Basic Chemical Cleaning Families
Acids
Acid cleaners can be used to remove tarnish, alkaline
discoloration and corrosion from metals; remove hard water deposits from many
surfaces; will neutralize alkalis; may have bleaching effects.
- Caution: Acids can injure eyes, skin, and
fabrics; stronger acids are highly toxic and can eat through metal. Acids
can etch surfaces and porcelain enamel.
Mild Acid Cleaners include Lemon Juice (or Citric
Acid) and Vinegar (or Acetic Acid). They help dissolve hard water deposits
from shower doors, mild rust stains and soap film and remove tarnish from
brass and copper. Acids tend to bleach some stains.
Mild Acid Cleaners - Cream of Tartar (or Tartaric
Acid) For example if you simmer a solution (1 tablespoons of cream of
Tartar in a quart of water and discolorization of aluminum pans, caused by
alkalai such as tomato sauce, will tend to disappear.
Strong Acid Cleaners - Oxalic Acid . Used in
commercial rust removers to remove iron rust; a weak solution will remove rust
stains from tubs and sinks.
- Caution: These acids are highly toxic; follow
label instructions exactly. Do not get on skin or in eyes, or on other
materials
Strong Acid Cleaners - dilute hydrochloric acid,
dilute sulfuric acid, muriatic acid and sodium bisulfate. These acids are used
in some toilet bowl cleaners and etching compounds. They remove hard water and
iron deposits and organic matter.
- Caution: Never mix with any other cleaner!
Very toxic! Follow label instructions exactly. Do not get on skin, in
eyes, or on other materials.
Alkali
Alkali cleaners remove and suspend heavy
soil and grease so it can be rinsed away.
- Caution: Alkalis can damage skin and fabrics,
corrode and darken aluminum. Most (except baking soda) are toxic if
swallowed.
Mild Alkali Cleaners Baking Soda (Sodium bicarbonate)
Soak burnt food from pans in solution of 2 tablespoons
per quart of warm water. (For heavier or sticky soil spots, sprinkle on damp
sponge, rub and rinse; or make paste of soda.) Clean glass, tile, porcelain
enamel, stainless steel sinks, chrome, fixtures, fiberglass tubs and showers.
Remove coffee and tea stains from dishes. Clean and deodorize refrigerator.
Moderately Strong Alkali Cleaners Ammonia
Use solution of 2 tablespoons per quart of warm water to
clean windows, glass, ovens, range burners, greasy surfaces. Use 1 tablespoon
per quart warm water to wash painted walls and rinse well. Will remove some
water based floor waxes.
- Caution: Irritating fumes. Can soften paint,
especially latex, if too strong. Has a slight bleaching effect. Always use
alone because combining ammonia with other cleaners may produce lethal
gases.
Moderately Strong Alkali Cleaners Borax
In mild solution, 1 to 2 tablespoons per gallon of warm
water to wash sinks, painted walls, etc. Laundering (as diapers) to remove
odors and retard bacterial growth.
- Caution: Rinse thoroughly
Moderately Strong Alkali Cleaners TSP (Tri-Sodium
Phosphate)
Buy at paint stores. Is an ingredient in some commercial cleaners. Use a solution of 1 tablespoon per gallon
warm water to clean painted surfaces, porcelain fixtures, tile- glazed and
unglazed. Removes soot and smoke (greasy dirt).
- Caution: Always wear rubber gloves to protect
skin; strong solutions remove paint. ALWAYS rinse thoroughly.
Strong Alkali Cleaners Washing Soda (Sodium carbonate)
Use in hot solution, soak greasy burners, pans;
dissolves grease from drains. Is builder for many powdered detergents.
- Caution: Highly toxic; do not get on skin.
Will darken and corrode aluminum.
Very Strong Alkali Cleaners Lye (Sodium hydroxide)
Uses are to clean grease from drains and open drains.
Found in many drain and oven cleaners.
- Caution: Very caustic and toxic; can cause
serious burns to eyes or skin. Follow label instructions exactly.
Bleaches
Bleaches can oxidize and remove stains from surfaces and fabrics. Bleaches may
also be used to lighten stains in wood as well as remove the color naturally
in woods such as mahogany.
- Caution: Rinse bleach thoroughly promptly to
prevent fading.
Mild Bleaches - Sodium Perborate (an ingredient
in commercial all purpose bleaches) and Hydrogen Peroxide. A solution will
help lighten stains on surfaces such as plastic laminate, etc.
- Caution: Rinse thoroughly; follow label
directions.
Strong Bleaches - Chlorine Bleach (Sodium
hypochlorite). Removes stains. Disinfects toilet bowls, trash cans, other
surfaces.
- Caution: May bleach dark-colored surfaces; can
dull porcelain enamel finish of sinks and tubs; darken aluminum; may be
used with detergents. NEVER mix with ammonia, FUMES ARE
TOXIC. When removing stains, leave on surface only a brief time, and rinse
off immediately.
Wood Bleaches - Oxalic Acid, removes color and stain from wood. Opens pores of wood to help accept new
stain.
- Caution: requires neutralization, very
dangerous to work with, always wear hand and eve protection. Read label
instructions carefully.
