It is commonly used to help as a solvent material in glass cleaners. It’s a very effective ingredient in glass cleaners, but too much exposure to it is not safe.

It also evaporates quickly to help keep the surface free from streaks.īutyl glycol, or ethylene glycol butyl ether/2-butoxyethanol, is the chemical found in Windex. It is often used because it can dissolve the types of oils and grease often left behind by fingerprints. Isopropyl alcohol is what you probably know as rubbing alcohol. Some concentrations are deadly, so we recommend avoiding ammonia or using a face mask when you use it.Īlcohols are another effective cleaning agent that many cleaners use instead of ammonia. High exposure to ammonia can cause respiratory problems like coughing or irritation in your nose or throat. It is very effective as a cleaner, but has risks. It may be listed as ammonium hydroxide, which is watered down ammonia.

Cleaning agentsĬommon types of active chemicals in glass cleaners include ammonia and alcohol, but you can also find chemical-free, all-natural glass cleaners.Īmmonia is a very commonly produced chemical and is used often in glass cleaners. Alkaline materials help the product evaporate completely off the surface of the glass. Alkaline chemicals are oil dissolvers and help the glass release sticky prints and smudges which usually repel water alone. Glass cleaners usually have alkaline materials with a high pH. The cleaning solutions in a good glass cleaner will evaporate quickly to prevent streaking. Simply spray or saturate a cloth with glass cleaner, wipe carefully, and you’re done. The cleaning agents in glass cleaners can dissolve the oils and dirt that get stuck on glass, and that other cleaners can’t quite get “invisibly” clean. You won’t get sparkling clean glass with basic soap and water.

Besides aesthetic reasons, glass should be cleaned regularly to prevent permanent staining and damage from elements like rain, snow, and pollution.

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