If you look at the back of a standard blue window cleaning bottle, you’ll likely find the answer to "Does glass cleaner have ammonia?" Ammonia is traditionally used in glass cleaner because it evaporates quickly, which helps prevent streaks. However, the presence of ammonia often leaves families asking: Is glass cleaner toxic when breathed in daily?
While ammonia is effective at cutting grease, it is a volatile organic compound (VOC) that can compromise your indoor air quality. According to Medical News Today, even small amounts of ammonia exposure can lead to:
You shouldn't have to choose between clean windows and a healthy home. By replacing toxic ingredients with plant-powered alternatives, we’ve proven you don’t need ammonia to get clean windows and glass. Our formula provides peace of mind, ensuring that the answer to "is my glass cleaner toxic" is finally a "no."
Instead of using ammonia in our glass cleaner, we rely on green chemistry—safe, non-toxic ingredients that perform just as powerfully as their toxic counterparts but with none of the health risks.
Here’s what’s inside Truly Free Home's non-toxic glass cleaner refills.
What it does: A naturally derived surfactant that boosts cleaning power by breaking the surface tension of water, helping lift dirt from glass.
Why we use it: It’s extremely mild, effective, and biodegradable.
Source: Derived from sugars (typically corn or wheat) and plant-based alcohols.
What it does: A foam booster and cleaning agent that helps cut through oily grime and water spots.
Why we use it: It enhances the performance of other surfactants while remaining mild and biodegradable.
Source: Derived from coconut oil.
What it does: Acts as a natural water softener to prevent streaking caused by minerals in tap water.
Why we use it: It improves cleaning efficiency and supports a smooth, streak-free finish.
Source: A salt form of citric acid, produced via natural fermentation from plant sugars.
What it does: A safe, food-grade preservative that helps keep the formula stable and shelf-safe.
Why we use it: It prevents microbial growth without the need for harmful chemical preservatives.
Source: Naturally occurs in some fruits; our version is synthetically derived for purity and safety.
What it does: Acts as the base of the formula, dissolving and delivering active ingredients evenly across surfaces.
Why we use it: It’s ultra-purified water that’s free from minerals, which helps eliminate streaking.
Source: Triple-filtered and purified through a deionization process.
“Truly Free Home’s Glass Cleaner combines powerful ingredients that target grime, fingerprints, and streaks,” explains Luisa D., Truly Free Home’s Green Chemist and Director of Product Development and Innovation.
“The combination of natural surfactants like Decyl Glucoside and other Alkyl Polyglucosides loosens grime while water softeners like Sodium Citrate stop minerals from drying on glass, which is a common cause of streaks.”
Because Truly Free Home Glass Cleaner is ammonia-free and also free from bleach, dyes, and harmful fragrances, it’s safe to use around your kids and pets.
Best of all, our non-toxic glass cleaner works on more than just mirrors and windows. You can use it to clean the many device screens in your life, from your smartphone to the GPS in your car.
We believe you shouldn’t have to choose between a streak-free shine and your health. With Truly Free Home's Glass Cleaner, you get both.