For example, some cleaners Metabolism and water intake capable of removing xleaning Non-reactive cleaning products ink Athlete breakfast ideas on a plant-based diet a plastic substrate while leaving others completely untouched. Clleaning remover Sprinkle a little salt on the rust then squeeze a lime over the salt until it is well soaked. Use white vinegar to cut grease; remove mildew, odors, and some stains; and to prevent or remove wax build-up.

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It can be found in toilet bowl cleaners and tile and grout cleaners, among other products. Swallowing sodium hypochlorite can lead to poisoning.

Breathing the fumes may also cause poisoning, especially if the product is mixed with ammonia. Sulfuric acid is a strong drain cleaner and can be found in some toilet bowl cleaners. It also is a powerful oxidizer. However, it attacks nylon, vinyl, and most organic substances.

It will burn the skin and emit dangerous fumes. Be sure to use it with caution. Store in a safe place away from other chemicals or heat, and definitely keep it away from children or pets. Alkaline cleaners are composed of alkali salts, such as sodium bicarbonate baking soda , sodium carbonate also known as washing soda or soda ash , sodium metasilicate, and trisodium phosphate TSP.

Along with their detergent properties, certain alkali salts have water-softening characteristics and are used in cleaning products for that purpose.

Cleaning products are available in soaps, detergents, and all-purpose cleaners. Alkalis help clean food spills, oils, grease, and everyday things that get dirty. They remove oily dirt without rubbing and vary in strength from mild to moderate to strong.

Refer to Table 2 for examples of alkalis found in household cleaners. Mild Alkalis For the most part, household cleaning chemicals listed in the mild alkali category are ones that contain sodium bicarbonate baking soda. Mixed with water, this solution is used on areas that require a mild cleaning.

It safely cleans glass, wall tile, and porcelain enamels. It also removes coffee and tea stains from china and plastic dishes. Mild alkalis are not corrosive. They are safe to use around children and pets. Moderate Alkalis Ammonia is a strong, colorless gas. When the gas is dissolved in water it is called liquid ammonia.

Ammonia is added to a number of household and commercial cleaners to boost their alkalinity and grease-cutting ability. Ammonia also is found in glass cleaners and in cleaners used for shiny surfaces, like wax cleaners.

Too much of it can ruin or damage some surfaces, so use it with caution. Never mix ammonia with chlorine and bleach products because this can release a highly toxic gas. For that matter, never mix any kind of chemicals since this can cause an unstable reaction and perhaps fumes, fire, or volatility explosions.

Borax, also known as sodium borate, is a natural mineral compound. In the home, borax is used as a natural laundry booster; multipurpose cleaner for woodwork, walls, sinks, and carpets; deodorizer; and disinfectant. Borax is not flammable. It is not reactive and so can be mixed with most other cleaning agents, including chlorine bleach.

It dissolves best in warm water. Borax is toxic if swallowed in large doses, and medical attention should be sought immediately if this occurs.

Strong Alkalis A cleaner that fits in the strong alkali category destroys bacteria and dissolves proteins. Cleaning products such as oven cleaner, lye, and drain cleaners are strong alkalis. They are highly corrosive and cause chemical burns on the skin and in the lungs when inhaled.

Lye also known as caustic soda or sodium hydroxide is sometimes found in drain and oven cleaners. These types of cleaners are used to unclog sink drains or in the bathroom. They should not be stored in the kitchen or bathroom cabinets.

Lye emits dangerous fumes and can cause skin burns—and in some cases blindness—if the fumes come in contact with your eyes. Products with lye can cause death if swallowed.

Wear gloves and safety goggles when using these products. Also, make sure that there is good ventilation in the room when these cleaners are used. Sodium carbonate also known as washing soda or soda ash is used as a building block for powdered detergents and washing soda. It is used to remove fat from drains, greasy burners, and pans.

This type of cleaner is slightly corrosive and will burn skin and corrode aluminum products. Sodium metasilicate is mixed with water to form a cleaning solution. It makes a highly effective cleaner that can remove dirt and marks from walls in preparation for painting, and can attack stubborn soils on siding when cleaning the exterior of a home.

Caution: Sodium metasilicate is highly alkaline. Dust from the powder can irritate the nose, eyes, and lungs. Prolonged exposure can cause skin irritation. Wear protective gloves, eye protection, and long-sleeved shirts and pants while using this product. Wear a dust mask while mixing the powder with water if dust irritates nasal passages.

