CLEANING MATERIALS A considerable amount of the family’s budget is spent in the purchase of cleaning materials. WHY? ◦Cleaning materials take form in either liquid, detergents, spray, powders and etc., that are used to clean, disinfect or eliminate bad odors. ◦It is mostly used for household chores ◦When used incorrectly, cleaning materials can bring serious harms as there are toxics that may affect one’s health. What are the ingredients of some cleaning materials? ◦ Ingredients must be potent substance ◦ These potent substances are the active ingredients. ACTIVE INGREDIENTS and their mode of action ◦ Water has a high surface tension and this property lessens the ability of water to wet a surface and prevents it from soaking into pores and soiled areas and therefore inhibits the cleaning process. ◦ Substances that are able to reduce the surface tension of water are called surfactants or surface active agents. ◦ SOAPS and DETERGENTS are surfactants. ACTIVE INGREDIENTS and their mode of action ◦ When a soap is used in hard water, a solid substance we call scum forms. This is because charged calcium and magnesium ions present in the hard water react with soap to form an insoluble substance. ACTIVE INGREDIENTS and their mode of action ◦ Scum builds up on clothes, baths and sinks. ◦ Detergents do not form scum because when a calcium or magnesium ion reacts with a detergent molecule, the new substance dissolves in water. ◦ Soaps and detergents contain both hydrophilic (waterloving) group, like an acid anion (CO2- or SO3-), and a long, nonpolar hydrophobic (water-hating) group like an alkyl chain. ◦ Hydro – water, philic – loving, phobic – fear (hate) ACTIVE INGREDIENTS and their mode of action ◦ During cleaning, the hydrophobic tails dissolve in a droplet of oil or grease, whilst the hydrophilic heads face out into the surrounding water resulting in ball-like structure. ◦ The non-polar substances, such as oil and grease, are held inside the ball and suspended in water. ◦ The suspended oil or grease which usually contains most of the dirt are then sensed away. ACTIVE INGREDIENTS and their mode of action ◦ Surfactants are categorized as ionic, cationic, nonionic, and amphoteric. This classification is based on the nature of the hydrophilic groups. ◦ Anionic surfactants have negatively charged hydrophilic group. ◦ The common anionic surfactants are alkylbenzene sulfonate, alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl sulfates, and soaps. Cationic Surfactants ◦ Have a positively charged hydrophilic head. ◦ Used in fabric softeners and in fabric-softening laundry detergents, and as disinfecting or sanitizing ingredient in industrial and household cleaners. ◦ Most commonly used – alkyl quaternary system and esterquats Alkyl quaternary systems ◦ used as fabric softeners with anionic surfactants, helping them to breakdown the interface between the dirt and water. ◦ Example is Dioctadecyldimethylammonium chloride used as fabric softener Esterquats ◦ Biodegradable and less toxic ◦ Give detergents their fabric softening qualities Nonionic surfactants ◦ Do not ionize in solution and have no electrical charge ◦ Do not interact with the calcium and magnesium ions in hard water ◦ Low sudsing so they are used in laundry and automatic dishwasher detergents and rinse aids ◦ Alcohol ethoxylates are the widely used nonionic surfactants Amphoteric surfactants ◦ Substances that carry both a positive and a negative charge ◦ They have the ability to be anionic, cationic or nonionic in solution depending on the water pH (measure on how acidic or basic the water is) ◦ Have the ability to react with both acids and bases and are known for their mildness, sudsing, and stability ◦ Used in liquid hand washing soaps, and shampoos for babies ◦ Includes imidazolines and betaines Builders ◦ Maintain and enhance the cleaning efficiency of surfactants ◦ Reduce the hardness of water by sequestration or chelation, or by precipitation (formation of insoluble solid) or by ion-exchange (trading electrically charged particles) ◦ Maintain alkaline property of water to help in the cleaning of acidic dirt ◦ Help preventing the redeposition of dirt during washing, and emulsifying oily or greasy dirt Here are some of the active ingredients found in different cleaning products that are sold commercially: • Acids ◦remove mineral deposits from hard water; ◦discoloration from some metals like aluminum, brass, bronze, and copper; rust stains and fungal growth. ◦can be in the form of mild acids to very strong ones Here are some of the active ingredients found in different cleaning products that are sold commercially: • Acids ◦ Gluconic acid, hydroxyacetic acid, levulinic acid, citric acid, and phosphoric acid are other mild acids found in commercial products ◦ Hydrochloric sulfuric acid, and hydrofluoric acid are strong acids