Thread Number: 59773  /  Tag: Detergents and Additives
Household Ammonia in Laundry
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Post# 824060   5/18/2015 at 20:25 (3,237 days old) by Michaelman2 (Lauderdale by the Sea, FL)        

Does anyone know how effective a half-cup to a cup of household ammonia might be in a HE machine that has kitchen oily cloths and such in the load? Would this cause harm to the machine? I already use an HE detergent, STTP and at times an O2 bleach. Am wondering if the ammonia might make a difference. I use a "bulky" cycle so the amount of water is significantly increased as opposed to the "whites" cycle that barely uses enough water. I always program for a second rinse as well.




Post# 824081 , Reply# 1   5/18/2015 at 22:54 (3,237 days old) by aamassther (Hendersonville, NC )        

aamassther's profile picture
I've used ammonia for upwards of 30 yrs. it's a very effective deodoriser and a pretty good degreaser. I use about a half cup in my front load. If I use ammonia I don't use o2 bleach, I don't like mixing more than one additive in a load. Plus I use it mainly on jeans, socks, towels and t/polo shirts (great for perspiration odour).

Post# 824089 , Reply# 2   5/19/2015 at 00:44 (3,237 days old) by stan (Napa CA)        
Hi Mike

stan's profile picture
If your nervous about adding ammonia to the machine, you could try soaking the oily dish towels in a bucket of hot ammonia water, wring out, then wash in your machine normal cycle, with detergent.
That ought to work.


Post# 824090 , Reply# 3   5/19/2015 at 00:50 (3,237 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.)        

ea56's profile picture
Whatever you do, DO NOT add chlorine bleach to any load that you have added ammonia to, even items that you may have soaked in another container and wrung out. The two products together create a poison gas. I know from personal experience when I was a teenager.

Post# 824104 , Reply# 4   5/19/2015 at 05:30 (3,237 days old) by appnut (TX)        

appnut's profile picture

I wash my kitchen towels and cloths as well as napkins separate than whites.  Tide with Bleach and Sanitary (155 degree) heater boosted with steam.  Never an issue.  A prewash might be needed if you're concerned. 


Post# 824115 , Reply# 5   5/19/2015 at 06:43 (3,237 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture
Ammonia works great on oily soils and helps lift the body oils in work-out clothes, sheets, etc. It won't hurt your machine in small amounts (1/4-1/2 cup). I've used it for years in laundry as well, but just remember to get regular non-sudsy ammonia, the sudsy version will swamp an HE machine pretty quickly.

Post# 824120 , Reply# 6   5/19/2015 at 07:25 (3,237 days old) by mamapinky (blairsville pa)        
I will try

Ammonia on some sheets and pillowcases that were my mothers and have that old body oil smell which I'm sure comes from moms hubby disconnecting the hot water from the washer (he's a penny pinching a $$&@) I think I will wash them first with just STPP to try and strip the detergent and fabric softener out of them. Any one have a recommendation on how much ammonia I should use in a standard water hog?? I would like to save and be able to use this bedding, I don't think they are very old maybe 10-15 years but they are wonderfully smooth and crisp feeling. Thank you Cheryl

Post# 824125 , Reply# 7   5/19/2015 at 08:16 (3,237 days old) by warmsecondrinse (Fort Lee, NJ)        
ammonia vs STPP?

Thanks for this tip! My main 'dirt' problem is perspiration and body oils....

Many of the places I work have insufficient a/c ... and I DON'T mean under-cooled so the compressors run longer for better dehumidification, lol. My arms are going for 20 minutes at a time (more if I'm working solo) so I sweat so much my shirts have white salt stains on them once they've dried. Combine that with my very oily skin and the result is not pretty.

How would you rate the effectiveness of ammonia vs that of STPP for this kind of dirt? Is it safe/effective to use both together?

Thanks,

Jim



Post# 824130 , Reply# 8   5/19/2015 at 08:33 (3,236 days old) by mamapinky (blairsville pa)        

Jim..I can't answer all your questions but my teenage daughter who has a serious and cronic medical condition sweats a lot.. very bad underarm sweat.. I always had a problem removing the odors until I started using STPP and that along with a TOL laundry detergent has completely solved the underarm stains/odor problem in her shirts, but I'm also wondering if ammonia and STPP can be used together. Cheryl

Post# 824132 , Reply# 9   5/19/2015 at 08:41 (3,236 days old) by chachp (North Little Rock, AR)        
Kitchen Towels

chachp's profile picture

My kitchen towels are all white "bar" towels.  They are some kind of cotton and while they might get stained from different foods they are never oily to speak of.

