Household Cleaning Products

 Sometimes when we see all the man-made products around us, it makes us thankful for having been born at this age. At the same time, it makes us wonder how people who lived several hundred years before us, survived? 

One such example of a man-made blessing is the cleaning products. It is downright unfathomable how people survived in the absence of these cleaning products. These products not only help in getting rid of the contaminants and allergens but also help in keeping the environment fresh smelling. 

It is generally known that all household cleaning products contain many chemicals. The Consumer Product Ingredient Communication Initiative, launched in 2010, summarizes how companies are providing information about the ingredients in products in four major categories: air care, automotive care, cleaning, and polishes, and floor maintenance products. It is therefore advised to have hands-on information regarding these products and their ingredients. It helps in making informed decisions while buying these products. 

Some of the most commonly used cleaning products are:

Disinfectants and sanitizers

Abrasives

Acids

Alkalis

Bleaching agents

Detergents

Spirit solvents

Let us dive into a little detail to know what we should, about these products.

Disinfectants:

These are commonly used in medical facilities. A product can qualify as a disinfectant if it is capable of killing 99.99% of pathogens, that include strains of salmonella and staph bacteria, within 5-10 minutes. Disinfectants are usually applied directly on surfaces.

Some common disinfectants around the house are:

Liquid bleach: this is perhaps the most commonly used disinfectant. 

Quaternary ammonium compounds: these are salt compounds that are added with a variety of different agents to create effective disinfectants. They can kill a wide variety of viruses, bacteria, and fungi. 

Pine oil cleaners: as the name suggests, this cleaning product is made from resin that is extracted from pine trees. Of course, the resin is combined with alcohols and quats to increase its effectiveness. One noticeable thing about pine oil cleaner is that when mixed with water, it does not dissolve. Instead, it makes a foamy solution that is excellent to use around the house and smells awesome!

Sanitizers:

Thanks to the current pandemic, we all are now familiar with sanitizers. Any cleaning product capable of killing 99.99% of pathogens in 30 seconds qualifies to be a sanitizer. Sanitizers are used in:

Food contact surfaces, for example, dishes, utensils, chopping boards.

Infant toys and pacifiers that they play with and put in their mouths.

Since sanitizers kill bacteria and odors, they are excellent to be used in bathtubs, showers, toilet bowls, bathroom sinks, and bathroom tiles. 

They are used in dishwashing and laundering

It is highly recommended to check a regulating body’s certificate of assurance before buying any disinfectant or sanitizer.

Abrasives:

 Cleaners that are grainy and gritty are classified as abrasives. Their basic job is to create friction on the surface that has accumulated contamination and scrub it away. Abrasives can be further categorized as:

Physical abrasives: these include sandpaper, plastic and nylon meshes, scrubbing pads, and steel wool.

Mineral abrasives: They are composed of small particles. Baking soda, powdered borax, and salt are all examples of mineral abrasives that are considered natural cleaners.

Chemical abrasives: They are composed of chemical particles. A common chemical used in commercial products that contain bleach is sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione. These cleaners are often referred to as scouring powders and are effective enough to kill bacteria in addition to general surface cleaning.

It may be mention-worthy here that abrasives also come in mild and coarse forms. Mild abrasives are used to clean surfaces like fiberglass, laminate, countertops, grout, tile, sinks, tubs, cookware, and glass. On the other hand, coarse abrasives are used for stainless steel grills, oven baking racks, and cement.

Note of caution: Always check the manufacturer’s directions before using abrasives on any surface. Consumers should be aware that all abrasives can leave scratch marks on some surfaces. Use sparingly when cleaning aluminum, plastic, plated and highly polished metals, and appliance enamel on refrigerators, dishwashers, oven doors, and microwave ovens.

Last word:

Using cleaning products is essential. However, these products can be highly harmful if not used properly or of proper quality. The markets are full of all kinds of cleaning products. Therefore, do your homework and make informed choices regarding household cleaners on your next grocery trip. Also, if you want to be sure you are buying original and high-end products quality-wise, trust Al Nazafat for all your household cleaning product needs.