Ammonium hydroxide is commonly referred to as "ammonia." Many consumers use it at home for cleaning and laundry. It’s a cleaning agent, or "surfactant," that removes dirt, and it can also be used as a pH adjuster that alters the pH of a product to improve stability. Every formula has an optimum pH to make it work best. For example, a formula that’s more acidic works better for soap scum removal. Its opposite, a formula that’s more alkaline, might be more effective at removing grease or greasy soils. We use pH adjusters to make sure we achieve the best pH for a particular job. Also, the pH of a formula can affect how long it lasts within a container – for example limiting its tendency to corrode a can, container or dispenser. Household ammonia has a strong odor; by using ammonium hydroxide in combination with other ingredients, we can achieve the same cleaning results while using much less ammonia.