messing with the area.
  5. You should have removed the majority of the urine, which causes the release of ammonia. If the odor still smells, then you will need to treat the area again or use a commercial product. [4]
  6. The key to a commercial product is to make sure it removes the smell. Cats, especially, will urinate in the same location if they smell their urine. Buy a product that caters to your pet specifically, instead of buying an "all pets" stain remover. Try to use natural products that won't be damaging to your pet or yourself.
    • Apply the cleaner according to package's directions. Repeat as necessary. Read the safety measures to ensure the product doesn’t contain hazardous materials.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Neutralizing Ammonia in Horse Stalls

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  1. Ensure your horses are in stalls that provide proper ventilation, even in the winter. Ventilation in the walkways is not enough. Each stall should have a permanent opening of at least a one square foot (0.3m) to ensure that the excess ammonia gas can leave the stall. [5]
    • You can make this opening a long slot, rather than a square, so that it’s easier to leave open permanently. For example, you could cut a slot that’s 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide and 12 feet (3.7 m) long, placing it along the length of the stall.
    • If possible, place the slot near the ceiling of the stable, which allows the freshest air to circulate into the stall.
    • In high concentrations, ammonia can cause respiratory damage and even death because it's toxic. [6]
  2. [7] This usually means laying stall mats down. Make sure you clean underneath the mats at least once week.
  3. Wheat straw has been found to reduce ammonia. Kenaf fiber is also helpful in reducing ammonia levels. The most absorbent bedding is porous flooring like packed dirt, clay, or even stone dust.
    • Use tightly interlocking or seamless stall mats to keep the urine from seeping into the floor underneath the bedding. [8]
  4. Remove the horses from their stalls for a daily cleaning. Get rid of all urine-soaked bedding and dispose of it. It is important to let the horses out of their stall when cleaning or preparing ammonia neutralizers.
  5. You can use diatomaceous earth (DE) or a clinoptilolite-based product. This increases the absorbency of the materials, lowering the amount of bacteria that is converted into ammonia. [9] Use a ratio of 1:8 for the ammonia neutralizing agent.
  6. Use a stable shovel and dump two scoops of bedding into the stall. Spread out the bedding with the shovel. Continue to shovel and spread the bedding in increments of two scoops. If you're leaving the horse in the stall overnight, use between 4 to 6 inches of bedding.
    • If the horse is in and out of the stall and you have mats, cover the mats with about 2 inches of bedding.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Cleaning Ammonia Spills

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  1. Mix together equal parts baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), clay cat litter and dry sand. Keep it in buckets near your workstation. Create a dry mixture if you intend to absorb the spill. Some might attempt to dilute the spill and use it to clean the affected area. [10]
    • Ammonium hydroxide(ammonia dissolved in water) is a common cleaning agent. You can dilute the spill with water and use the mixture as an impromptu cleaner. You'll need to add a higher ratio of water to ammonia, so if you spilled too much, use the dry mixture.
    • This combination of dry ingredients is a safe way of containing and disposing large amounts of liquid ammonia.
  2. An acid or alkaline compound can be used to neutralize ammonia, making it safer to handle. You could use hydrochloric or sulfuric neutralizers. Application of these products to the spill will cause a chemical reaction that will neutralize the ammonia.
    • Search for ammonia neutralizers. Some brands develop a mixture of acids to be used to neutralize ammonia.
    • Hydrochloric acid is found in some tile and toilet bowl cleaners, as well as stain removers. You can also buy pure hydrochloric acid online.
    • Sulfuric acid is found in toilet bowl cleaners, drain de-cloggers and car batteries. You can buy it online as well. This acid is highly corrosive, so read the safety instructions on the bottle carefully and wear gloves when handling it.
  3. Cover the spill with your dry spill mix. You should use enough spill mix so that the surface is completely dry. Wait for the mix to absorb the liquid.
  4. Wear a mask while doing this. If possible, place the compound in a fume hood. Turn the fume hood on for the remainder of the process.
  5. Fill a pail with cold water. Slowly add the liquid neutralizers into the cold water. Only add a tenth of the chemical neutralizer to the water.
    • If you added too much, the neutralizer will still do the job, but may need more applications of water to the spill area.
    • Stir the mixture for about thirty seconds.
  6. Add a small amount of liquid mixture created earlier to the area of the spill. Add small dollops at a time. On the surface clean thoroughly with a clean mop. Allow the area to dry before cleaning a second time.
    • On the second cleaning, use water and a surface cleaner to ensure a thorough cleaning of the area.
    • Never use bleach to clean ammonia because the combined chemicals will create chloramine, that is, a poisonous gas harmful to people.
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Common Questions: Dealing with Ammonia Odors

How do you get rid of ammonia smell quickly?

