One of the most common ways that ammonia is used is to clean. Because of how it works, it is a great product for getting dirt and stains off many different surfaces.
So, ammonia is perfect for getting rid of the dirt that has built up on wood floors, furniture, tiles, glass, and other surfaces.
When ammonia is mixed with water, it can clean wood floors. But you can’t use it lightly because it is also used to take the varnish off the wood. So, you need to make sure the wood is not varnished.
If unsure, soak a cloth in ammonia mixed with water and clean a small area of the wood to see if the color changes.
Ammonia can also be used to change the color of oak wood. Let’s find out all about ammonia on wood floors as described below:
What is ammonia, and what is it used for?
Ammonia is a natural gas that has no color. It is made when organic matter breaks down.
This chemical element is used to fertilize the soil and to make many cleaning products. You’ll probably wonder what ammonia is and how it can be used to clean.
Well, ammonia can be used to clean all kinds of surfaces, get rid of oil or grease stains, clean wine stains, and even clean glasses. It’s also important to remember that ammonia disinfects surfaces!
What is liquid ammonia?
Liquid ammonia is a mixture of ammonia and water. It is also called ammonia water, ammonia solution, and ammonium hydroxide.
It was considered among the house’s most useful items.
The solvent is great for removing dirt and stains, but it takes some time to get used to the smell. Wiping the wood floor with ammonia water, which has been used for years and doesn’t cost much, is a great way to clean it.
How to use ammonia on wood floor
Ammonia is a great cleaner for the house; if you use it correctly, it won’t hurt or irritate anything. Ammonia has a strong smell, so many people can’t stand it.
If you don’t mind, you can use it to clean unvarnished wood surfaces in your home since it works well and doesn’t hurt them.
Ammonia must always be mixed with water because it can irritate the mucous membranes and harm health.
On the other hand, it should only be used in places with good airflow. Keeping all of this in mind, we want to show you how to use ammonia for wood and get tough stains and grease off your wooden floors.
Steps to follow:
Ammonia is a strong cleaner and disinfectant, but it can hurt your lungs or skin if you don’t use it right.
Mix 1 part of ammonia with 4 parts of water to do this. This is a good way to clean wood that is also safe for your health.
In any case, ammonia smells very strong and bad, so you must be careful when using it.
Don’t use your bare hands to touch ammonia. Even though it’s diluted, it doesn’t have to be irritating. However, some people with sensitive skin may get contact dermatitis because their skin isn’t used to this substance.
Also, please don’t use the mixture of ammonia and water in small, closed-off areas where there isn’t enough airflow. The strong smell of this mixture can be irritating.
Cleaning wooden floors, furniture, and other items made of this material with ammonia is safe and works well, especially for getting rid of grease stains.
But you should remember that ammonia can change the color of some finishes, like special paints or varnishes.
To ensure you don’t have problems with your wooden furniture or doors, you should test to see if ammonia can change their color.
Keep in mind that you can’t usually clean wood floors with ammonia because the floors are fragile and could be ruined by using this product too often.
Put a small amount of the product on a cloth and place it in a hidden wood floor area to see if the ammonia changes color. If so, you should use a wood-safe cleaner that is gentle.
We must be careful when treating a surface with ammonia because wood is fragile and shouldn’t be exposed to too much water.
Humidity can cause mold growth in wood and modify its structure, causing its expansion or deformity.
Apply the mixture of ammonia and water to a rag, let it soak in, and wring it out to get rid of extra water. After putting it on the surface, rinse it with a wet cloth that has been well wrung out.
Remember that ammonia is abrasive, so you shouldn’t use it all the time to clean wood. Use it only when you need to.
If your wooden floors or furniture are outside or in a room with a lot of moisture, mold can grow on them and ruin the wood. Ammonia can be used to solve the problem.
Soak a damp cloth in a little watered-down ammonia and rub it on the moldy parts.
Keep doing this step until the rag looks clean. You’ll see how they return to how it usually looks, and you’ll have more time to enjoy them.
In short, ammonia is a strong and effective cleaner for wood surfaces, but it must be used correctly to avoid problems.
Disadvantages of ammonia
- The smell of this disinfectant is strong and sometimes overpowering, which is why many people can’t stand it. But if this doesn’t apply to you, you can use it without worrying.
- It is usually used to clean kitchens, stoves, and grease splatters on tiles or ceramic hobs. But you can use ammonia to clean furniture or wooden floors.