Store the compound in original containers in a dry location. Sodium metasilicate is highly poisonous when ingested. Store it out of reach of children or pets.

Trisodium phosphate TSP is not commonly found in products because most phosphates have been phased out of cleaning products due to environmental concerns. Products that do contain TSP are banned or restricted use in many states.

Bleaching agents are chemicals used to remove stains. Many bleaching agents can be used as disinfectants. If a product contains a bleaching agent, the product information label may state contains bleach, bleaches as it cleans, or chlorinated.

Bleaching agents may not list the term bleach on the product label. Therefore, it is important for consumers to recognize other names for bleach. Table 3 provides a list of possible chemical bleaching agents that may appear on product labels.

Chlorine bleach is one of the most widely available and affordable disinfectants on earth. Liquid chlorine bleach Figure 1 is an alkaline solution of sodium hypochlorite dissolved in water. It is a base and is especially good at removing stains and dyes from textiles.

Additionally, chlorine bleaches are used for controlling mold and mildew and for disinfecting surfaces. Detergents are an ingredient found in many home cleaning products. A detergent is a chemical substance used to break up and remove grease and grime. Soap is an example of one kind of detergent.

The surfactants in the detergents are used to bond water to dirt and grease. They help water to get a hold of the grime, break it up, and wash it away. Phosphates are a type of builder commonly found in detergent products. Trisodium phosphate TSP and disodium phosphate are rarely used these days due to bans enacted for environmental reasons.

Most phosphates in use today, referred to as complex or condensed phosphates, have a lower alkalinity than the banned phosphates. If a complex phosphate builder has been added, the detergent will remove oily dirt better. When a builder is present, the product is labeled heavy duty or all-purpose.

Some laundry detergents may be used for house cleaning jobs. The safety of a laundry detergent depends on the brand and the additional chemicals it may contain. Check the product label carefully. Liquid dishwashing detergent is safe for use around children and pets. Solvents are cleaning chemicals that dissolve grease, oil, and oily dirt.

The ingredients in solvents include but are not limited to acetones, denatured alcohols, and mineral spirits. Cleaners that contain solvents include spot removers, rug cleaners, sanitizers, drain cleaners, and all-purpose cleaners.

Examples of spirit solvents are paint thinners, turpentine, and kerosene. Many waxes and polishes for furniture and floors and floor wax removers contain spirit solvents.

Spirit solvent floor wax removers are safe and effective for use on wood, wood composite, cork, magnesite, linoleum, concrete, and stone floors.

They are used for removing wax, oil, and grease. These products are non-flammable. Note: Spirit solvent floor waxes are not to be used on asphalt, thermoplastic tiles, PVC vinyl , or rubber floors because the solvents will damage these types of floors. Not all floor waxes contain spirit solvents.

Some are water-emulsion waxes that will damage wood and cork products. Water-emulsion waxes can be recognized by the product label statement Keep from Freezing.

Regulations require that all hazardous substances be labeled with the statement Keep Out of the Reach of Children Figure 2. Not all products are hazardous, but when directions are not followed some of these products become dangerous—and some are more dangerous than others.

The most frequent misuse is accidental swallowing by curious children Figure 3. Therefore, never transfer cleaners into soft drink bottles or other containers that may seem harmless to children.

Keep cleaning products in the original packaging. Buy products in childproof containers and store them in cabinets with childproof latches. Figure 3. Installing childproof latches on cabinets can prevent children from opening them and possibly ingesting dangerous chemicals.

Photograph by Thomas E. Many household cleaners are stored under the kitchen sink in cabinets that are not locked. This is the worst place to store household cleaners. If this is the only place where you can store cleaning products, put safety latches Figure 4 on the cabinets and drawers.

The best practice is to put these products in a place that children cannot reach. Also, if possible, keep children and pets out of areas where cleaning products being used. Keep products, such as strong acids and alkalis, directed away from skin and eyes when in use.

Wear protective clothing, including gloves, safety goggles, and an apron. Immediately wash off any products that you splash or spill on your skin. Products containing flammable liquids should never be used near open flames, including pilot lights on kitchen ranges or gas clothes dryers, furnaces, or lit cigarettes.

Do not leave aerosol pressurized containers on a kitchen range, radiator, or furnace; in direct sunlight; or near other heat sources. Never puncture aerosol containers. Before discarding this type of container, hold the valve open until all the contents and gas have escaped.

