Many household cleaning agents that are used in residential neighbourhoods contain chemicals of varying concentrations. These chemicals often serve as the active ingredient of the cleaning agent itself. This means that the chemical is the part of the cleaning product that actually engages with dirt and stains in order to remove them from your floors, walls, dishes and other surfaces.
To understand how these chemicals work, you first need to know what they are and what types of dirt they can clean in the home. Here are some of the most common chemicals that are found in everyday cleaning agents.
Ammonia
Ammonia is one of the most powerful cleaning products, second only to bleach. By composition, it is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen. Ammonia has plenty of household cleaning uses such as cleaning outdoor fireplaces, removing tarnish from brass or silver, and getting rid of grime from your oven racks.
Citric Acid
Citric acid is found in many all-natural household cleaners. It helps clean kitchen messes and hard water stains. Because of its pleasant smell, citric acid is not only used as a cleaner, but also as a deodorizer.
In addition, pharmaceutical grade citric acid is commonly used for carpet cleaning in homes and businesses.
Calcium Hypochlorite
Calcium hypochlorite has several bleaching properties, making it useful as a disinfectant for kitchen surfaces and equipment. It is also commonly used as a bathroom cleanser and laundry detergent due to its stain removal properties.
In addition to its cleaning properties, it is interesting to note that calcium hypochlorite can also be used to disinfect water for the purposes of drinking. The process that involves dissolving granular calcium hypochlorite in water and letting it sit for at least one and a half hours before drinking.
Acetic Acid
Acetic acid is more commonly known as White Vinegar. It can be used in homes as an effective rinsing aid. Less known uses of white vinegar also include cleaning your scissors and other sharp objects. Unlike water, the vinegar doesn't ruin your blade or make it rust.
It acts by breaking down the residue and making it easier to eliminate tough stains.
Sodium Bicarbonate
Sodium Bicarbonate is composed of a mixture of Sodium Carbonate and Carbon dioxide. Better known as baking soda, sodium bicarbonate has a number of cleaning uses. You can clean scuffmarks or crayon art on your walls by using a paste of water and baking soda.
Unclogging your sink is also another important use of baking soda in the home.
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