Household Ammonia in Laundry

[michaelman2]

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.

 

[aamassther]

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).

 

[stan]

Hi Mike

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.

 

[ea56]

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.

 

[appnut]

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. 

 

[gansky1]

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.

 

[mamapinky]

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

 

[warmsecondrinse]

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

 

[mamapinky]

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

 

[chachp]

Kitchen Towels

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">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.</span>

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">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.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">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.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">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.</span>

 

[polkanut]

Mama & Jim,

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.

 

[mark_wpduet]

I started a post about this

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.

 

[yogitunes]

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!...

 

[aamassther]

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.....

 

[mamapinky]

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

 

[yogitunes]

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...

 

[mamapinky]

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.

 

[askolover]

Ammonia is a necessary ingredient

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. 

 

[mamapinky]

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