found in special-purpose cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners and drain cleaners ◦ They are highly corrosive ◦ In commercial products, hydrochloric acid is called muriatic acid ◦ It is found in toilet bowl cleaners and used for cleaning concrete ◦ Sulfuric acid, a strong oxidizer, is found in drain cleaners and toilet bowl cleaners ◦ Hydrofluoric acid is commercially used as rust remover Here are some of the active ingredients found in different cleaning products that are sold commercially: • Alkalis ◦ Some cleaning agents are composed of alkali salts like baking soda (sodium bi- carbonate, NaHCO3) ◦ absorbs food odors to a certain extent, making it a good cleaning agent for the inside of refrigerators ◦ removes coffee and tea stains from china and plastic containers and dishes ◦ mild cleaning agent and not corrosive. Here are some of the active ingredients found in different cleaning products that are sold commercially: • Alkalis ◦Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) also called lye or caustic soda is a strong and corrosive cleaning agent. ◦ commonly found in oven and drain cleaners ◦ In the pipe, the reaction of sodium hyroxide (whether in solid or liquid form) with water generates heat which melt the grease and the clogging is removed ◦ Oven cleaners that contain sodium hydroxide converts the greasy deposits on oven walls to soaps Household ammonia solutions are effective in removing bakedon grease or burned- on food. Its dilute form is useful for cleaning mirrors, windows, and other glass surfaces. But, it should not be used on asphalt tiles, wood surfaces and aluminum. They could be stained, pitted, or corroded by ammonia. Role of Other Ingredients Commercial cleaning products contain other substances. These substances contribute to the effectiveness of the cleaning agent and provide special functions. Some of them are: ◦Antimicrobial agents Antimicrobial agents also called disinfectants or sanitizers are chemicals that kill microorganisms or prevent their growth. They clean the materials to prevent the spread of diseases brought by bacteria, viruses, and fungi; and to reduce the odor-causing microorganisms. The antimicrobial agents include pine oil, sodium hypochlorite, quaternary ammonium compounds, triclocarban, and triclosan. Role of Other Ingredients Commercial cleaning products contain other substances. These substances contribute to the effectiveness of the cleaning agent and provide special functions. Some of them are: • Bleach activators These are substances needed for low temperature washes. Sodium perborate and sodium percarbonate do not release hydrogen peroxide in cool water. A substance is added to react with them to produce a peroxycarboxylic acid, which oxidizes stains readily. This substance is the activator and the most commonly used activator is tetraacetyl ethylene diamine (TAED). Role of Other Ingredients Commercial cleaning products contain other substances. These substances contribute to the effectiveness of the cleaning agent and provide special functions. Some of them are: • Bulking agent This substance is added to increase the volume of a product through dilution, so that it can be applied at the correct concentration. • Colorant This substance contains a blue dye or pigment that provides bluing effect when added to laundry products. During washing the fabric takes the dye. The blue dye absorbs the yellow part of the light spectrum and counteracts the natural yellowing of the fabrics. Role of Other Ingredients Commercial cleaning products contain other substances. These substances contribute to the effectiveness of the cleaning agent and provide special functions. Some of them are: • Enzymes Enzymes are proteins that break down difficult soils to simpler forms for removal by detergent. Cellulase is added to the detergent to reduce the pilling and greying of fabrics containing cotton and helps in the removal of particulate soils. • Flavors and Sweeteners Flavors and sweeteners are substances that make commercial cleaning products appealing to the consumers. Most toothpastes have flavors and sweet tastes. Sorbitol, glycerine, and saccharin are the common sweeteners in toothpastes. Wintergreen and peppermint are the flavors used in toothpastes. Role of Other Ingredients Commercial cleaning products contain other substances. These substances contribute to the effectiveness of the cleaning agent and provide special functions. Some of them are: • Fragrances These are substances used to mask the odor of ingredients and packaging of the cleaning agent. They provide pleasant odor to fabrics and skin and gives special identity to a product. • Optical brighteners These substances are fluorescent dyes. They absorb ultraviolet rays in sunlight and transmit them as blue light. This blue light masks the yellowish color of the