# Are there any household chemicals that will neutralize ammonia? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 13, 2006, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-household-chemicals-that-will-neutralize-ammonia/339885 "2006-01-13T21:46:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![StewieGriffin420](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@StewieGriffin420](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StewieGriffin420)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-household-chemicals-that-will-neutralize-ammonia/339885/1 "2006-01-13T21:46:59Z")
My dog stays in the garage during the day and if he urinates on the cement it is a pain to clean up. Is there something I can pour on there to neutralize the ammonia? I know they make pet stuff for that but it is pretty expensive. Would bleach do the trick? ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-household-chemicals-that-will-neutralize-ammonia/339885/2 "2006-01-13T22:04:05Z")
> [@StewieGriffin420](#): > > Would bleach do the trick? :eek: Bleach does not neutralize ammonia. While I doubt there’s enough ammonia present in urine to create a serious risk here, bleach and ammonia combine to produce a rather toxic gas (which one, I forget at the moment.) It’s probably not the ammonia that’s the problem; if it is, it should evaporate on its own in a short time. But the other smelly components of urine are notoriously difficult to remove; bleach might be worth a try, but enzyme-based (expensive) pet urine cleansers are probably your only hope. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-household-chemicals-that-will-neutralize-ammonia/339885/3 "2006-01-13T22:04:54Z")
> [@StewieGriffin420](#): > > My dog stays in the garage during the day and if he urinates on the cement it is a pain to clean up. Is there something I can pour on there to neutralize the ammonia? I know they make pet stuff for that but it is pretty expensive. Would bleach do the trick? Under no circumstances ever combine bleach with ammonia. It creates a very toxic gas. DO NOT DO IT!!! Vinegar will work and it is not toxic. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-household-chemicals-that-will-neutralize-ammonia/339885/4 "2006-01-13T22:11:11Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > :eek: Bleach does not neutralize ammonia. While I doubt there’s enough ammonia present in urine to create a serious risk here, bleach and ammonia combine to produce a rather toxic gas (which one, I forget at the moment.) Chlorine (Cl[sub]2[/sub].) Nasty stuff. A heavy, noxious greenish gas that is highly corrosive and toxic. It’s interesting to make in small quantities as a lab demonstration–the green color is visually striking. But you do NOT want this stuff filling up your house! ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-household-chemicals-that-will-neutralize-ammonia/339885/5 "2006-01-13T22:14:18Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Chlorine (Cl[sub]2[/sub].) Nasty stuff. A heavy, noxious greenish gas that is highly corrosive and toxic. It’s interesting to make in small quantities as a lab demonstration–the green color is visually striking. But you do NOT want this stuff filling up your house! Not that I’ve heard. There’s plenty of things you can mix with bleach to produce chlorine; bleach plus ammonia, though, creates chloramine according to what I’ve read. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-household-chemicals-that-will-neutralize-ammonia/339885/6 "2006-01-13T22:21:33Z")
Try an [enzyme based odor remover](http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023689&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302025632&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441776021&bmUID=1137190805745&itemNo=7&Ntt=urine&In=All&previousText=urine&N=2), the enzymes neutralize the ammonia. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-household-chemicals-that-will-neutralize-ammonia/339885/7 "2006-01-13T22:21:49Z")
Vinegar. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-household-chemicals-that-will-neutralize-ammonia/339885/8 "2006-01-13T22:25:52Z")
Well, if you mix enough bleach and ammonia, your dog-urine problem will quickly become relatively minor. ---
**Author:** ![StewieGriffin420](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@StewieGriffin420](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StewieGriffin420)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-household-chemicals-that-will-neutralize-ammonia/339885/9 "2006-01-13T22:26:33Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Under no circumstances ever combine bleach with ammonia. It creates a very toxic gas. DO NOT DO IT!!! > > Vinegar will work and it is not toxic. Vinegar would smell bad too… I am mainly concerned about the ammonia smell. But vinegar would smell just as bad! I want something I can pour on the floor and let it dry without having to clean it up. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-household-chemicals-that-will-neutralize-ammonia/339885/10 "2006-01-13T22:29:03Z")
If you want to get rid of the smell, go to the pet store or health food store and ask for some zeolite. This is an all natural volanic mineral that will take the smell of anything out of anything without adding one of it’s own. It’s nontoxic and can be reused–just sit it in the sun for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-household-chemicals-that-will-neutralize-ammonia/339885/11 "2006-01-13T22:29:03Z")
