What Is the Chemical Formula for Windex?

The chemical formula for Windex is NH3, which has the chemical name, ammonia. Windex is the trademark name of a glass-cleaning product owned by SC Johnson, as of 2014.

Windex was invented in the 1930s at the height of the Great Depression in the United States. It was originally used as a windshield cleaner for vehicles. Through the years, the Windex product line has diversified and presently serves a variety of purposes. Aside from using it to wipe windows and glass surfaces, Windex is also used to clean electronics and other hard surfaces in most American households. Some of these brands include Windex Outdoor All-in-One Glass Cleaning Tool, Windex Electronics and Windex Multi-Surface product lines.

The original formula for Windex has been modified to make the product more eco-friendly. Its current ingredients included water, isopropyl alcohol, videt EGM, 2-hyxoxyethanol, sodium C14-17 sec-alkyl sulfonate, ammonium hydroxide, propylene glycol, Mirapol surf s-210, fragrance from SC Johnson fragrance palette and Liquitint sky blue dye, as stated in a list by SC Johnson. The active cleaning agents in Windex are 2-hexoxyethanol, videt EGM, ammonium hydroxide and Mirapol surf s-210. The water provides the liquid base, while isopropyl alcohol and propylene glycol carry the active ingredients to the surface. The dye gives Windex its distinctive color, while the fragrance adds a pleasant scent.