Finding a versatile cleaning agent is difficult. Ammonia is such a product with numerous benefits. It can soften items, beat tougher stains, and delete greasy marks. But, does ammonia damage clothes?
Does ammonia damage clothes? Like vinegar, ammonia can fight against grease and oil stains. However, be careful while using ammonia for laundry. When you mix ammonia with other cleaning agents (like bleach), it may create powerful reactions. Most importantly, never pour ammonia on natural fabrics like silk or wool. So, ammonia has both beneficial and adverse effects on clothes.
Are you interested in different aspects of ammonia in laundry? Then, this article is just for you. So, read it and be a laundry expert.
Does ammonia damage clothes?
First of all, ammonia is a natural product mainly found in the soil. It has alkaline properties, which is the opposite of vinegar. Ammonia has excellent stain removal power. Therefore, you can use it to remove grease and oily stains.
But it has corrosive nature. So, it may damage clothes, especially natural fibers, badly. If you use it on delicate like wool or silk, they will be affected badly. Therefore, always dilute it with water properly before pouring it on items. When mixing it with water, always keep the concentration of ammonia between 5 to 10 percent.
To use this cleaning agent safely on items,
- Never choose colored ammonia for laundry.
- Don’t mix ammonia with bleach, as the resulting reaction can be dangerous.
If you know how to use ammonia in laundry, it won’t be harmful to your items. But, most people don’t know how to use it. That’s why most users prefer to use vinegar instead of using ammonia.
How to use ammonia in laundry
Ammonia in laundry can serve various purposes. You can use it to–
- Pretreat stains
- Make whites whiter
- Make towels softer
- Remove grease from items
Pretreat stains
Instruments
- Ammonia
- Laundry detergent
- Water
- Spray bottle
Instructions
- Take a spray bottle.
- Mix ammonia, detergent, and water in equal proportions in this bottle.
- Shake this bottle to mix these ingredients better.
- Now, apply this solution to grass stains, ink stains, food stains, or urine stains.
- After around 30 minutes, wash the solutions thoroughly.
Make whites whiter
Newly bought white clothes always look great. However, their probability of attracting stains is higher. To whiten clothes, people prefer to use bleach, which can damage or weaken the fibers. So, stay away from using bleach and search for an alternative.
Interestingly, you can whiten clothes using ammonia. After tossing clothes in the washer, pour one cup of ammonia during the wash cycle. Such washing not only whitens clothes but also stays gentle on them.
Make towels softer
Hard water can raise so many problems for you. For example, it can hurt your clothes iron in the long run. You may notice its side effects on your bathroom towels too.
After regular use, you may feel uncomfortable using towels. The main culprit, in this case, is nothing but mineral residues.
So, how do you solve this problem? As you already know, ammonia has a corrosive nature. That’s why while washing towels, add ammonia with regular laundry detergent to boost up the overall process. After washing, observe the result. Check the softness of towel by touching it on your checks. You’ll be amazed!
Remove grease from items
A few household agents can fight grease stains. Luckily, ammonia is one of them. To remove this stain-
- First, apply a little ammonia and dishwashing liquid to the stain marks.
- Add laundry detergent to dispenser.
- Toss stained items into washer.
- Pour one cup of ammonia during the wash cycle.
Precautions for using ammonia in laundry
While dealing with ammonia, maintain some precautions. These include-
- While using ammonia, always choose bleach-free detergent.
- Don’t mix ammonia and bleach.
- Inhaling ammonia can be a cause of death.
- If you swallow ammonia, it can badly affect body organs like stomach, mouth, and throat.
- It can irritate the eye and skin severely.
- Wear goggles and gloves to protect your eyes and hands from potential danger.
Frequently asked questions
Will ammonia hurt colored clothes?
Ammonia works excellent on both white and colored fabrics. It can freshen up all fabric types. So, use it without any doubt. In contrast, bleach doesn’t work better on colored fabrics. If you pour bleach on colored items, it may stain them.
However, ammonia is a hazardous product. So, I suggest you pick vinegar for laundry. Compared to ammonia, vinegar is safer to handle. Most importantly, vinegar works better on all garments type.
Can I mix vinegar and ammonia?
You can easily mix vinegar and ammonia. There’s no danger in doing so. While ammonia is a base, vinegar has acidic properties. If you mix them, they will neutralize their cleaning power.
Therefore, mixing them is nothing but a wastage of money. That’s why use either vinegar or ammonia. As ammonia has corrosive nature, choose vinegar. However, if you want to fight stains, use ammonia, maintaining all safety precautions.
Is it safe to put ammonia in the washing machine?
Ammonia is a robust chemical and cleaning agent. So, don’t add more than one cup of ammonia with detergent in a single load. This one cup can effectively fight against stains, makes your clothes and towels fresh, and remove grease effectively.
Before choosing bleach, please take a look at its ingredients. Make sure that the selected detergent is free of bleach. If not, it may weaken your fabrics.