I always run them through the soak cylce with Oxy Clean.  My soak cycle runs for 2 hours and keeps the water at a warm temperature but I don't have the book in front of me so I can't say what the temp is.  I'd guess around 120 or so.

 

Then I wash them with Persil Pro Clean and a scoop of Oxy Clean on the Sanitary cycle which I think is 161 degrees in my machine but again I'd have to confirm with the book.

 

My whites are BRIGHT white and stain free.  As I had mentioned in an earlier post I had used the Sears detergent for a number of years and they were Almost Bright white but when I bought the Persil ProClean it was like in your face White!!  Huge difference.


Post# 824133 , Reply# 10   5/19/2015 at 08:47 (3,236 days old) by polkanut (Wausau, WI )        
Mama & Jim,

polkanut's profile picture

We use ammonia all the time when doing laundry and have found that 1 full cup does the job just fine.  You can go as high as 1 1/2 cups for an extra large load, but no more than that in my opinion.  The ammonia and STPP can used together.  We do it all the time with our laundry, and no bad effects from it yet.  Been using them together + detergents for over 5 years.


Post# 824134 , Reply# 11   5/19/2015 at 08:49 (3,236 days old) by mark_wpduet (Lexington KY)        
I started a post about this

mark_wpduet's profile picture
a LONG time ago on another forum. Yes, I use ammonia when I wash colors. I use chlorine bleach for whites. I've never used bleach and ammonia in the same load of clothes.

Post# 824136 , Reply# 12   5/19/2015 at 08:55 (3,236 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
Ammonia should be on everyone's list of basic items for laundering....a good detergent is your best start

as well as bleach, STPP, Borax, vinegar, baking soda....and even Dawn dish soap or lemon juice...

no matter what comes out on the market as a new product, we always seem to return to the basics, guaranteed results every time....


OxiClean works best if allowed to soak for an extended period...

of course, about the only two that should not be mixed together is bleach and ammonia in the same wash.......and usually recommended that bleach be added 5 minutes after a wash has started to allow the detergent to do its job, and then the bleach can take over.......a lot of FL machines add the bleach as a separate rinse after the wash water has drained and refilled, actually using cold water!...


Post# 824141 , Reply# 13   5/19/2015 at 09:29 (3,236 days old) by aamassther (Hendersonville, NC )        

aamassther's profile picture
Jim, ammonia is great for fresh, heavy perspiration stains. Just pour it on full strength and let it soak in before your wash. Though a liberal dose in the wash water usually does the trick.Vinegar for old stains, full strength and let soak for several hours or overnight. I was able to strip the hard antiperspirant stains out of coloured t-shirt this way years ago. (Poured a couple gallons in a bucket and let soak for a couple days, got rid of the OBA haze too).
I agree with Yogi, I try all the new stuff but usually end back to the basics.....


Post# 824174 , Reply# 14   5/19/2015 at 13:18 (3,236 days old) by mamapinky (blairsville pa)        

Tim thank you for telling me the amount of ammonia to use and that its ok with the stpp.
Martin yep I agree about the list of laundry supplies to keep on hand..I had the ammonia I just never use it the thread got me to thinking about this bedding that I've put off doing. I knew I would need more than laundry detergent as they have been bagged up for 7 years. Thank you for your advice take care Cheryl


Post# 824190 , Reply# 15   5/19/2015 at 16:38 (3,236 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
a preference among Ammonia brands if you can find it in your area is Parson's Lemon Ammonia.....not a harsh ammonia smell, in fact its a great smell for clothing or regular cleaning...

when Clorox came out with the 'Lemon' scent it was fantastic smelling, now not so much of a lemon scent as it used to have....so I just stick with the regular...


Post# 824207 , Reply# 16   5/19/2015 at 17:48 (3,236 days old) by mamapinky (blairsville pa)        

Parsons lemon has my vote..walmart in my area never has it so I pick it up at the local Shop and Save grocery store. I always buy regular clorox bleach I haven't ever bought the other flavors. I would love it though if tide or some other tol or mol detergent company would make a lemon ..like fab with lemon scented borax in the past. Never hurts to dream lol.

Post# 824211 , Reply# 17   5/19/2015 at 18:02 (3,236 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)        
Ammonia is a necessary ingredient

askolover's profile picture

if you have cats that are temperamental.  It will neutralize and remove cat pee from something a mad cat has taken its anger out on. 


