So you are using Fabuloso but sometimes get that strong smell of ammonia or perhaps your eyes are watering by using it.
Ammonia is used in many cleaning products because of its ability to clean glass without streaking, kill mildew, cut soap scum, disinfect surfaces and cut through grease and grime. But is it used in fabuloso?
In this article, we’ll see if Fabuloso Multipurpose cleaner contains ammonia and other useful information.
Does Fabuloso Have Ammonia?
Fabuloso Cleaners (Fabuloso and Fabuloso Complete) do not contain Ammonia in them. They mostly contain surfactants, water, fragrances, colorants, and mild disinfectants.
When you bleach proteins, the reaction causes the production of Ammonia and you may smell ammonia. But Fabuloso also doesn’t contain bleach. If you get that pungent smell of ammonia, see if you are also using bleach in the process, which is actually to be avoided at any cost.
Ingredients of Fabuloso!
There are a few different products (of the same line) manufactured by Colgate Palmolive under the brand name fabuloso. The ingredients used in each of them are as follows:
In all the products, a few ingredients are common and always present:
1- Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate: This is a Surfactant that removes dirt and deposits from surfaces by loosening them.
2- Water: This is a base
3- Fragrance: To improve the smell
4- C9-11 Pareth-8: It is a polyethylene glycol ether. It is non-irritating
5- Colorant: These are used to make a brand identity as well as product identity.
However, there are a few additional ingredients present in the different versions of the cleaner.
Fabuloso® contains the following additional ingredients:
1- Sodium
2- Sodium C12-15 Pareth Sulfate: It has foaming and detergent-like properties
3- Sodium Laureth Sulfate: Also a surfactant, used to reduce the surface tension for emulsifying and solubilizing oils
4- Glutaral: This is a disinfectant
5- Citric Acid: It can kill bacteria, mildew, and some fungi while also removing various types of stains
Fabuloso® Complete Floral Burst and Cool Mist Fabuloso® contain the following additional ingredients:
1- Hydrogen Peroxide: It is a disinfectant that can remove bacteria, yeast, viruses, fungi, and spores.
2- Lactic Acid: It is used to descale, which can be used in bathrooms
3- Xanthan Gum
4- BHT: Butylated Hydroxytoluene is a chemical preservative
5- Styrene / Acrylates Copolymer: To improve the performance of the solution in stain removal
Fabuloso® Complete Sparkling Citrus contains the following additional ingredients:
1- Sodium Chloride: This is a beaching and anti-scaling agent
2- Lactic Acid: Also a descaling agent. Mostly to be used in bathrooms
What You Can Do to Check the Presence of Ammonia in Any Product?
The obvious step to take is to head over to the manufacturer’s website and look up the ingredients. Many times companies do not fully disclose all the ingredients on the label or may clothe them under a chemical name.
See if any of it says “Ammonium Hydroxide” or “Hydrogen nitride”, “Nitrosil”, or “Vaporole”, or even “NH3”
Fabuloso doesn’t have any of these written on the product label or on the website.
How Harmful is Fabuloso?
Many people want their home to smell fresh and so they turn to boil Fabuloso on the stove because it comes in amazing scents of the ocean breeze, citrus, and lavender.
The chemicals that constitute the cleaner get mixed into the air and people inhale this air, which irritates their lungs and nose. Asthma patients and other lung disease patients can face a lot of trouble.
Ingestion of fabuloso (mostly by mistake) upsets the stomach and causes a burning sensation.
An alternate way (and safer) to make the home smell better is to boil slices of lemon and herbs (like cinnamon).
It should, however, be noted that neither does Fabuloso contain any bleach nor does it contain Ammonia.
Safety Usage Guide
1- This cleaner is used for cleaning hard surfaces of floors, walls, tiles of the bathroom, and sealed wooden surfaces.
2- It should not be used on dishes and never be mixed with chlorine bleach.
3- The cleaner should not be consumed by adults, kids, or pets. Neither should it be used on the skin.
4- You should wash your hands and skin thoroughly with soap and water after coming in contact with the solution.
5- If it gets splashed and gets into your eyes or you touch your eyes with wet (from solution) hands, rinse them cautiously using water for several minutes.
How to Use Cleaners That Contain Ammonia Safely?
Ammonia vapors have a tendency to stick to the ground. These are very corrosive and can cause damage and burns on the skin. (Source)
The instructions to use the cleaner is always given on the product label. You should always read the label as you are dealing with chemicals.
1- Before using the ammonia-based product, ventilate the area well. (Source)
2- To remove any possibility of a splash on your eyes or face, you need safety glasses/goggles. A face shield will be even better.