clothes and increases the amount of the visible light reaching the eye, giving the white garment a whiter appearance. Role of Other Ingredients Commercial cleaning products contain other substances. These substances contribute to the effectiveness of the cleaning agent and provide special functions. Some of them are: • Preservatives Preservatives are substances that prevent product spoilage during storage .They are required in laundry liquids. The surfactants and even enzymes in detergents and other cleaning agents are biodegradable and can be attacked by bacteria , which causes the product spoilage. Glutaraldehyde, parabens and EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) are examples of preservatives found in liquid cleaning products. Methylparahydroxybenzoate is used as preservative in toothpaste Methylisothiazolinone, methylchloroisothiazolinone, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are the preservatives most often found in shampoos, and hair conditioners, Precautionary Measures in the Use of Some Household Cleaning Materials Extensive use of chemicals in the home has resulted in accidents because oftentimes these chemicals are used without regard to the directions of precautions shown on their labels. Most of the times the labels are not read at all and necessary protective clothings are not worn when they are used. Precautionary Measures in the Use of Some Household Cleaning Materials Some ingredients found in household cleaning agents are categorized as carcinogens, endocrine disrupters and reproductive toxins. Carcinogens are cancer causing substances. Endocrine disrupters are chemicals that interfere with the endocrine system (composed of glands, hormones and cellular receptors that control the internal function of the human body) and could mimic a natural hormone. Reproductive toxins are chemicals that cause damage to the reproductive system and could bring diseases in the ovaries or harm unborn fetuses. Therefore, necessary measures must be observed to prevent the contact and ingestion of chemicals in household cleaning agents. Here are some guidelines that should always be observed when using the different cleaning agents. Precautionary Measures in the Use of Some Household Cleaning Materials • Do not transfer cleaning products in soft drink bottles or food containers that may seem harmless to children to avoid accidental swallowing of the chemicals. • Keep cleaning agents in their original packaging. Buy cleaning products in childproof containers and score them in places that children cannot reach. • Keep strong acids and alkalis directed away from skin and eyes when in use. Use protective clothing such as masks, goggles, gloves, and aprons when using these cleaning agents. Wash right away the products that spill or splash on your skin. Precautionary Measures in the Use of Some Household Cleaning Materials • Do not use products with flammable fluids near open flames, pilot lights of kitchen appliances, ovens, or lit cigarettes. • Do not leave aerosol containers on a kitchen range, stoves, ovens, in direct sunlight or near other heat sources. Do not puncture this type of container and before disposing it hold the valve open to let all the contents and gas escape. Avoid discarding the container in a fire to prevent explosion. • Always read and understand the label instructions and refer to MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) before using a particular cleaning agent. • Do not mix different cleaning agents together. Toxic substances may be formed. Precautionary Measures in the Use of Some Household Cleaning Materials Most people think that the best cleaner is a mixture of different cleaners. The table below gives the precautionary measure when using some cleaning agents. CLEANING AGENTS POSSIBLE HAZARD PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES Ammonia Can cause severe eye and Use eye protection; use in well lung irritation; when mixed with ventilated area; avoid mixing bleach produces a poisonous with bleach or muriatic acid gas Bleach Can produce toxic gas when mixed with ither cleaning agents Use gloves and eye protection; do not mix with toilet cleaners or ammonia Precautionary Measures in the Use of Some Household Cleaning Materials Most people think that the best cleaner is a mixture of different cleaners. The table below gives the precautionary measure when using some cleaning agents. CLEANING AGENTS POSSIBLE HAZARD PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES Toilet/drain cleaners and lye Can cause burns Wear gloves and avoid skin contact; do not mix with bleach; use eye protection Oven cleaners Can cause skin and eye irritation; contain solvents that can cause headaches, coughs, dizziness; liver and kidney damage Avoid direct contact; use only in well-ventilated areas; follow labels direction
