Who’d mind using a cleaning agent that effortlessly makes the car shine like it came out of the showroom? Ammonia is such a strong cleaner that it takes you by surprise because of its efficient and quick cleaning power.
However, the proverb “all that glitters isn’t gold” perfectly fits ammonia-based cleaners. Here’s why:
Car Damage
What can be worse than using a product to clean your car and having it damaged instead? Ammonia-based cleaners can create that situation. Here’s are a few examples to note.
Car Damage: Peeling of Tinted Windows
Ammonia is your window tint’s worst enemy. It is highly corrosive, and its harsh nature can loosen the adhesive used in the tinting film. The result? The film cracks and peels over time after repeated use of ammonia-based cleaners. It’ll make your windows look messy and fail to block any UV rays approaching the car. If not damaged, the cleaner can fog the tint, blurring the window glass.
Car Damage: Fading and Discoloration of Interiors
Ammonia is quite harsh on leather and plastic. The consequences might include fading, cracking, or discoloration of surfaces, making your car look way older than it is. Also, don’t take anyone’s experience for that because not all materials react the same way, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Car Damage: Damage to Rubber Seals
Ammonia is known to make the rubber swell and deform over time, failing to serve its purpose. Since rubber seals secure the car’s windows, doors, and hoses, using ammonia-based cleaners to clean these parts can cause several issues. The insulation may be reduced, and there is a chance for leaks because of potential cracks.
Car Damage: Streaky Windshield
It might be a surprise, but the ammonia’s effect on rubber directly results in streaky windshields. Using these cleaners to make your windshield and its wipers shine will hit the rubber component. The wiper blades will consequently be damaged over time, leading to streaks on the windshield every time you use the wipers to wipe off the windshield. A dirty windshield blurs vision, which can be risky. In short, ammonia-based cleaners will leave much more to repair on the car than cleaning its parts.
Part 2: Health Risks
If you don’t mind spending on car repair after enjoying ammonia’s “excellent” cleaning power, here’s what might raise your concern.
Health Risks: Respiratory Issues
Exposure to ammonia, especially in confined spaces like a car’s interior, can also damage your health. Ammonia evaporates as fumes, and before it enters the environment, it catches your nasal passages. People report a burning sensation for a while, and if the exposure persists, it can lead to respiratory blockage. You’ll end up coughing, wheezing, and being short of breath. To add to that, it can be your ticket to heaven if you already have respiratory issues like asthma.
Health Risks: Skin and Eye Problems
New York’s Department of Health has highlighted that exposure to even low concentrations leads to skin and eye irritation. However, the higher amount will lead to a worse situation, i.e., burns. Therefore, immediately move away from the cleaning spot if you feel redness, irritation, and itching in your eyes or skin.
Health Risks: Headache and Dizziness
If you get into a car that has just been cleaned by ammonia, you have invited trouble. Ammonia triggers headaches, nausea, and even dizziness that can impair your driving ability. Thus, besides being a health hazard, ammonia can also be a safety risk.
Part 3: Environmental Concerns
When the world is already battling environmental degradation because of pollutants coming from all sorts of things, ammonia just adds to the issues.
Environmental Concerns: Water Contamination
Ammonia, being highly alkalic, disturbs the water’s pH balance. Whenever you wash your car with ammonia-based products, the liquid is bound to drain into the rivers and lakes. When ammonia is present in water bodies, it becomes difficult for aquatic life to excrete the toxic compound from the body efficiently. It builds up in their internal organs, ultimately leading to death. Some fish and water life are more sensitive to ammonia than human beings, and even levels below 1 ppm are toxic.
Environmental Concerns: Air Pollution
Ammonia is quite persistent, staying in the air for up to an hour or more once evaporated. Its highly alkaline nature makes it react with the gases in the air, producing harmful particulate matter. Particulate matter is even more stubborn, staying in the environment for days and traveling large distances. These toxic particles are responsible for many respiratory and cardiac diseases, which can precede premature mortality.
Part 4: Alternative Car Cleaning Products
Do all these drawbacks of ammonia-based cleaners take you aback? Well, here’s the good news. The markets are ready to serve you with various ammonia-free cleaners. You know what’s better? You can even have a DIY solution at home. Isn’t that great? So, here are some safe alternatives to protect your car and health!
Alternative 1: Ammonia-Free Glass Cleaners
The market now offers many ammonia-free options, and you can look for the label or ingredients list to be sure. Some brands, such as Invisible Glass and Chemical Guys, have realized the need for time and offer ammonia-free cleaners, providing you with a wide range of safe choices.
Alternative 2: Plant-based Cleaners
Plant-based cleaners are the way to go for those who prioritize the environment. Brands like Simple Green and Eco Touch are the best ones to offer plant-based cleaners in the market,
Alternative 3: Baking Soda
Whether you want to scrub the dirt off or remove stains, diluted vinegar and baking soda can do the job without polluting the environment. The mildly abrasive baking soda removes dirt, dust, and grime from the car’s surface without posing any danger. Mix equal amount of baking soda and vinegar until you achieve a paste-like consistency.
Alternative 4: Vinegar and Water Solution
This mixture is a natural ammonia-free remedy that effectively cleans windows and interiors without causing any harmful effects. Mix 1 part vinegar with three parts of water to neutralize the vinegar’s acidic effects and see the magic for yourself.
Alternative 5: Essential Oils
They effectively clean your car and leave a delightful, lingering scent. Moreover, essential oils have antimicrobial properties that ensure thorough cleaning and better hygiene.
Everything has pros and cons, but addressing the cons is urgent when they outweigh the pros. That’s the case with ammonia. So, it is time to switch to options that prove gentle to your car and environment.
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Zainab Noor is a motoring journalist. Childhood rides in Nissan Almera fueled her love for cars. After graduating from AIOU in 2021, she steered her passion into freelance writing. You can find Zainab on LinkedIn.