Start by cleaning up the source of the smell as much as you can, whether that's pet urine or something else. Spray the area with an enzymatic cleaner to break down the acid that's causing the smell. Alternatively, you can clean the walls and floors in the affected area with a solution of one part water and one part vinegar. [11]

How long does it take for ammonia to dissipate?

It takes about one week for ammonia to completely dissipate in the air. Since ammonia gas is lighter than air, it rises pretty quickly, and it won't settle in low-lying areas. If the humidity is high and there's moisture in the air, the ammonia is less likely to rise and dissipates more slowly. [12]

What neutralizes dog or cat urine odors?

Douse the affected area with a commercial enzymatic cleaner formulated for pet stains and odors. If you prefer a natural home remedy, simply combine vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio and use that instead. [13]

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Warnings

  • Be careful when using acids such as hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid; these acids are very corrosive and can cause severe burns.
    • Muriatic acid is hydrochloric acid with a little cyanide, which makes it very dangerous, not only because it is corrosive, but also because it is poisonous.
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Things You'll Need

Neutralizing Pet Ammonia

  • Paper towels
  • Spray bottle
  • White vinegar
  • Baking soda
  • Vacuum
  • Commercial pet stain remover

Neutralizing Ammonia in Horse Stalls

  • Floor mats
  • Wheat straw/kenaf fiber bedding
  • Diatomaceous earth
  • Clinoptilolite-based ammonia neutralizing products

Cleaning Ammonia Spills

  • Sodium bicarbonate
  • Clay cat litter
  • Dry sand
  • 5% aqueous hydrochloric acid
  • Plastic pail
  • Cold water
  • Fume hood
  • Mask
  • Trashcan
  • Drain

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/how-remove-pet-stains-and-odors
  2. ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/how-remove-pet-stains-and-odors
  3. ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/how-remove-pet-stains-and-odors
  4. ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/how-remove-pet-stains-and-odors
  5. ↑ https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thehorse/files/D/Ammonia-Out-of-My-Barn.pdf
  6. ↑ http://www.thehorse.com/articles/26835/ammonia-out-of-my-barn
  7. ↑ http://www.thehorse.com/articles/26835/ammonia-out-of-my-barn
  8. ↑ http://www.thehorse.com/articles/26835/ammonia-out-of-my-barn
  9. ↑ http://www.thehorse.com/articles/26835/ammonia-out-of-my-barn
  1. ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=bLV55kunjA4C&pg=PA35&lpg=PA35&dq=sodium+bicarbonate+cat+litter+ammonia&source=bl&ots=LqbPhju0bc&sig=yeQ_4dyoxrt0pcTdbvv6c6cBEJA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiPi4Xa2N7KAhXI7SYKHQ2WCYQQ6AEIRTAG#v=onepage&q=sodium%20bicarbonate%20cat%20litter%20ammonia&f=false
  2. ↑ https://www.petmd.com/cat/general-health/how-to-get-rid-of-cat-pee-smell
  3. ↑ https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp126-c1-b.pdf
  4. ↑ https://www.petmd.com/cat/general-health/how-to-get-rid-of-cat-pee-smell

About This Article

Article Summary X

To neutralize ammonia in pet urine, start by mixing equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle or bucket. Then, apply the mixture to the stained area so it's soaked. Once you've applied the vinegar solution, let it sit for 10 minutes before blotting the area with paper towels. Next, sprinkle some baking soda over the stain and let it sit for 15 minutes. Finally, vacuum the area and let it finish drying. To learn how to clean up spilled ammonia, scroll down!

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    Aug 13, 2017

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