> [@StewieGriffin420](#): > > Vinegar would smell bad too… I am mainly concerned about the ammonia smell. But vinegar would smell just as bad! I want something I can pour on the floor and let it dry without having to clean it up. Like I said, if it really is an ammonia smell, it should evaporate on its own in not very long. Ammonia is highly volatile. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-household-chemicals-that-will-neutralize-ammonia/339885/12 "2006-01-13T22:34:23Z")
> [@StewieGriffin420](#): > > I want something I can pour on the floor and let it dry without having to clean it up. If you neutralize the ammonia and amines with an acid, you _will_ end up with a salt on your floor. Of course you’ve _already_ got urea on your floor, so maybe you’ll be OK with that. Citric acid will work as well as vinegar, and has no smell of its own. Citric acid is sold in bulk at food coops, and as coffee pot cleaner at the local grocery store. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-household-chemicals-that-will-neutralize-ammonia/339885/13 "2006-01-13T22:34:47Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > Not that I’ve heard. There’s plenty of things you can mix with bleach to produce chlorine; bleach plus ammonia, though, creates chloramine according to what I’ve read. True, in the specific case of ammonia, chloramines are produced, as well; but, in the uncontrolled conditions of our hypothetical household experiment, considerable amounts of diatomic chlorine will be produced, since the source of ammonia is anything but pure. Either way, nasty and toxic! ---
**Author:** ![StewieGriffin420](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@StewieGriffin420](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StewieGriffin420)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-household-chemicals-that-will-neutralize-ammonia/339885/14 "2006-01-13T22:51:49Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > True, in the specific case of ammonia, chloramines are produced, as well; but, in the uncontrolled conditions of our hypothetical household experiment, considerable amounts of diatomic chlorine will be produced, since the source of ammonia is anything but pure. Either way, nasty and toxic! Wouldn’t the amount of ammonia be to trivial to cause any harm? Just curious, I don’t plan on mixing the two. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-household-chemicals-that-will-neutralize-ammonia/339885/15 "2006-01-13T22:55:55Z")
> [@StewieGriffin420](#): > > Wouldn’t the amount of ammonia be to trivial to cause any harm? Just curious, I don’t plan on mixing the two. Depends on the urine, I suppose. The ammonia is just a breakdown product, in any case–fresh urine is pretty free of it, if it contains any at all. But, urine _is_ somewhat acidic on its own, so it will react with the bleach to release _some_ chlorine, as any acid will. Enough to be toxic? I’d doubt it, although I’m not prepared to say it’s perfectly safe. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-household-chemicals-that-will-neutralize-ammonia/339885/16 "2006-01-13T23:02:33Z")
I’m surprised no one has suggested baking soda. That’s what I would try. Sprinkle a little on the offending area, leave it for several hours, or overnight and hose it off. I’d bet it works and it’s cheap. I have to comment on leaving a dog in the garage, couldn’t you chain him in the yard? I think it would be better for the dog and would solve the ammonia problem. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-household-chemicals-that-will-neutralize-ammonia/339885/17 "2006-01-13T23:19:57Z")
> [@A.R. Cane](#): > > I’m surprised no one has suggested baking soda. Ammonium carbonate’s got a pretty good vapor pressure. It dissociates into ammonia, so you’ll still end up with an ammonia smell when you’re done. ---
**Author:** ![StewieGriffin420](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@StewieGriffin420](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StewieGriffin420)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-household-chemicals-that-will-neutralize-ammonia/339885/18 "2006-01-13T23:28:09Z")
> [@A.R. Cane](#): > > I have to comment on leaving a dog in the garage, couldn’t you chain him in the yard? I think it would be better for the dog and would solve the ammonia problem. I disagree that it would be better. In the garage he has shelter from the wind and rain, and there is no chance of him getting loose. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-household-chemicals-that-will-neutralize-ammonia/339885/19 "2006-01-13T23:31:49Z")
Fix the real problem! Provide your dog an appropriate place to urinate, with something there that can either absorb the urine or can be thrown away. Like a tray covered with old newspapers, old rags, cat litter, etc. Or even take a small corner of the garage and put down sand or even some sod on a tray. Your dog will quickly adapt to using this spot, and cleanup will be much easier than the concrete floor. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-household-chemicals-that-will-neutralize-ammonia/339885/20 "2006-01-13T23:56:04Z")
> [@StewieGriffin420](#): > > I disagree that it would be better. In the garage he has shelter from the wind and rain, and there is no chance of him getting loose. Ever heard of a dog house?? My experience is that dogs don’t like being left in alone closed spaces for long periods. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-household-chemicals-that-will-neutralize-ammonia/339885.md?page=2)