- Another problem is that we always mix it with water because it can irritate the mucous membranes and make people and animals sick.
- Ammonia is a good and safe way to deep clean wood, but it could damage some finishes like special paints, waxes, or varnishes.
Advantages of ammonia on wood floors
- Dissolves even stubborn dirt
- Provides a beautiful shine
- Enables hygienic cleaning
- Inexpensive and economical cleaning agent
Best tips for using ammonia on wooden floors
A beautiful wooden floor creates a feel-good atmosphere. In particular, wood floors are popular classics that look both old and new, are durable and quiet, and are easy to take care of. Even so, cleaning isn’t one of your favorite things to do around the house.
When it comes to floor care, a cheap cleaning product that works well is worth its weight in gold.
The following guide reveals why cleaning the wood floor with ammonia solution leads to clean results and what needs to be considered.
Why is ammonia solution suitable for cleaning the wood floor?
A large proportion of the cleaning agents in the supermarket are based on ammonia. So it’s no wonder that ammonia water or ammonia solution is used as an effective stain remover and cleaning agent in the home.
Follow the directions for using the ammonia solution and keeping yourself safe when cleaning wooden floors.
You can look forward to a clean and shiny result because ammonia water can often quickly and easily remove stubborn dirt from the wood floor.
What must be considered when cleaning the wood floor with ammonia water?
When cleaning wood floors with ammonia water, you should be careful because if used incorrectly, it can hurt the floor and make you sick.
If the tried-and-true all-purpose cleaner is used in the home, the vapors shouldn’t be breathed in directly, and the rooms should have enough airflow.
Liquid ammonia can irritate the mucous membranes and respiratory tract. It can also make the skin redden or itch if it comes in contact with the skin.
Because of this, you should wear rubber cleaning gloves and, if possible, long clothes when wiping an ammonia solution on a wood floor to protect your skin.
Last but not least, children can’t get to the ammonia water. The cleaning supplies should be kept in a cupboard that children can’t access, like the pantry or basement.
People with sensitive skin, skin diseases, allergies, or lung diseases shouldn’t use ammonia to clean their wooden floors. Instead, they should use gentler home remedies.
What are the alternatives to ammonia when cleaning wood floors?
Ammonia water is the finest way to clean a wooden floor, but you can also use black tea, a vinegar-based cleanser, vegetable oils, or soft soap.
Using vegetable oils sold in stores gives the surface of the sealed wood floor new protection and shine. Black tea also makes an old, varnished wood floor look like it was just installed.
Using soft soap and vinegar-based cleaners is the best way to get rid of tough stains on wood floors, and the same is true here: Make sure you use the right amount and mix it in the right way so that the surface or floor covering doesn’t get damaged.
All cleaners and household products should be tried on a less visible part of the wood floor to ensure they don’t stain or damage.
What else is ammonia used for?
As already mentioned, ammonia was one of the popular all-rounders in the household.
Ammonia is a tried-and-true and cheap home remedy that can clean wood floors. There are also other ways to use it:
- Gets rid of limescale on tiles, faucets, and shower heads
- Brings back the shine to stainless steel
- Gets rid of discoloration and mold on joints
- Gets rid of tough urine stains in the toilet
- Gets rid of grease stains on kitchen surfaces
- Shines up cloudy glasses
- It cleans windows without leaving streaks
- gets rid of stains on clothes
- is an effective insect repellent
Cleaning wooden floors with ammonia is a good way to keep them clean using simple household items. If you use all of the tips, you can keep your wood floor looking great for a long time.
Bleach vs. ammonia
Because of their different properties, each can be used for different things. You should know that bleach disinfects wood floors better than ammonia, but it doesn’t eliminate grease as well as ammonia.
Bleach’s main use is as a disinfectant that kills viruses, so we use it on surfaces we often touch to stop food from getting dirty.
We’ll use it on door and cabinet handles, countertops, faucets, electrical appliances, etc.
- It is very rough, so chrome or enameled surfaces shouldn’t be cleaned.
- It can be used on white clothes, but it will make colored clothes fade.
- Ammonia’s main use is to remove grease and make things like windows, lamps, and other surfaces shine.
- It can be used on chrome but never on varnished wood or enamel.
- The best way to use it is to mix it with water.
- We should never mix these two things because it makes a highly toxic substance that can kill.
In any case, if you need a very deep clean or want to disinfect your home thoroughly, it is best to call a cleaning service whose professionals will get the job done quickly and well.