What Cleaning Products Have Ammonia? Ammonia-Based Cleaning Products for Industrial Uses

At a Glance

• Ammonia (NH₃) dissolves in water to form ammonium hydroxide, an alkaline cleaning agent with a pH of 10-12 that cuts through grease, oil, and grime faster than most alternatives
• Found in glass cleaners, floor strippers, oven cleaners, industrial degreasers, and CIP (clean-in-place) formulations across food processing and manufacturing
• The global ammonia market reached approximately $85.5 billion in 2025, with cleaning and industrial applications representing a significant share
• OSHA’s permissible exposure limit for ammonia is 50 ppm over an 8-hour workday; the NIOSH recommended limit is 25 ppm
• Ammonia must never be mixed with bleach — the reaction produces chloramine gas, which causes respiratory distress and can be fatal in enclosed spaces
• Several US states are banning PFAS in cleaning products by January 2026, which may shift more formulations toward ammonia-based chemistry as a compliant alternative

Ammonia-based cleaning products have been on the market longer than the chemical industry. In Victorian times, housekeepers mixed it with water to shine silver. Nowadays, big food factories have clean-in-place systems with commercial-grade ammonium hydroxide. The chemistry hasn’t changed much. What has changed is the variety of products using it and the lack of awareness about what’s in the cleaning closet.

If you’re asking yourself “Which cleaning products have ammonia?” the answer is – more than you may realise. Ammonia appears in almost all types of cleaning products, from the office glass cleaner to the degreaser in the factory. Knowing where it’s used, what it’s good for and where it shouldn’t be used helps consumers and procurement managers make better decisions.

Here’s everything you need to know. What it is, which products use ammonia (both industrially and at home), the pros and cons, and how it compares with other products.

What is Ammonia and What is Ammonia Used For?

Ammonia (NH₃) is made of nitrogen and hydrogen. When pure, it’s a colorless gas with the distinctive pungent odor. When its used to clean, it becomes ammonium hydroxide (ammonia is dissolved in water) – this is what is found in bottles and drums.

There are three good reasons for using ammonia in cleaning:

Alkalinity: It has a pH of 11-12 in cleaning concentrations, and saponifies fats and oils at a molecular level to turn grease into a water-soluble compound that you can wipe up . Strong alkaline agents such as caustic soda flakes are also widely used in industrial cleaning and degreasing applications because of their effectiveness in breaking down oils, grease, and organic residues.

Volatility: It completely evaporates once applied. No film, no lines, no marks. That’s why its the glass choice

Water solubility: Great at rinsing clean. Unlike with petroleum-based solvents, it doesn’t leave a film behind

Ammonia what else is it used for? Ammonia is used heavily in fertilizers; about 80% of world production is used in fertilisers. The remainder is used for refrigeration, pharmaceuticals, water treatment, plastics and yes, cleaning products.

What Cleaning Products Have Ammonia? The Full List Industrial Cleaning Products With Ammonia

In large-scale industrial cleaning operations, caustic soda lye is commonly utilized for equipment cleaning, drain treatment, and removal of stubborn organic buildup.

All industrial cleaners containing ammonia operate on the same basic principle – the alkalinity dissolves whatever organic or oil-based dirt or grime is on the surface and the volatility means it evaporates when it starts to work.

Common Household Products With Ammonia

You may not have realised but you probably have a whole range of household products with ammonia in your kitchen. Here are the household products with ammonia:

Glass cleaners: The classic. Ammonia removes fingerprints, grease and dirt from glass and dries without leaving streaks. Here’s the most common use for ammonia in cleaning products

All-purpose cleaners: Multi-purpose cleaning sprays often include ammonia for its ability to cut grease on kitchen and bathroom counters, stovetops and appliances

Floor cleaners: Safe for tile, linoleum and vinyl. Not recommended for wood floors – ammonia stains over time

Oven cleaners: The heavy hitters. Ammonia is good for cleaning baked-on grease and carbon deposits

Toilet bowl cleaners: May contain ammonia to remove hard water and other mineral deposits

Stainless steel cleaners: Stains and smudges, but no scratches

To find out what cleaners contain ammonia in your house, turn the bottle around. The label will say “ammonia”, “ammonium hydroxide” or “NH₃”. It will typically be there in cleaning products containing between 1-5% ammonia.

Why Cleaners Containing Ammonia are Better

So why do they still use ammonia in so many formulations when there are hundreds of cleaning chemicals to choose from? Because it’s difficult to find a better value.

