Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 130 views

    Basic Cleaning Chemical Families

    Uploaded by

    kiko
    The document discusses different families of cleaning chemicals including acids, alkalis, bleaches, abrasives, and detergents. It provides examples of specific chemicals in each category from mild to strong and cautions for safe use, noting that stronger chemicals require more care and can damage surfaces or skin. Commercial cleaners often combine elements from these families but one should always read labels and follow directions carefully.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Basic Cleaning Chemical Families

    Uploaded by

    kiko
    130 views7 pages
    The document discusses different families of cleaning chemicals including acids, alkalis, bleaches, abrasives, and detergents. It provides examples of specific chemicals in each category from mild to strong and cautions for safe use, noting that stronger chemicals require more care and can damage surfaces or skin. Commercial cleaners often combine elements from these families but one should always read labels and follow directions carefully.

    Original Description:

    Basic Cleaning Chemical Families

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The document discusses different families of cleaning chemicals including acids, alkalis, bleaches, abrasives, and detergents. It provides examples of specific chemicals in each category from mild to strong and cautions for safe use, noting that stronger chemicals require more care and can damage surfaces or skin. Commercial cleaners often combine elements from these families but one should always read labels and follow directions carefully.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    130 views7 pages

    Basic Cleaning Chemical Families

    Uploaded by

    kiko
    The document discusses different families of cleaning chemicals including acids, alkalis, bleaches, abrasives, and detergents. It provides examples of specific chemicals in each category from mild to strong and cautions for safe use, noting that stronger chemicals require more care and can damage surfaces or skin. Commercial cleaners often combine elements from these families but one should always read labels and follow directions carefully.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 7

    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. This is a 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.

    You might also like