It's basic, but do we know it?

Ammonia is a common ingredient in many household and industrial cleaners, especially window-cleaning products. It is also used on farms, and to make fertilizers for farm crops, lawns, and plants. Thus, it is used often in the house, and we use it to help our food grow... but...

The United States Department of Labor says:

"Ammonia is considered a high health hazard because it is corrosive to the skin, eyes, and lungs. Exposure to 300 ppm is immediately dangerous to life and health..."

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry provides a long list of FAQs for ammonia. Below is just a snippet from their website:

"No health effects have been found in humans exposed to typical environmental concentrations of ammonia. Exposure to high levels of ammonia in air may be irritating to your skin, eyes, throat, and lungs and cause coughing and burns. Lung damage and death may occur after exposure to very high concentrations of ammonia. Some people with asthma may be more sensitive to breathing ammonia than others. Swallowing concentrated solutions of ammonia can cause burns in your mouth, throat, and stomach. Splashing ammonia into your eyes can cause burns and even blindness."

Now of course, very few of us come in contact with straight ammonia, when it is in its most potent form. It is highly diluted when it makes its way into the home, but there are still warning labels on the bottles - and we are told to never mix it with bleach. The fact of the matter is, the chemical is still dangerous, toxic and is known to provide many health risks - especially when used around the house. So, check this out:

Want to stop living in a toxic home?

Want to eliminate ammonia based-window cleaners?

One 32 oz. bottle of Basic-H equals 4,608 32 oz bottles of Windex OR 188 32 oz. bottles of Fantastik!

Basic-H is a highly concentrated multi-purpose, non-toxic organic cleaner that can be used to clean almost anything! As I've mentioned before, I dilute a couple drops in a bowl of water and soak my fruit and vegetables in it to clean them. ONE DROP in a 16 ounce spray bottle can be used to clean windows and mirrors - a great replacement for windex. 1/4 tablespoon mixed with 16 oz of water provides an all-purpose cleaner, great for countertops, linoleum, marble, patio furniture, sinks, stainless steel, aluminum, tiles, toys, walls, wood... and 1.5 tablespoons with 16 oz of water acts as a degreaser! Believe it or not, my husband actually cleaned the very dirty tires of our car with Basic H as a degreaser - it worked so well!

"Introduced in 1960, Basic H was one of the first biodegradable cleaners. It is versatile, safe, and effective at the recommeded dilutions on all types of materials and surfaces."

Other basic uses:

1. General Cleaning: walls, counters, woodwork, sinks...

2. Windows and Mirrors

3. Kitchen Appliances: greasy stovetops, etc.

4. Pots and Pans

5. Dusting

6. Floors

7. Fine Fabrics

8. Gum

9. Outside windows and screens

10. Windshield Washing Fluid

11. Automobiles

12. Camping