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A favorite cleaning product is "Sudsy Ammonia" - a pre-mixed cleaner readily available in most US supermarkets. It is not readily available elsewhere, or you might not be able to find it. Since "Sudsy Ammonia" is a trade name, this is called "Soapy Ammonia." You'll be able to make gallons of soapy ammonia solution from the one bottle of pure ammonia and save money over the supermarket price. Vary the concentration, depending upon the job. Use it without the detergent for windows instead of brand name window cleaners.
Steps
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Locate concentrate ammonia solution. It's readily available in supermarkets in the household cleaner sections of larger supermarkets in the US. Otherwise, try hardware shops and places that sell industrial cleaners. You will probably want to buy the smallest possible bottle since you won't need a lot.
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Use rubber gloves and goggles - ammonia can burn skin and eyes. [1] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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Be sure to make your mixture in a well-ventilated area. [2] X Research source -
Do NOT lean over the bottles while you are pouring. [3] X Research source
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Organize this task so that you will be pouring over a sink just in case there is any dripping.
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Use a 12 oz. plastic bottle spray bottle. These are widely available in grocery stores, chain stores, hardware stores. Basic safety rules say never reuse old commercial cleaner bottles. Old labels or color schemes can be confusing, and new bottles are inexpensive.
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First Fill the bottle with tap water. Always add ammonia to water, not the other way around
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Pour out a third of a cup of water from the bottle to make room for the ammonia.
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With a funnel, pour about a third of a cup of ammonia into the bottle. [4] X Research source
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Add a squirt of dishwashing liquid. [5] X Research source
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Close the bottle tightly.
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Shake gently.
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Write "Soapy Ammonia" on the bottle with the indelible marker.
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Write "POISON" and keep the mixture, and the bottle of ammonia out of children's reach.
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Write the US Poison Control number 1-800-222-1222 on the bottle. [7] X Trustworthy Source U.S. National Capital Poison Center Independent poison control center providing resources to prevent poisonings and save lives Go to source
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Community Q&A
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QuestionCan I mix vinegar, water and ammonia together for cleaning countertops?Community AnswerDon't combine ammonia and vinegar in the cleaning solution. Ammonia is an alkali and vinegar is an acid, so the two cancel each other out and become neutral, losing all cleaning power.
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QuestionDo I need to rinse or do a water application after cleaning with the sudsy ammonia?Randa SlaterCommunity AnswerYes. Soap attracts dirt, so if you don't rinse after using the solution, your newly cleaned area will become dirty again much faster.
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QuestionIs there any need to add perfume?Community AnswerThe dish soap you use is probably scent enough. Plus, you never know how some ingredients combine, so I wouldn't add anything.
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Tips
- Make stainless steel shine.Thanks
- Clean jewelry that has hard precious stones, such as diamond, sapphire, or ruby rings. (Never use anything with water on an opal.)Thanks
- Remove old floor wax from tiles, linoleum.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- Always label homemade cleaners clearly and keep them out of reach of children and pets.
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Warnings
- Never mix ammonia with bleach. It will form chloramine gas, which will kill you.Thanks
- Do not use on a car window with UV protection or tinting - ammonia will remove it. Just use water or a cleaning detergent for car windows.Thanks
- When marking as "poison", also clearly label what the ingredients are and to not mix with bleach. This should also be rinsed from areas where bleach could ever be used.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- ventilated area
- a funnel if your hand is shaky
- protective gloves and a sponge in case of spills
- a clean empty plastic bottle
- pure ammonia
- a small amount of dishwashing detergent
- water
- indelible marker pen
References
- ↑ http://www.afrox.co.za/en/images/Ammonia%20%28Rev%203%29_tcm266-27591.pdf
- ↑ http://www.afrox.co.za/en/images/Ammonia%20%28Rev%203%29_tcm266-27591.pdf
- ↑ https://beta-static.fishersci.com/content/dam/fishersci/en_US/documents/programs/education/regulatory-documents/sds/chemicals/chemicals-a/S25164.pdf
- ↑ https://www.cleverlysimple.com/homemade-glass-cleaner/
- ↑ https://www.cleverlysimple.com/homemade-glass-cleaner/
- ↑ https://www.scienceabc.com/pure-sciences/what-happens-when-you-mix-bleach-and-ammonia.html
- ↑ https://www.poison.org/contact-us
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