The Ammonia Dispute

I realize that my off-the-chart case of OCD leaves me with a slightly skewed view of what is typical when it comes to housekeeping. It’s also why Janitor’s World makes me a bit giddy and why I know I could never be on Wife Swap or Survivor. It’s why I visit this website more than the one you’re reading right now.

Anyway, while it’s a slight blog hijack, I need your help in settling a little dispute. In a recent crisis situation involving vomit, I leapt into action and asked my friend, a fellow Parkie, for her ammonia. She looked at me like I was super crazy and said she’d never bought ammonia in her life. How do you get to be 40 years old and never buy a single bottle of ammonia?

Even if you don’t clean your own house you have ammonia somewhere like under the kitchen sink or in your laundry room, right? Settle it.

By Merritt Patterson Mar. 4, 2011 | 9:06 am | 17 Comments | Comments RSS
17 comments to "The Ammonia Dispute "
  1. James Tucker @ March 4, 2011 at 9:15 am
    Yes. It’s also in Windex and a lot of other cleaning products.

  2. Merritt Patterson @ March 4, 2011 at 9:28 am
    It doesn’t count if it’s an ingredient in something you have on hand. I’m talking straight bottle.

  3. Avid Reader @ March 4, 2011 at 9:35 am
    Never have, never will.

  4. Kristy @ March 4, 2011 at 9:41 am
    True, I’ve never bought my own bottle of ammonia, but as a kid I know we had it in our house. However, what I remember my mom using it for the most was soaking wash cloths in ammonia and water, then we’d use them at my softball games to keep from getting overheated! But that was south Louisiana and we do things a little different there so I’m sure now you’re the one with the look of confusion on your face! But I guess, I’ll have to get a bottle to keep in my house just to put your mind at ease when your kid is playing at my house :o )

  5. mk @ March 4, 2011 at 9:50 am
    Our house does not have ammonia. Does this mean we have to break up?

  6. Anita @ March 4, 2011 at 9:56 am
    I have never had a bottle of straight ammonia. Too dangerous if you accidently mix it with another cleaning product.

  7. kmom @ March 4, 2011 at 10:00 am
    Sure, I buy ammonia, I keep it next to my cylinders for the gramophone and the fleam I use for bleeding the children when they’re under the weather.

  8. hpparent @ March 4, 2011 at 10:26 am
    No straight ammonia at my house – wouldn’t even know a brand to buy! – but Pine-Sol takes care of all our smelly household needs. I love that scent. Original only.

  9. sls @ March 4, 2011 at 10:33 am
    I bought a bottle because I thought it’s something everyone should have on hand and it’s still sitting, unopened, in a garage cabinet.

  10. Nice Mom @ March 4, 2011 at 10:49 am
    No straight ammonia at my house, although I grew up with it. I use only “green” cleaning products now, and they don’t work that well, but maybe they will prove to be healthier for me and my family.

  11. Terese @ March 4, 2011 at 11:58 am
    I don’t have a bottle right now but have bought it to run through the Washing machine to prevent any mildewy smells. Also, putting Ammonia on cotton balls out in the garden will keep rogue cats out of your yard.

  12. HPHS Mom @ March 4, 2011 at 12:07 pm
    Absolutely! My son is terribly allergic to fire ant stings. When he was little, I realized that the only ingredient in those bite pens is ammonia. I keep a quart-sized bottle in the laundry room and a small bottle in the medicine bag that goes with us on trips.

    Dilute it to wash mirrors and windows – who needs Windex? Use it to treat acidic stains, like fresh perspiration or urine, or fatty or greasy stains.

    Ammonia is a gas so it evaporates during laundering. My guess is some Park Cities folks don’t know what their maids use for cleaning.

  13. Gadfly @ March 4, 2011 at 1:34 pm
    I can’t believe it! Every upstanding female parkie should keep this staple in her house. It’s the only way to keep the jewels sparkly. One part ammonia to two parts water cleans your stones better than any overpriced jewelry cleaner you can find out there. Seriously! Even an estate jewelry specialist recently confirmed that this formula is superior (my mom’s jewelry had to be appraised recently). It’s all about the sparkle!

  14. Jessica @ March 4, 2011 at 3:47 pm
    sparkly jewels vs. toxic inhalant. nice.
    http://healthychild.org/issues/chemical-pop/ammonia/

    We live in a time of abundant alternatives. Your lungs will thank you.

  15. Gadfly @ March 4, 2011 at 4:21 pm
    Jessica, rest assured that I was just having fun with this post, and I have no children to worry about. And I seldom get that dressed up to require sparkly jewels. But, there are choices–to inhale or not to inhale. I choose NOT to inhale.

  16. Lawyer Mom @ March 4, 2011 at 4:44 pm
    No. The smell reminds me of a litter box. But I’ll sure keep it in mind for diamond baths.

    Try vinegar mixed with water in a spray bottle for . . . just about everything. And white vinegar is a great, cheap no-tox fabric softener; it gets out all the soap, too.

  17. Ima Mom @ March 8, 2011 at 9:01 am
    House cleaning…. What is the going rate for a housekeeper? I am looking to hire someone but I don’t know what is a fair wage.

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