# Household ammonia -- what's it good for? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 11, 2003, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-ammonia-whats-it-good-for/194460 "2003-08-11T19:37:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-ammonia-whats-it-good-for/194460/1 "2003-08-11T19:37:00Z")
Yes, it’s a question of earth-shattering import. Last week I absent-mindedly purchased a bottle of ammonia, meaning to get bleach. Now, bleach is useful. It keeps both my underwear and my coffee cup from appearing dingy and unappealling. Hooray for bleach! What do I do with this bottle of ammonia, though? The bottle suggested a cup in a load of laundry. I tried that, and the most noticible effect it had was that of making my laundry room smell remarkably like a mental hospital. I hope to god that smell rinses out. Why, exactly, do people add ammonia to their laundry? Does it have a bleach-like effect? Is it the kind of thing you might use for diapers, or other items that need serious decontamination orsterilization? Or do people, like me, just use it because the bottle suggested it? Another suggested use is cleaning glass and surfaces. I tried to get some of the stains out of my enamel basin, (again, something that I would ordinarily use bleach for,) and found that it did nothing apart from making the atmosphere in my kitchen intolerable. Clearly, ammonia is no substitute for bleach. There must be, however, tasks which virtually cry out for ammonia. It’s quite possible that in my ignorance there are such tasks remaining unfinished in my very house. What _are_ the household chores which will soon fill me with deep feelings of felicity and gratitude for the serendipitous presence of a bottle of ammonia in my cleaning closet? ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-ammonia-whats-it-good-for/194460/2 "2003-08-11T19:48:57Z")
Well, I know that around here, I use bleach for cleaning surfaces, but ammonia for cleaning the floor. To me, anyways, it seems a little stronger. So I can either use less of it when adding to a large bucket of hot water, or add the same amount and get better cleaning power. Just make sure to NEVER mix bleach and ammonia, and if possible, avoid using the same buckets and mops and so forth with them, but if you have to, make sure to rinse them very damn well. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-ammonia-whats-it-good-for/194460/3 "2003-08-11T19:50:57Z")
My guess is that is would be useful in laundry primarily for reducing odor from bacteria. This isn’t usually a problem, unless you are doing diapers, as you suggest, or maybe smelly wet towels or something. It is a primary ingredient in most glass cleaners, because it doesn’t leave streaks. So I’d say what you’ve got there is some cheap, unpleasantly scented Windex. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-ammonia-whats-it-good-for/194460/4 "2003-08-11T19:56:48Z")
It makes a fine oven cleaner: preheat your oven, then place a bowl of ammonia in the bottom (after turning oven OFF btw) for an hour or so. The fumes from the ammonia cut the grease and crap remarkably well, then you complete the clean with a wipe out (or a scrape out, in the case of MY oven!!) And it is MUCH cheaper than proprietry Oven Cleaners. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-ammonia-whats-it-good-for/194460/5 "2003-08-11T20:08:37Z")
Ammonia is a de-greaser. I use it for pretty much everything. I put some in a spray-bottle to pre-treat laundry stains, use it to mop the floor, make an all-purpose window/surface cleaner out of 1 part ammonia to 1 parts rubbing alcohol, in the carpet shampooer, etc etc. To clean grate on your grill put it in a black trash bag with a cup of ammonia and leave it out in the sun for an afternoon - it should hose off clean. I actually don’t use bleach for anything other than spraying down the sink after I skin a chicken. (No, not even in the laundry - I think it makes clothes brittle and dingier!) One bottle of bleach lasts me like 10 years. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-ammonia-whats-it-good-for/194460/6 "2003-08-11T20:11:01Z")
D’oh! That should be “1 part ammonia to **2** parts alcohol” and obviously “THE” grate on your grill. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-ammonia-whats-it-good-for/194460/7 "2003-08-11T20:18:00Z")
I mix equal amounts of ammonia and water and keep it in a spray bottle. I use it to wipe down my counters and stove. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-ammonia-whats-it-good-for/194460/8 "2003-08-11T20:38:04Z")
