Does Windex Have Bleach in it?

Windex is a brand that carries mild hard-surface cleaners made to eliminate stains and grimes on many surfaces in the home. It is one of the trusted names from the S.C. Johnson and Sons line of products. Do you ever wonder about the formulation and ingredients in Windex and its safety? Does Windex have bleach in it, or what active ingredients does it have?

Windex Glass and Multi-Purpose Cleaners do not contain bleach in them. Instead, it has ammonium hydroxide, a product that is as effective as bleach in cleaning but is safe for use on various surfaces. Ammonia is among the most effective, but less expensive, cleaners for many households. Windex has products designed for various surfaces. Thus, you will find products such as the Windex Glass Cleaner, Multi-Surface Cleaner, Outdoor Spray Cleaner, and Electronics Wipes.

What makes Windex a popular household cleaning agent is its quick evaporation. Using Windex even on glass surfaces decreases the streak in the surface, leaving it with a clean and crisp finish. Check out more details you need to know about Windex cleaners and products.

What are the Ingredients in Windex Glass Cleaners?

Ammonium hydroxide is the active ingredient in Windex that boosts its cleaning power. There are also non-ammonia Windex for materials that are not ideally compatible with the chemical.

What does Windex Glass Cleaner contain if they do not have bleach? Here are some of the ingredients that you can find in every Windex Glass Cleaner. These components make it a streak-free cleaner that leaves glasses, windshield, and car windows spick and span.

• Solvent. A solvent is the liquid base of a cleaner that dissolves all the other ingredients added to it. The most common solvent is water, which is also the solvent in all Windex household cleaners.
• Surfactant. The surfactants are the cleaning agents that remove dirt and deposits by loosening them from the surface for easy rinsing. Surfactants vary in every product, but Windex uses a combination of the following surfactants in its original cleaners:

• 2- Hexoxyethanol helps loosen dirt deposits
• Isopropanolamine dissolves oil and soap scums
• Ammonium Hydroxide acts both as a surfactant and pH adjuster. It removes dirt and alters the pH level to give the cleaner its optimum cleaning power in certain stains. Acidic formulas are best for soap scum, while alkaline ones are ideal for grease.
• Lauryl Dimethyl Amine Oxide. Wetting agents also loosen stains from the surface.
• Sodium Dodecylbenzene Sulfonate. Another wetting agent that releases dirt particles from where they are attached.

• Fragrance
• Dye

What are the Ingredients in Windex Multi-Surface Cleaners?

Multi-Surface Cleaners work differently from glass cleaners. Although it may also work in glass, its formulation is made for all-around surface cleaning.

• Water as solvent
• Solubilizer that distributes the ingredients across the medium. It may include Ethylene Glycol N-Hexyl Ether, Propylene Glycol N-Butyl Ether, and propylene glycol
• Surfactants like sodium dodecylbenzene, sodium C-14-17 Sec-Alkyl Sulfonate
• Fragrance
• Dye

What are the Ingredients in Ammonia-Free Windex?

Some surfaces may react with ammonia like leather, specialty tiles, and no-wax floors. But it doesn’t mean raincheck on Windex products. S.C. Johnson has produced Windex Cleaners that do not contain ammonium hydroxide. Instead, it uses sodium hydroxide as a builder and pH adjuster along with its surfactants and other ingredients.

Ammonia-free Windex products include the following:

• Windex Ammonia-Free Glass Cleaner
• Windex with Vinegar
• Disinfectant Cleaner Multi-Surface (Original, Lavender, Glade Rainshower)
• Outdoor Sprayer
• All-in-One Starter Kit
• Electronics Wipes

What are Windex Electronics Wipes?

The electronics wipes are the innovative products of Windex for removing smudges in television, gadgets, and many electronic devices. They are also ammonia-free and made of alcohol like ethanol, cleaning agents, water, and preservatives.

What are the Ingredients in Windex with Vinegar?

Vinegar is a common household ingredient that has a potent effect against grimes and dirt buildup. That is why it is also ingeniously added to a bottle of Windex.

Acetic acid, the organic compound that gives vinegar its pungent smell, is a champion in most household cleaning. It is incorporated into Windex with Vinegar along with lactic acid to boost its cleaning performance.

Will Windex Stain Clothes and Other Fabrics?

Surprisingly, you can use Windex not just for glass or other surface cleaning but also for clothes stain removal. However, doing so should come with great caution. Windex with clear formulation will not harm clothing or fabric. But, the blue gel ones may leave nasty dye stains on most fabrics.

It is also not ideal to allow Windex to stay too long in clothes as the ammonia can bleach and discolor them. If you should use Windex in carpets or laundry, do a spot test in a discreet portion of the fabric.

Can You Mix Windex with Bleach?

Bleach is a strongly oxidizing ingredient that can create harmful gases if combined with any cleaner. Mixing Windex with bleach, or sodium hypochlorite, will create chloramine gas that is very deadly when inhaled in a large amount. And ammonia-free Windex does not make it any less harmful when mixed with bleach.

Can I Use Windex and Bleach in the Same Room?

As long as the liquid does not mix, there is no problem using Windex with bleach in the same room. However, to avoid accidents, it is best to practice safety precautions if you need to use them together in a room. Make sure that one of the liquid dries up first before applying the other one. Or better yet, use them in the same room but a few hours apart.

What to Do if You Mix Windex with Bleach?

If you have accidentally mixed Windex or ammonia, the best thing to do is evacuate the contaminated area. If someone inhaled its vapor and experienced breathing difficulty, call emergency services and the local poison center immediately.

Is Windex a Disinfectant?

The Windex Glass Cleaner is not a disinfectant and, therefore, will not remove any germs. But there are Windex products that disinfect, and they are labeled properly by the manufacturer. Windex products with the title Disinfectant are EPA-registered and are excellent in dispelling germs and viruses.

Final Thoughts

Does Windex have bleach in it? Definitely, none. Windex is a household cleaning agent that effectively cleans through many surfaces without leaving streaks and smudges. Instead of bleach, it contains ammonium hydroxide, a derivative of ammonia. Windex works through crud buildups and grimes to leave a clean surface. It has ammonia and ammonia-free products that are versatile for all-around home use.