Windex - What About It?

Windex – What About It?

Windex is a common household cleaning product that is used to make windows squeaky clean and streak-free due to its qualities which give Windex its ability to dissolve substances (dirt) allowing them to combine. Windex is made of a solution of 2-hexoxyethanol, isopropanolamine, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, lauramine oxide, ammonium hydroxide, fragrance (perfumes), liquitint sky blue dye [3]. One of the most common window cleansing chemical in the mixture is ammonium hydroxide, otherwise known as ammonia diluted in water [1]. Ammonium hydroxide is one of the most common controversial chemicals used in households across Canada today.

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Windex is a cleaner, so what’s the issue? Even though it is a phenomenal window cleaner, there is one major issue with it – it is not environmentally friendly. Ammonium hydroxide is composed of nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen bonded together. Due to these elements being bonded together, the compound now poses threats to humans, animals, and Earth’s ecological systems. The ways which it specifically is harmful are rooted in the following three concerns:

1.)    The fumes are toxic to inhale – humans, animals, and plants are poisoned by ammonium hydroxide fumes. A controversial issue surrounding this is known as “huffing” which is inhaling the fumes to get a high. Huffing ammonium hydroxide and/or Windex leads to permanent lung damage and temporary burns which can result in severe asthma, and even loss of consciousness [2] [3] [4].

2.)    The solution is toxic to consume – Humans, animals, and plants cannot consume this substance safely. Drinking ammonium hydroxide and/or Windex leads to extreme internal burns and injury to the digestive tract [2] [3] [4].

3.)    The solution is harmful to the environment after it breaks down - decomposes into nitrogen oxides and ammonia [2] which can lead to ground level ozone production, and other pollutants such as smog and acid rain.

What other options are there? Two natural cleansing agents are vinegar or baking soda. These can be mixed with water to create an environmentally friendly glass cleanser. The baking soda reacts with the vinegar which helps to remove the dirt just like ammonium hydroxide would. This simple replacement could save the planet from further damage caused by pollution. Go ahead; try this one at home with the help from an adult.

References:

1. Chemistry Learner. Ammonium Hydroxide. (2016) (http://www.chemistrylearner.com/ammonium-hydroxide.html)

2. Fisher Scientific. Ammonium Hydroxide Water Solution. Material Safety Data Sheet (2008)

3. Johnson & Son, S. C. Windex Original Glass Cleaner. A Family Company (2016) (http://www.whatsinsidescjohnson.com/us/en/brands/windex/windex-original-glass-cleaner)

4. Johnson & Son, S. C. Windex Ammonia-D. Material Safety Data Sheet (2009)

5. ROBINSON, G. Extreme window cleaning [online]. 2010. [Accessed 9 November 2016]. Available from: (http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3468902)