Abrasives
Abrasive Cleaners are mechanical cleaners. They physically scratch off dirt,
stains and tarnish via friction as you rub the surface. They are
composed of either particles or physical abraders such as sandpaper, steel
wool, scrubbing pads, etc. The finer the particle the less abrasive
and the coarser the particle the more abrasive. Baking soda and salt can be
used as abrasives. Baking soda is finer, less abrasive. Salt more abrasive.
Abrasives dull glossy surfaces and change both the reflection from, and
texture of, surfaces. They should never be used on mica because they take away
top layers making future cleaning eventually impossible.
Mild Abrasives include fine plastic mesh pads,
nylon coated sponges, fine brass wool, rotten-stone and whiting. Mild
abrasives are used to scour pots and pans, oven interiors, and drip pans. Use
as directed to remove stains on surfaces as furniture, countertops, etc. NOTE:
Abrasives will scratch fine, hard, smooth surfaces if you rub hard.
Moderate Abrasive Cleaners include fine pumice
and fine steel wool. Steel wool is actually graded from 0000-super fine,
000-extra fine, 00-very fine, 0-fine, 1-medium, 2-medium course and 3-0
course. The finer 00 and finer should be used lightly on pots and pans when
needed to remove burned on crusty foods and grease. They are often used on
burnt spills in non self cleaning or continuous cleaning oven interiors when
they will not come off with other milder cleaners. NOTE: Do not use regularly
for cleaning; use only for stubborn spots.
Strong Abrasives include medium and coarse steel
wool, metal mesh cloths and balls, metal brushes, coarse pumice, and
sand/silica. Use them on barbecue grills and untreated oven racks for stubborn
deposits when damage to surface is not important. NOTE:Strong abrasives
quickly abrade hard surfaces making them rough and thus harder to remove dirt
from in the future. Use only when necessary.
Commercial Blends
Commercial cleaners are normally made from a combination of one or more of the
other types of cleaner family: acids, alkalis, abrasives, bleaches,
detergents, and solvents. Most are low sudsing detergents or alkaline-based
cleaners. They often contain extra ingredients that are more effective for
certain cleaning jobs. For example, some all-purpose household cleaners with
petroleum based solvents dissolve grease better. Always read label and follow
directions and cautions.
Powdered Cleaners
Dissolve in water; use to clean large surface areas such
as painted walls, woodwork and washable floors.
- Caution: Most contain TSP (tri sodium
phosphate) a moderately strong alkali and should be rinsed well.
Liquid Cleaners
Are diluted in water and often used for same cleaning
jobs as powders. Full strength many make good spot removers.
- Caution: Follow label instructions; rinse well
if label indicates rinsing.
Aerosol and Liquid Sprays
Use full strength and wipe dry. Usually require no
rinsing. For touch-up cleaning and spot removal.
- Note: Generally considerably more expensive to
use than liquids.
Concentrated cleaners that you mix with water at home
are usually the cheapest to use.
Using concentrated cleaners that are environmentally neutral and biodegradable makes sense.
You don't have to buy a lot of different types and brands of cleaners that you
never use up. They just take up valuable storage space. Many have hazards if
children can get at them, and may create chemical environmental hazards when
disposed of improperly.
Detergents
Detergents can be alkaline or neutral. Neutral detergents are pH 7 meaning
neither acidic nor alkaline. Read the can or bottle first to determine.
Mild Detergents - Hand Dish washing Liquid Detergent
Mild detergents have surfactants that dissolve dirt and
grease; use in solution of warm to hot water to clean washable surfaces such
as counter-tops, appliances, fixtures, floors.
- Caution: Safe for washable surfaces and skin.
High-sudsing, so do not put much in the solution, and rinse all suds off
thoroughly.
Moderately Strong Detergents - Laundry Detergents Uses
Has both surfactant and builder, so dissolves heavier
soil and grease; use in a solution of warm to hot water to clean washable
surfaces where a stronger detergent is safe. Use the smallest amount of
detergent that will do the job. Low sudsing types are easier to rinse off.
- Caution: Most powdered detergents contain
washing soda as a builder and some are very alkaline which can damage
surfaces, and irritate skin with prolonged contact. Strong solutions can
dissolve paint. Always rinse thoroughly. Do NOT use where mild detergent
is recommended.
Solvents
Solvent cleaners are readily available and are often used to dissolve
household soil. The solvent is often the medium the stain or soil goes into to
facilitate its removal.
Water is a universal solvent because it will
dissolve most kinds of soils except oils. Alkalis, acids, bleaches or
detergents are added to water to chemically react with specific soils and
loosen them so they are removed with the water. Prompt sponging with water (if
material is water safe) will remove many stains without adding chemicals.
Caution: Surfaces damaged by water include wood
which warps, wood finishes which soften or turn white, textiles which shrink,
padding which can be soaked and mildew, materials that soften or disintegrate
in water such as paper, or around electrical components where shock hazards
exist.
Organic Solvents - Acetone, Denatured Alcohol,
Petroleum Distillates including kerosene, mineral spirits, naphtha, dry
cleaning fluid, and turpentine are used to remove greasy soil, or stains that
will not dissolve in water; or used for cleaning surfaces that would be
damaged by water. Some remove waxes, wood finishes, and oil-base paint. Many
are used in polishes, waxes, spot removers, rug cleaners, degreasers, and all
purpose household cleaners.
- Caution: Most are flammable or combustible.
Read and follow all label directions completely.
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