Post# 824212 , Reply# 18   5/19/2015 at 18:10 (3,236 days old) by mamapinky (blairsville pa)        

My chi peed on the bedroom carpet one time I called the vet in a panic lol asking what to clean it with he said never use ammonia as it won't neutralize the odor and will in fact encourage the dog to go there again..was he wrong?? Sometimes I still think I smell that pee but everyone else says its **all in my head** lol

Post# 824229 , Reply# 19   5/19/2015 at 19:54 (3,236 days old) by aamassther (Hendersonville, NC )        

aamassther's profile picture
I like the lemon too. Can't find Parson's locally but Target sells lemon ammonia for 1.12. Which is at least .70 cheaper than anywhere else.
Vinegar will help to neutralise the ammonia smell that the kitties are attracted to.


Post# 824234 , Reply# 20   5/19/2015 at 20:16 (3,236 days old) by cuffs054 (MONTICELLO, GA)        

Mama, had to laugh at your post. Been through the "I am the Cat. Do not F*** with me" problems. However, a recent visit by my SIL showed a new side to the little dog. SIL was folding clothes and went to put some away. Sweet Maggie Mae made a beeline for the spot where sil was standing and let loose a bowel movement that would have made a large adult human proud. She just as quickly went back to her blanket and pretended to be asleep. Damn her!

Post# 824240 , Reply# 21   5/19/2015 at 20:34 (3,236 days old) by mamapinky (blairsville pa)        
hehehe

Cuffs..did you see sweet maggie mae do this?? Lmao...doesn't SIL stand for sister in law?? Lmao...just joking..haha cheryl

Post# 824241 , Reply# 22   5/19/2015 at 20:38 (3,236 days old) by cuffs054 (MONTICELLO, GA)        

Yes, Mama I had my eye on the little bitch from the get go. Boy is she fast! She is also the master of the "why are you upset with me" face. I'm not saying that the dog expressed a common feeling about said SIL...

Post# 824243 , Reply# 23   5/19/2015 at 21:24 (3,236 days old) by mamapinky (blairsville pa)        
lmao

This was a good laugh for me tonight. ..and sounds like sweet maggie mae would get along with my little lil she's a bitch too lol....cheryl

Post# 824259 , Reply# 24   5/19/2015 at 23:09 (3,236 days old) by Michaelman2 (Lauderdale by the Sea, FL)        

Thanks all for the advice and wisdom...I have a bottle of Parson's Lemon on hand....giving the towels a wash in the suggested combination(s) tonight.

Thanks again!


Post# 824284 , Reply# 25   5/20/2015 at 06:41 (3,236 days old) by Magic_Clean (Florida)        
Ace Hardware

has Janitorial strength ammonia that is very powerful. Works great for many household cleaning uses and is especially effective at dealing with greasy soils and deodorizing gym wear. It's available in a quart or gallon jug at the store.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO Magic_Clean's LINK


Post# 824286 , Reply# 26   5/20/2015 at 07:01 (3,236 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture
The ACE Hardware is what I buy as well. 10% is a pretty strong concentration, and you'll know it when you open the bottle! I use it rarely for other uses so a gallon lasts a long time at 1/2 cup in the occasional wash load.

Post# 824547 , Reply# 27   5/21/2015 at 18:58 (3,234 days old) by washingpowder (NYC)        

Being the main ingredient of most pets' urine, ammonia acts as a solvent, since like dissolves like. It's the only additive that can actually help getting rid of cat's spray.
I pour some in an empty spray bottle and saturate underarm areas of shirts well to remove antiperspirant stains; regardless of severity it always seems to work if let sit for a couple of minutes with maybe a quick rub. Never found anything to fade or get damaged, even when used full-strength on deep blacks.
Good additive to boost overall cleaning performance, but nothing that would sweep one off one's feet. Definitely good alkalinity builder for gentler detergents.


Post# 824554 , Reply# 28   5/21/2015 at 19:59 (3,234 days old) by mamapinky (blairsville pa)        

I am going to try the ammonia tomorrow on the spot on the carpet where little lil pee'd...I know the exact spot because I keep baking soda on it covered with a paper towel and vacume and change it daily...I have a great sense of smell and I know I smell pi $$ regardless of what family members say...maybe I should be covering it with powdered tide that would surly cover the scent..lol...Cheryl

Post# 824592 , Reply# 29   5/22/2015 at 06:32 (3,234 days old) by retro-man (- boston,ma)        

Cheryl, Petco, PetSmart and others all have liquids to use on spots in carpeting that removes the stains and odors. I have friends with cats and they use it on their carpeting and it removes all traces of the urine. I am allergic to cats and I have a real sensitive nose when it comes to cats and their spraying. I can't go into their houses for more than 5 minutes without sneezing and stuffing up completely. This does help a lot. They use it in their solution when they are cleaning their carpets also and that's when I go to visit. I have located many times for them where they have missed or its on a wall or curtains or furniture that was not washed. Your problem may lie deeper than just the carpet but may be in the padding or worse down to the floor under the padding.

Jon



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