What are 5 cleaning agents commonly used in your household?
Which hazardous chemicals do you stock up on in preparation for a certain kind of cleaning to kill bacteria? The solution is not a simple one to come up with unless you are familiar with the components that are used in commercial items and what allergic reactions they can cause.
Alkaline cleaners, acids, detergents, abrasives, sanitizers, and methylated spirit solvents are some of the most frequent types of components found in products designed as all purpose cleaners for homes and apartments.
Abrasives
Abrasives are any substances or types of cleaning agents that may remove dirt through the process of rubbing. A few examples of abrasives are rottenstone, whiting, pumice, volcanic ash, quartz, marble, feldspar, and silica. Abrasives can also come in the form of sandpaper, plastic and nylon meshes, and steel wool.
Scouring powders and pads contain abrasive ingredients, specifically calcium carbonate, which is the most common of them. In general, the harsher the cleaner, the bigger the abrasive particles that are used in it.
Plastic or nylon mesh is the most delicate form of abrasive, and as a general rule, the finer the abrasive, the less harm it will cause to the surface that is being cleaned.
When used on a surface on a consistent basis, strong abrasives will eventually harm the finish of items such as sinks, bathtubs, and kitchen appliances. After the surface becomes dull and rough, it stains more deeply and collects more debris, and you will need to keep applying a severe abrasive to remove the filth and stain that has become embedded in the surface.
Coarse abrasives have the potential to cause damage to a variety of materials, including plastic, glass, nonstick surfaces on cookware, painted woodwork, as well as plated and highly polished metals.
Acids
The removal of rust stains, deposits caused by hard water, and discoloration of aluminium, brass, bronze, and copper may all be accomplished with the use of acids. Additionally, strong acids may eat away at leather, skin, clothes, and even some metals. They are also capable of causing irritation to the skin as well as damage to the eyes.
Some examples of acids and the concentrations they have:
Vinegar has an acid content of roughly 5% and can be used to neutralise the effects of oven cleaners. Hard-water mineral deposits may be removed from glassware by using vinegar. Vinegar and lemon juice (Citric Acid) are both considered acidic cleaning agents, although vinegar is more commonly known for its acidic properties.
Oxalic acid cleaners, although extremely hazardous to one’s health, is an excellent rust remover due to its high concentration of hydrogen peroxide. It is possible to find it in products designed to clean toilet bowls. In certain toilet bowl cleaners, weak amounts of hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid are employed instead of the more common concentrated forms of these acids.
Alkalies
To effectively remove filth without resorting to heavy scrubbing, alkalies, which are soluble salts, can be used. Because the alkalies in them generate an emulsion, which is a combination in which greasy or solid particles are retained in suspension, these products are effective at removing grease.
As a result of the fact that the particles do not become detached from the remainder of the liquid, the surface that is being cleaned is not recontaminated with them.The greasy filth may be easily removed by alkalies.
Alkaline cleaners can remove oil from oil-based paint, leading to the paint drying up and sometimes cracking or peeling as a result. Surfaces made of aluminium can get discoloured when exposed to alkalies.
There is a wide range of acidity in alkaline compounds. The majority of them are poisonous, some of them are caustic, and others can cause irritation to the skin and the eyes. Burns can be caused by greater alkalies, and if they are eaten, they can lead to internal injury or even death.
One example of a moderate alkali is sodium bicarbonate, which is more commonly known as baking soda.
Ammonia used in the home is a water-based solution that contains between 5 and 10 percent ammonia gas. It is common in multi-purpose cleansers, oven cleaners, and window cleaners, among other types of cleaning products. Borax is a crystalline powder that is white in colour, and trisodium phosphate (TSP) is also a powder that may be found in several multi-purpose cleaning products.
Extremely potent
The chemical name for washing soda is sodium carbonate, which is often referred to as sal soda. Lye is a kind of sodium hydroxide that is also known as caustic soda. You may find lye in certain products that are designed to clean drains and ovens.
When purchasing any product that contains chemicals, it is important to read the label carefully and adhere to all of the directions for handling, storage, and disposal. Always make sure that children and animals are kept well away from any home cleansers.
Bleaches
In home cleaning solutions, chlorine is often the most frequent kind of bleach that is utilised. On the other hand, new non-chlorine bleaches are quickly gaining in popularity, mostly as a result of the fact that they are safer to use and store.
Detergents
It’s possible to utilise some laundry detergents for other cleaning tasks around the house. The action of detergents is to break up dirt, and when complex soluble phosphates, sometimes known as “builders,” are added to a detergent, it becomes effective in removing greasy filth. When a builder is included, a cleaning solution might be labelled as either “heavy duty” or “all-purpose.”
Sanitizers
Sanitizers are chemicals that lower the quantity of germs in an area, and they are frequently utilised in the process of washing dishes and cleaning restrooms. Take care when using, and be sure to read and follow all of the instructions on the bottle.
Sanitizers are helpful in eliminating odours from surfaces because they eliminate the germs that cause them.
Spirit Solvents
The majority of wood polishes and waxes designed for use on wooden floors and furniture include a spirit solvent. Because they are effective at removing greasy grime, these solvents are comparable to the fluids that are utilised in the dry-cleaning process.
Making a cleaner
You may save money and have more control over the quantity of potentially harmful chemicals in your home if you choose to make your own household cleaners. To start, though, you need to be aware of some of the constraints or disadvantages that are associated with handcrafted products:
They could require more time to be effectively cleaned. It is possible that you will need to “sit” the product on the surface for a longer period of time than is typical or that you will need to go over the area many times.
If a strong cleaner was used several times on the surface before you used your homemade solution, you should expect the cleaning to be less effective, and it may take you more effort to complete the task.
If you do decide to manufacture your own cleaners, make sure to use them correctly and keep them in a dry place. Even while the components of homemade cleansers are safer, that does not mean that they are entirely harmless. Keep in mind the following guidelines:
Take extreme caution while combining substances in this cleaning method. When combined, some chemicals, including chlorine bleach and ammonia, generate a gas that is harmful to humans.
Mixing more than a month’s supply at once is not recommended. It’s possible that chemical solutions will become less effective with time.
In a room with adequate ventilation, blend the solutions. Put all cleaning products in a secure location that children can’t get into, preferably a cupboard that has a child-proof lock on it.
Keep the solutions in store-bought containers that have not been used. Make use of storage containers that are meant to be permanent and that will be placed in a permanent position.
Never place them in stale or otherwise unusable food containers. It is possible for chemicals to react with any residue left over from the original contents, or the container might be confused as a food or beverage.
Take special care to label any containers. This is especially important to keep in mind if other members of your household clean or have access to the cleaning supplies.
