Ammonia is great for cleaning, especially if you are trying to keep your home germ-free. It is a common household cleaner, and it’s generally safe to use. However, it can be extremely dangerous in its liquid form. Ammonia vapors are extremely toxic and can cause burns, blindness, and death if inhaled or ingested. The gas can also cause respiratory problems if inhaled.
Mr. Clean is a common household cleaner and works effectively. As such, you may be wondering if it contains ammonia. The answer to that is that is no. This cleaner is eco-friendly, and it does not even contain chlorine let alone ammonia.
So, what does this cleaner contain that makes it so popular and effective? You’re looking at ingredients like sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate. With this cleaner, you do not even have to think about rinsing.
Let us get into why this cleaner is highly recommended and why you should consider it when making your next purchase.
Is There Ammonia in Mr. Clean?
This question has been answered, but let’s get into the nitty-gritty of it. Mr. Clean does not contain ammonia or even chlorine. The Mr. Clean brand features wipes, sprays, and solutions, all of which are ammonia-free. The products are designed to clean surfaces efficiently and safely.
Most cleaning solutions contain chlorine and ammonia, and understandably so because these compounds clean effectively. How does Mr. Clean manage to do the job without these components?
What Does Mr. Clean Contain?
Mr. Clean contains sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as an active ingredient, which dissolves grease and dirt on a wide variety of surfaces.
Sodium hydroxide is found in many cleaning products. When mixed with water, it releases hydrogen gas and acid, which break down grease and dirt or dissolve oils and grime.
The exact chemistry of the chemical isn’t important here; what matters is how much of it Mr. Clean has in each bottle and whether or not there are other substances added to make it more useful for cleaning things like your tile floors or carpets.
Sodium hydroxide should never be ingested by humans or pets because it can cause severe burns on the skin and mouth if swallowed. If you’re using Mr. Clean to clean up messes around the house, keep all kids and pets away from the area until it’s completely dry.
Mr. Clean Liquid Multipurpose Cleaner with Febreze Ingredients
Sodium hydroxide is not the only ingredient in Mr. Clean multipurpose cleaner. It has other components that enhance its effectiveness, including:
- Water: This merges and keeps all the ingredients together
- C9-11 Pareth: This chemical is included to work particularly for floors
- C10-16 Alkyldimethylamine Oxide: This is a chemical whose job is to dissolve stains, especially oil-based ones
- Carboxymethyl Inulin: When you are cleaning, you want your surfaces to sparkle and not leave stains. This ingredient softens the water in the cleaner to deliver this effect
- Benzisothiazolinone: This ingredient functions as both a surfactant and a preservative. It is primarily used for cleaning household surfaces where grease is present such as kitchen countertops, walls, and floors. It is also effective on vinyl flooring and car interiors.
- Sodium C10-16 Alkylbenzenesulfonate: This facilitates stain removal, particularly dirt particles
- Sodium Carbonate and Sodium Citrate: These adjust the pH
- Polyoxyalkylene Substituted Chromophore (Cyan) and Polyoxyalkylene Substituted Chromophore (Yellow): These give color to the cleaner
- Fragrances: Just as the name implies, they give a nice smell to the cleaner
Mr. Clean Antibacterial Multi-Surface Cleaner
This is another version of Mr. Clean surface cleaners, and these are the ingredients it contains.
- Water: Holds all the ingredients in the cleaner together
- C9-11 Pareth (NA): Works by breaking down stains and eliminating them, particularly on floors
- Sodium Hydroxide: Eliminates germs on surfaces
- Sodium Carbonate: Breaks down greasy stains and dissolves them
- Pentasodium Pentetate: Adds shine to water and makes it soft
- Citric Acid: Equalizes the pH level
- Benzisothiazolinone: Stops bacteria from growing on surfaces
- Fragrance: Adds scent
- Green 8 and Acid Yellow 3: Adds color
Now, you may want to note that these ingredients are likely to irritate the skin even if they are not considered harmful. Therefore, you need to have gloves on when handling this cleanser. Keep it away from pets and children as well.
What Cleaners Comprise Ammonia?
Now that it’s clear that Mr. Clean doesn’t contain Ammonia, what cleaners do have it? Ammonia hydroxide is formed by mixing water and ammonia. This solution is extremely effective when it comes to dissolving grime and oil. It also evaporates rapidly, and this makes it perfect for cleaning surfaces.
It is a no-brainer that most household cleaners contain ammonia.
The only drawback is that ammonia is not eco-friendly. When it comes into contact with water, it can kill plants, marine life, and even livestock. Subsequently, environmental activists have been calling for this component to be banned.
So, do cleaners containing ammonia affect pregnancy? Research shows that, indeed, ammonia is detrimental to fetuses. How so? You see, when this compound evaporates, it lingers in the atmosphere for a while, and if inhaled too much, it is likely to cause health concerns.
That said, there is a safe amount of ammonia that can be used, and that is 25 ppm. This is ideal for both the health of human beings and the environment.
What Other Cleaners are Ammonia-free?
It is clear that ammonia is hazardous. Having it exceeding 25 ppm is certainly risky. As such, you would want to avoid it, especially if you care about those around you and the environment as well. Luckily, most home cleaning solution manufacturers have considered this and consequently avoided adding ammonia to their ingredient list.
Instead, they focused on producing substances that were effective and eco-friendly. Some popular products that do not contain ammonia include ECOS All-Purpose Cleaner, AspenClean All-in-One Concentrate, and Ology Glass Cleaner.
Can Mr. Clean be Mixed With Bleach?
No, that is not advisable. If you do, it will emit chlorine gas which is harmful to the environment and humans.
What Can I Use in Place of Ammonia?
There are several cleaning solutions that are safer to use. For instance, you can use vinegar to clean windows and hydrogen peroxide to disinfect surfaces or clean your bathroom.
Do I Have to Rinse After Using Mr. Clean?
According to the user instructions, you do not need to rinse surfaces after using the cleaner.