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Grease and oil are a fact of life in the kitchen, and when appliances start to feel greasy, it’s hard to feel comfortable. Trying to rub it with a paper towel is no good, as it spreads the grease around and creates a thin, dust-collecting film. You need a cleaner that really cuts through grease, and as luck would have it, the good old-fashioned cleaner you use for your glass doors can be just as effective as any specialty appliance-cleaning agent.
One of the reasons this is effective is that, when you are using most glass sprays, you are Cleaning with ammonia. Ammonia (NH3) is a gas, but it can dissolve in water. When it does, it forms ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH), an alkaline solution that combines with grease to form a soapy emulsion that is easy to clean. It is so good at doing this that it is a common ingredient in soap products and is also able to leave windows streak-free.
Not all glass cleaners contain ammonia, and those that do, eg Windex Glass and Window CleanerGive off a faint pungent odor. Since some Surfaces you should avoid cleaning with WindexAs with granite, some wood finishes, and stainless steel, it’s important to test ammonia-based window cleaners on an inconspicuous area of what you want to clean before wiping them across the entire surface. If the cleaner leaves significant wear on the device or you’re not sure how it will react, you can still use a window cleaner that doesn’t contain ammonia, such as Zap ammonia-free glass cleaner.
Using window cleaner as a common kitchen degreaser
It turns out that there are all kinds Surprising Uses for Windex and other window cleaners — you can use them to clean bathrooms, remove stains from carpets and upholstery, and restore shine to faucets and doorknobs. When you use a device as a degreaser, you need to give it time to work. So, you don’t just spray it on and clean it right away like you’re cleaning a window. Instead, wait about 10 minutes after spraying before you wipe it off.
If you use an ammonia-based cleaner, it’s important to remember that ammonia is a hazardous substance. When dissolved in water, it forms a caustic solution, and while a 5% to 10% concentration in glass cleaner is not very strong, it is strong enough to require the use of gloves. Ammonia gas that evaporates while you’re cleaning is also dangerous, so keep the area well ventilated and wear a mask if you’re particularly sensitive.
Also very important: Never combine a cleaner containing ammonia with a cleaner containing bleach. This mixture produces chloramine, which — fun fact — also gives chlorinated swimming pools their distinctive smell. These gases can cause illness and death when inhaled in high concentrations. If you want to disinfect your kitchen appliances after cleaning them with ammonia-based cleaners, hydrogen peroxide and isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol are safer choices than products containing bleach.