3- Ammonia can harm the skin, so gloves, boots, aprons, or a chemical protective suit. Ideal materials for these protective coverings will be butyl rubber, Trellchem® HPS, Trellchem® VPS, Viton®, and Tychem® TK.
4- Inhaling Ammonia is harmful as it causes burning in the nose and throat and irritates the respiratory tract, so using a respirator or at least a nose mask is advisable. If you have asthma or allergies, you should be more cautious as you’re prone to these effects.
Note: In case you experience any discomfort after using Ammonia or an ammonia-based product, relocate yourself immediately to an open area and seek medical help if the situation worsens.
5- Ammonia itself is a fire risk as it can lead to an explosion. Store the ammonia-based product in a ventilated place. Be sure not to place other chemicals alongside.
7- Never mix Ammonia-based cleaners or household ammonia with Chlorine bleach. The reaction produces chloramines which cause irritation in the lungs, coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, etc
Ammonia-Based Products and Environmental Issues
Ammonia impacts the environment in a few ways:
1- When the cleaner is washed away (rinsed or flushed), it makes its way down the drain into the waterways, where it affects marine life.
Do not wash ammonia down the drain, use other means whenever possible.
2- Ammonia is a gas and it harms vegetation and plant life adversely.
3- When Ammonia gets into water bodies, it can have fertilizer effects and can cause dense plant life resulting in the clogging of water bodies. Plants and aquatic creatures die due to reduced availability of oxygen and water becomes contaminated.
Ammonia-Free Multi-purpose-cleaners
If you are conscious about the environment and also about the health of you and your family (including pets), you might want to choose ammoia-free products, many of which are also natural.
1- ECOS All-Purpose Cleaner
2- Mrs. Meyer’s All-Purpose Cleaner Spray
3- Method All-Purpose Cleaner Spray
4- Better Life Natural All-Purpose Cleaner
5- Puracy Natural Multi-Surface Cleaner
6- Biokleen Natural All Purpose Cleaner
7- Lysol Hydrogen Peroxide Bathroom Cleaner
8- Babyganics Multi Surface Cleaner
9- Love Home and Planet Multipurpose Cleaner Spray
Benefits of Cleaning with Ammonia or Ammonia-based products
Apart from cleaning multiple surfaces (such as tubs, sinks, toilets, tiles, and kitchen countertops), ammonia or ammonia-based cleaners are better than many other cleaning agents in various ways:
1- Since Ammonia has the ability to cut through grease from vegetable oils or animal products, it is used to remove grease stains.
2- Ammonia can take off wine stains from porous surfaces such as carpets and upholstery or even clothing.
3- Ammonia can clean the oven racks as well as the whole oven from the inside due to its ability to loosen caked-on food.
4- Ammonia based products are widely used on glass surfaces because ammonia evaporates quickly and leaves no streaks behind. It also removes soot from fireplace glass.
5- Ammonia can get stains off of concrete surfaces and bathroom tiles.
6- Ammonia is used to remove mildew from unfinished wooden patio furniture and painted outdoor surfaces.
7- Ammonia can take off wax from resilient flooring (those made from PVC, linoleum, rubber, etc.)
What Cleaner Contains Ammonia?
Glass & Window Cleaners
1- Windex Original Glass Wipes
2- Walmart Great Value Original Glass Cleaner
3- Windex Advanced Glass & Multi-Surface Cleaner
4- Safeway Bright Green Glass and Window Cleaner
Floor Cleaners
1- Armstrong Floor Cleaner
2- Pledge Tile & Vinyl Floor Finish with Future Shine
3- Pledge 4-in-1 Tile & Vinyl Floor Cleaner
4- MOP & GLO Triple Action Floor ShinePledge 4-in-1 Wood Floor Cleaner
All-purpose cleaners
1- Parsons Ammonia All-Purpose Cleaner
2- LA’s Totally Awesome Clear Ammonia
Disinfectants
1- Lysol Disinfectant Spray for Baby’s RoomLysol Professional Disinfectant Spray
Others
1- Lysol Aerosol Bathroom Cleaner
2- Resolve Instant Eraser
3- Resolve High Traffic Foam
Conclusion!
Fabuloso doesn’t contain ammonia in it. You might get that Ammonia like smell due to something else that you are using. Check what you have in your cleaning arsenal.
Ammonia-based products definitely add value by cleaning various surfaces without leaving damage behind. But they impact human health as well as the environment adversely. Choose a natural product if you are concerned.