Never discard an empty aerosol container in a fire or incinerator because some gas usually remains. This is true even in an apparently empty can. Heat causes the gas to expand, which may lead to an explosion. If an accident occurs while you are using a hazardous substance, refer to the product label for the appropriate first aid procedures.

Follow the directions carefully. The information on the label will help the physician give prompt and proper treatment. Be prepared for any emergency in your home. Keep your local emergency number, local ambulance number, and the local poison control center telephone numbers on or next to your phone.

The number is Original author: Susan Holder, Extension Housing Specialist. Previously revised by Constance Kratzer, Extension Family Resource Management Specialist. Sonja Koukel is a Professor and Extension Community and Environmental Health Specialist in the Department of Extension Family and Consumer Sciences.

She earned her B. at NMSU and her M. and Ph. at Texas Tech University. Her Extension programs focus on health and wellness—physical, mental, spiritual, and environmental. Brand names appearing in publications are for product identification purposes only. No endorsement is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products not mentioned.

Persons using such products assume responsibility for their use in accordance with current label directions of the manufacturer. To find more resources for your business, home, or family, visit the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences on the World Wide Web at pubs.

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Toggle navigation Menu. PUBS Family Resource Management Selection and Use of Home Cleaning Products. Selection and Use of Home Cleaning Products Guide G Revised by Sonja Koukel College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University Author: Community and Environmental Health Specialist, Department of Extension Family and Consumer Sciences, New Mexico State University.

Print Friendly PDF Consumer Access to Chemical Information Often, retail household cleaning products contain substances that are deemed hazardous. Clean Homes A clean home reduces exposure to allergens, pesticides, consumer chemicals, and pest droppings and urine, and reduces shelter for pests.

Types of cleaning products include Disinfectants and sanitizers Abrasives Acids Alkalis Bleaching agents Detergents Spirit solvents Disinfectants and Sanitizers Disinfectants are more often used in clinics and hospitals than in household products.

Disinfectants for Household Use Liquid chlorine bleach is a common household disinfectant. Sanitizers for Household Use Sanitizers are commonly used in restaurants and household products.

Abrasives Abrasives are rough or gritty. Physical abrasives include sandpaper, plastic and nylon meshes, scrubbing pads, and steel wool.

Mineral abrasives are composed of particles. Baking soda, powdered borax, and salt are all examples of mineral abrasives that are considered natural cleaners. Chemical abrasives are also composed of 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 used to kill bacteria in addition to general surface cleaning. Uses Mild abrasives are appropriate for surfaces such as fiberglass, laminate, countertops, grout, tile, sinks, tubs, cookware, and glass.

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.

Acids Acids are used to remove mineral deposits, rust stains, and hard water deposits. Table 1. Examples of Acids in Household Cleaners Product Acid Ingredients Toilet bowl cleaner sodium bisulfate, oxalic acid, dilute hydrochloric acid, or dilute sulfuric acid Rust removers acetic, citric, gluconic, levulinic, hydrofluoric, hydroxyacetic glycolic , or oxalic acids Metal cleaners citric or acetic acids Hard water removers levulinic, acetic, hydroxyacetic glycolic , citric, or gluconic acids Tarnish removers levulinic, acetic, hydroxyacetic glycolic , citric, or gluconic acids Uses Very Mild Acids Mildly acidic cleaners are used to dissolve hard water deposits, remove mild rust stains, and eliminate soap film from around the sink and on shower doors.

Gluconic acid — organic compound with very low toxicity Hydroxyacetic or glycolic acid — a mild organic acid stronger than vinegar Levulinic acid — a non-toxic sugar-derived chemical used as a platform chemical in the production of a number of products Acetic acid is the acid in clear white vinegar and is a natural all-purpose cleaning agent.

Caution Always read the labels on the products you buy and follow the directions to ensure your own safety. Oxalic acid, hydrochloric acid, sodium bisulfate, sodium hypochlorite, and sulfuric acid are all poisonous.

They can also injure skin and eyes and damage clothing, leather, and some metals. Damage can occur when two or more different kinds of metals are treated together with acid. For this reason, avoid soaking a metal in a container made of another metal.

Never mix a toilet bowl cleaner with any other household or cleaning products. Doing so can result in poisonous gasses being released and cause very serious breathing problems. When cleaning your bathrooms, always be sure that the room has plenty of ventilation. Leave the door open, open a window, and use the exhaust fan, if you have one.

