Which is better for cleaning windows ammonia or vinegar?

When it comes to keeping windows streak-free and sparkling clean, two common household cleaners often come to mind: ammonia and vinegar. But which one is more effective? Here’s a detailed comparison of ammonia versus vinegar for cleaning windows to help you decide which is best for your needs.

Ammonia Overview

Ammonia is a powerful alkaline cleaner that can cut through grease, grime, and dirt. It works by dissolving stubborn deposits and emulsifying oils. Here’s a quick rundown of ammonia:

• Active ingredient is ammonium hydroxide
• Typically 5-10% solution in water
• Alkaline pH around 11
• Strong ammonia odor
• Available as plain clear liquid or sudsy formulas
• Sold at grocery and hardware stores
• Very effective degreaser and stain remover
• Can irritate skin, eyes, nose and throat

Vinegar Overview

Vinegar is an acidic cleaner made from fermented grains or fruit. While not as strong a cleaner as ammonia, it still can be effective for some cleaning tasks. Here’s a quick look at vinegar:

• Main ingredient is acetic acid
• Typically 5% acidity
• Acidic pH around 2-3
• Pungent vinegar scent
• Sold as distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
• Available at grocery stores
• Natural degreaser, disinfectant, and detergent
• Non-toxic and safe for skin

Cleaning Effectiveness

When comparing the cleaning effectiveness of ammonia versus vinegar for windows, ammonia is the clear winner. Here’s why:

• Ammonia is a stronger alkaline agent, so it can cut through grease and grime more easily. Vinegar lacks the alkalinity to dissolve tough deposits.
• The ammonium hydroxide in ammonia is more effective at degreasing and emulsifying oils than vinegar’s acetic acid.
• Ammonia can leave windows streak-free without wiping, while vinegar tends to leave a haze.
• Ammonia can tackle cigarette smoke film, mineral deposits, sticky residues, and other challenging window grime that vinegar may struggle with.

Vinegar does have some effectiveness for cleaning windows, but works best on light everyday dirt and dust. Ammonia provides superior cleaning power for stuck-on messes.

Safety Considerations

When using any cleaning product, it’s important to consider safety factors like fumes, skin irritation, and proper handling. Here’s how ammonia and vinegar compare:

• Ammonia has very strong, irritating fumes that can make it difficult to breathe when cleaning with it.
• The alkalinity in ammonia can cause skin and eye irritation with exposure. Rubber gloves should be worn.
• Ammonia should only be used in well-ventilated areas.
• Never mix ammonia with bleach or other cleaners, as toxic gases can result.
• Vinegar has a much less dangerous odor profile than ammonia.
• Vinegar is non-toxic and won’t harm skin like ammonia can.
• No rubber gloves are needed for vinegar.
• Vinegar can be safely mixed with other cleaners like hydrogen peroxide.

So while ammonia provides superior cleaning, vinegar is the safer choice for the user and environment.

Economic Comparison

When comparing cost, vinegar wins over ammonia. Here are some cost considerations when buying each cleaner:

• A 32 oz bottle of ammonia costs around $3
• For the same cleaning strength, a 128 oz jug of distilled white vinegar costs about $3
• To buy ammonia in the same 128 oz size, it would cost over $10
• Vinegar can be purchased from any grocery store for very cheap
• Ammonia is a more specialized cleaning product only in hardware stores

So vinegar provides significant savings over ammonia when buying large quantities needed for cleaning many windows. The convenience of getting vinegar from any local grocery store also beats out ammonia.

Environmental Impact

Both ammonia and vinegar break down quickly in nature, but vinegar has a lower environmental impact overall:

• Ammonia disposal requires more care, since it can be toxic to plants, animals, and aquatic life at high concentrations.
• Vinegar is biodegradable with a low toxicity level and is safer for the environment.
• Ammonia takes more energy and resources to manufacture than naturally-fermented vinegar.
• If accidentally spilled outdoors, vinegar would not pose the same risks as spilled ammonia.