Use ammonia in laundry when you’re washing sweaty clothes. It does a good job with greases/oils. Julie ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-ammonia-whats-it-good-for/194460/9 "2003-08-11T20:49:34Z")
I use it to clean my fountain pens. And . . . . . . uh, actually, that’s it. Just fountain pens. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-ammonia-whats-it-good-for/194460/10 "2003-08-12T18:35:21Z")
I keep a bottle near the trash can in the garage. Just before I tie up a bag of trash, I pour in an ounce or so of ammonia. Dogs never tear up my trash bags, even if there are meat scraps or cat poop inside. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-ammonia-whats-it-good-for/194460/11 "2003-08-12T18:47:09Z")
You can sniff it if you feel faint. It works pretty well to help you get your head back. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-ammonia-whats-it-good-for/194460/12 "2003-08-12T19:13:48Z")
Ammonia+water+blue food coloring=Windex ---
**Author:** ![skeptic\_ev](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@skeptic\_ev](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skeptic_ev)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-ammonia-whats-it-good-for/194460/13 "2003-08-12T19:37:39Z")
It’s possible (supposedly) to use it to cycle aquariums with no fish in them. And the fumes will “antique” brass. It’s also great for _really_ getting your floors clean, especially if you use Mop 'n Glo or the like generally. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-ammonia-whats-it-good-for/194460/14 "2003-08-12T19:52:42Z")
Golly, what a useful fluid. How did I ever live without it? Today is the day to clean the oven, I think. (And tomorrow too, in all likelihood- I don’t believe that the _inside_ of that thing has been cleaned _at all_ in the past five years. Shame!) I’m about to find out if it works for washing a vinyl shower-curtain that has gotten rather mildewy and off-putting, too. Another incremental increase in quality-of-living. **AskNott** , the suggestion for keeping dogs out of the trash is brilliant-- I’ll remember that the next time I have a stinky bag. ---
**Author:** ![eeclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/49beb7/32.png) [@eeclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eeclem)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-ammonia-whats-it-good-for/194460/15 "2003-08-12T19:58:39Z")
It’s pretty good for cleaning scummy tubs! And according to my mom, stains in colored clothing. ---
**Author:** ![Polairis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@Polairis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polairis)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-ammonia-whats-it-good-for/194460/16 "2003-08-12T20:16:09Z")
ammonia is essential for removing the build-up from mop-n-glo on linoleum ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-ammonia-whats-it-good-for/194460/17 "2003-08-12T20:34:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AskNott \* > \*\*Just before I tie up a bag of trash, I pour in an ounce or so of ammonia. Dogs never tear up my trash bags, even if there are meat scraps or cat poop inside. \*\* That’s what my dad uses it for, except our scourge is racoons. ---
**Author:** ![TheInterruptingCow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9c0ed/32.png) [@TheInterruptingCow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheInterruptingCow)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-ammonia-whats-it-good-for/194460/18 "2003-08-12T21:13:57Z")
Mosquito bites - dab some on with a cotton ball, it takes the itch away. Jellyfish stings, too. Really, I swear to Jah… ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-ammonia-whats-it-good-for/194460/19 "2003-08-12T21:45:11Z")
GREAT for bites and stings. Also, 1 part ammonia to 2 parts warm water = great jewelry cleaner for gold, silver, and diamonds. DO NOT USE on fake or costume jewelry. ---
**Author:** ![Toddly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@Toddly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toddly)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-ammonia-whats-it-good-for/194460/20 "2003-08-13T00:07:25Z")
I have no use for ammonia anymore, the smell is so unpleasant and there are other products that will do the job without the odor. Don’t ever mix that stuff with chlorine as it will create a nasty gas. It will remove tarnish on metal though as I used it once refinishing a desk light. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/household-ammonia-whats-it-good-for/194460.md?page=2)