Alkalis Alkaline cleaners are composed of alkali salts, such as sodium bicarbonate baking soda , sodium carbonate also known as washing soda or soda ash , sodium metasilicate, and trisodium phosphate TSP.

Table 2. Examples of Alkalis in Household Cleaners Product Alkali Ingredients All-purpose cleaners Examples: , Ajax, Borax 20 Mule Team , Clorox OxiMagic, Mr. Sudsy ammonia has soap or detergent added.

Sudsy ammonia cleans garbage pails, kitchen range burners, and sinks. Caution Most alkalis are toxic poisonous , some are corrosive, and others irritate skin and eyes. However, it has a shelf-life of only one day for activated solutions, so if it is used a fresh solution must be made each day.

Chlorine dioxide is unstable as a gas; however, chlorine dioxide is soluble in water and stable in an aqueous solution. Chlorine dioxide can be obtained by ordering its stabilized form, which is then activated on-site when required.

Of the oxidizing biocides, chlorine dioxide is the most selective oxidant. Ozone and chlorine are much more reactive than chlorine dioxide, and they will be consumed by most organic compounds. Chlorine dioxide, however, reacts only with reduced sulfur compounds, secondary and tertiary amines, and some other highly reduced and reactive organic compounds.

A more stable residue can therefore be achieved with chlorine dioxide at much lower doses than when using either chlorine or ozone. Generated properly, chlorine dioxide can be used more effectively than ozone or chlorine in cases of higher organic loading because of its selectivity.

Like chlorine, hydrogen peroxide H2O2 and peracetic acid are strong oxidants and can be potent broad-spectrum germicides. They are also safer than chlorine to humans and the environment. However, they have a short shelf-life of just five days for dilute solutions, so fresh solution must be made frequently if used, unless using a stabilized commercial product.

Products now available have other ingredients to stabilize the hydrogen peroxide content, to accelerate its germicidal action and to make it less corrosive. The commercial hydrogen peroxide-based surface disinfectants can adequately disinfect surfaces between 30 seconds to a minute.

Hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid can be corrosive to metals such as aluminum, copper, brass, and zinc, and can also decolorize fabrics, hair, skin, and mucous membranes. They are also oxidizers, and should not be mixed with anything other than water.

Articles treated with them must be thoroughly rinsed before contact with eyes and mucous membranes. They should always be stored in a vented container and away from heat and protected from light.

Prepare this solution according to the instructions on the label. Final concentration should be 0. These solutions should be labeled and dated, with an expiration date of days one year.

Quats are used to disinfect at concentrations of 0. Quaternary ammonium compounds are not effective against spores and may be neutralized by anionic detergents. Quats can require extended contact times to be effective; it is also not as effective against some pathogens like noroviruses.

Example: Lysol I. Search Enter the terms you wish to search for. This site. Other ways to search: Events Calendar Campus Map. Hypochlorite Bleach Bleach solution is corrosive to stainless steel; therefore, thorough rinsing must follow its use in the biosafety cabinet.

To prepare bleach solutions for cleaning purposes 1 : Using Using Using 5. To prepare bleach as a disinfectant for use in a biological materials spill, it is best to work with a fresh solution : Using 5. Clorox in a dilution one part Clorox and nine parts water yields 5, ppm or a 0.

Create Elderberry supplements for wellness Website Account Non-reactive cleaning products Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. There are Non-reactive cleaning products social media sources that provucts encouraging clening to create their own cleaners producte mixing commonly found household cleaners. Though this may seem like a sure-fire way to eliminate household germs and diseases, the mixing of chemicals can produce highly toxic fumes or create an extremely corrosive product. The Skokie Fire Department strongly encourages citizens to refrain from the mixing of household chemicals. The following demonstrates the potential lethal effects of combining commonly found household cleaning products:. With Normalizing bowel rhythm growing Non-reactice of both Non-reactive cleaning products cleaning chemistries and new solvent technologies, claening debate between water-based and solvent Non-reacyive Juicy Summer Fruits porducts. Companies that have cleaning requirements for industrial, Non-reative, and specification-driven applications must decide which material is best for their applications and their business. Having and understanding the facts is the first step. For our discussion, a solvent cleaner or solvent degreaser uses a liquid to dissolve a soil. It can utilize one solvent, a variety of solvents, or a combination of several solvents and compounds to maximize performance parameters for a specific application.