Power: Ammonia cuts grease, oil, dirt, baked-on food and other organic soils that mild cleaning products can’t. For commercial applications, it means one pass instead of three passes.

Cost: Its cheap. In early 2025, the global average cost of ammonia was $0.47/kg, and $0.55/kg in North America. When purchased in bulk, commercial cleaning companies save big compared to more expensive degreasers.

No residue: Ammonia cleaning products evaporate, so they don’t leave a film or streak. You don’t have to double-rinse equipment. Floors don’t get slippery buildup.

Speed: Evaporation is rapid. When wet floors cause slips and slow down production on a manufacturing floor or in stockrooms, the ability to evaporate quickly is important.

Versatility: Ammonia is pretty much one of the most versatile cleaning agents available when it comes to the surfaces you can clean.

Ammonia vs Other Cleaning Agents

The takeaway: ammonia owns the degreasing and glass-cleaning space. Bleach owns disinfection. They complement each other in a cleaning program but must never meet in the same bucket.

The Rules for Safety

There’s nothing wrong with using ammonia to clean. Not following them can land you in hospital. This is not an overstatement: according to the CDC, ammonia inhalation injury is the second most common in both workplace and home settings.

The most important rule: Ammonia and bleach are a bad combination. This releases chloramine gas, leading to difficulty breathing, chest pain and, in poorly ventilated spaces (such as bathrooms), death. The “Rainbow Pour” craze, in which people pour different cleaners into a toilet to create a rainbow effect, has led to a rise in respiratory issues in 2025 and 2026.

Ventilation is mandatory: Open windows. Run exhaust fans. In the workplace, make sure ventilation is up to OSHA standards. The OSHA permissible exposure limit is 50 ppm over an 8-hour average; the recommended exposure limit is 25 ppm.

PPE for industrial use:

• Chemical-resistant gloves
• Safety goggles (not just glasses)
• Respirator if concentration is > 5%
• Face shield for splash risk applications

Surfaces to avoid:

• Wood and waxed floors (ammonia removes finish)
• Marble and granite (ammonia is alkaline)
• Aluminum (ammonia may corrode it)
• Rubber seals and gaskets (degrades them over time)

Storage: Store in well-ventilated areas, away from acids and oxidizers.

Strong industrial chemicals such as  sulphuric acid require careful storage and handling protocols because of their highly reactive and corrosive properties in industrial processing environments.

Ammonium hydroxide (20-28%) for industrial use must be stored in steel or polyethylene drums and tanks approved for alkaline substances.

When Not to Use Ammonia

Ammonia isn’t the answer for everything. For porous stone, use enzyme cleaners.

In industrial descaling and surface treatment applications, hydrochloric acid is also commonly used for removing mineral deposits, rust, and scale buildup from equipment and processing systems.

For wood flooring, neutral pH cleaners won’t damage the finish. For disinfection, where killing pathogens is the main goal, bleach or quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) are better than ammonia.

Also, note that “ammonium” and “ammonia” are not always interchangeable cleaning agents. Quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) are a different type of chemical to ammonium for cleaning. Both have nitrogen atoms, but are otherwise different. Don’t be fooled by a product called “ammonium”.

Where the Market Is Heading

The world market for ammonia was $85.5 billion in 2025 and rising. Two trends are on the cleaning front.

First, PFAS bans. US states such as Maine and Minnesota are outlawing the use of PFAS (“forever chemicals”) in cleaning products by January 2026. As products are reformulated, the use of ammonia-based chemistry could increase, as an effective degreaser that’s free of PFAS.

Second, green ammonia. Ammonia production from renewable energy (green hydrogen + air separation) is ramping up around the world. For brands and suppliers looking to green their existing cleaning products, this means a way to reduce carbon emissions without amending the chemistry.

Conclusion

What cleaning products have ammonia? It’s more common than you think From the kitchen window cleaner to the CIP system in a milk processing facility, ammonia’s grease-cutting ability, evaporative nature (leaving no residue behind), and low price tag make it one of the world’s most popular cleaning agents. Ammonia has serious safety considerations – aeration, no mixing with bleach, safety gear – but when used safely, it’s one of the most cost-effective cleaning ingredients at small and large scale.

For industrial buyers seeking large volumes of ammonium hydroxide or cleaning products containing ammonia, Elchemy links procurement professionals with trusted suppliers who provide all documentation, competitive pricing, and help to maintain regulatory compliance.