Vinegar’s natural origins and biodegradability give it the environmental advantage over harsher synthetic ammonia.

Ease of Use

When it comes to convenient application for window cleaning, vinegar has some advantages over ammonia:

• Ammonia requires careful handling and dilution as concentrated forms can damage window surfaces.
• Vinegar can be applied undiluted directly from the bottle without risk of damage.
• Spray bottles make vinegar application to windows simple.
• Strong ammonia fumes make thorough ventilation necessary when cleaning.
• Vinegar’s odor dissipates quickly and does not overwhelm like ammonia.

The need for rubber gloves and dealing with irritating ammonia fumes makes it a less user-friendly option than vinegar. Vinegar is simpler to handle and apply to windows.

Window Streaking

While ammonia provides a superior clean, both products carry a risk of leaving streaks on windows. Here are some tips to prevent streaking:

Ammonia

• Always dilute ammonia with water according to label directions before using.
• Wipe windows with newspaper, microfiber cloth or squeegee after applying.
• Rinse windows thoroughly with water after cleaning.
• Only clean windows on cool, overcast days to avoid fast drying.

Vinegar

• Wipe down vinegar with a lint-free cloth or coffee filter after applying.
• Buff windows dry with newspaper or paper towels.
• Mix vinegar with a few drops of dish soap to improve cleaning power.
• Clean windows on cloudy days or in shade to prevent fast evaporation.

Diluting ammonia appropriately and rinsing after use reduces streaking. With vinegar, taking steps to thoroughly wipe and buff after cleaning prevents water spots and waxy film.

Window Types

What type of windows you are cleaning may influence whether ammonia or vinegar works best:

• Glass – Either vinegar or ammonia can be used safely on glass. Ammonia works well for heavy grime.
• Plexiglass – Only use vinegar, as ammonia can damage the plastic.
• Vinyl – Vinegar is recommended, while ammonia could discolor vinyl.
• Wood – Only mild vinegar solutions should be used avoid damaging the wood.
• Aluminum – Ammonia works best for removing oxidation and mineral deposits from aluminum.

Knowing your window materials guides the best cleaner to use while avoiding any damage.

Other Cleaning Uses

Both ammonia and vinegar have a range of cleaning uses beyond windows:

Ammonia

• Floors – great grease cutter for linoleum and tile
• Walls – removes crayon, pencil marks and sticky residue
• Bathrooms – disinfects sinks, tiles and toilets
• Ranges – degreases ovens and stove surfaces
• Glass – excellent for mirrors, windows, and glass surfaces

Vinegar

• Drains – helps clear grease clogs and odor
• Appliances – removes lime and mineral deposits in coffee makers
• Bathrooms – non-toxic disinfectant cleaner for toilets and sinks
• Outdoors – environmentally-safe deck, patio and driveway cleaner
• Laundry – natural fabric softener and static cling reducer

Ammonia works great for heavy degreasing jobs throughout the home. Vinegar’s acidic formula makes it ideal for build-up in appliances and safer outdoor use.

Conclusion

When choosing between ammonia and vinegar for cleaning windows, ammonia is the more powerful cleaner that can tackle stuck-on grime more effectively. However, vinegar is much safer to use with its natural origins, non-toxic profile, and eco-friendly breakdown. Vinegar also holds significant economic advantages over ammonia with its lower cost and availability.

Here are some final guidelines based on their respective strengths and weaknesses:

• Use ammonia for glass windows with heavy grease or nicotine film that needs heavy-duty cleaning. Take safety precautions due to its harshness.
• Use vinegar for routine light cleaning jobs on vinyl, plexiglass, or wood windows where its safety is needed.
• Use vinegar for most eco-friendly, budget-friendly window cleaning tasks.
• Use ammonia only when vinegar fails to cut through stubborn window grime.

Ultimately, vinegar offers a great green alternative to harsher chemicals like ammonia for window cleaning. But for some extreme cleaning challenges, ammonia’s strength is hard to beat.