UNIT 2/SRM-IHM/B.Sc.
-I/ROHIT KUMAR
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CLEANING AGENTS
CLEANING AGENTS 2
UNIT 2/SRM-IHM/B.Sc.-I/ROHIT KUMAR
General Criteria for selection
Classification
Polishes
Floor seats
Use, care and Storage
Distribution and Controls
Use of Eco-friendly products in Housekeeping
Introduction 3
UNIT 2/SRM-IHM/B.Sc.-I/ROHIT KUMAR
Cleaning agents are chemicals that help to keep an area clean by removing the
soiling agents.
Dust being composed of loose particles is removed easily while Dirt adheres to
surfaces with grease or moisture and is difficult to remove.
This is where cleaning agents along with cleaning equipments make the task
easier.
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Criteria for selection
General
General criteria for selection of cleaning 5
agent
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Its a great deal of time, effort and money can be wasted by wrong choice.
The following points maybe taken into consideration when choosing cleaning
agents; -
Type of soiling – Light, Heavy
Composition – Dirt, Dust, Oil, Stains
Ease of use
Saving of time and labour
Possible damage to surface on which it is used
Toxic or irritation to skin
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Smell
Versatility – Having a common cleaning agent for different types of soiling
Packaging
Storage – Safe & easy to store and the shelf life
Cost
From the great variety of cleaning agents 7
available, most commonly ones used are: -
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Detergent
Scouring liquid / powder
WC cleanser
Mirror cleanser
Furniture polish
Air freshener
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classification
CLASSIFICATION 9
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The principle classes are:
Water
Detergents
Abrasives
Degreasers
Acid cleaners
Organic solvents
Other cleaning agents
WATER: 10
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Water is the simplest cleaning agent
normally it is a poor cleaning agent if used alone.
It becomes effective only if used in conjunction with some other agent, e.g. a
detergent.
Water serves to:
Carry the cleaning materials to the soil
Suspend the soil
Remove the suspended soil from the cleaning site
Rinse the detergent solution from the surface
Water has poor power of detergency 11
because:
UNIT 2/SRM-IHM/B.Sc.-I/ROHIT KUMAR
It has high surface tension and forms droplets
It has little wetting power
It is repelled by oil and grease
If shaken within oil the emulsion does not prevent formation of large droplets
It has low surfactant effect (surface active agent)
Hardness: Hard water contains calcium and magnesium salts which will inhibit
cleaning of material in the following ways –
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Hardness of water also causes premature aging of fabrics, causes scale and fur to
be deposited in machines and pipes.
Hard water can be softened by –
Addition of soda
Addition of water softener based on sodium sesqui – carbonate
Water softening units, e.g. permutit.
DETERGENT: 13
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Detergents are those cleaning agents, which contain significant quantities of a
group of chemicals known as ‘Surfactants. A number of other chemicals are
frequently included to produce detergents suitable for a specific use.
A good detergent should –
Reduce the surface tension of water so that the cleaning solution can penetrate the
soil
Emulsify soil and lift it from the surface
Be soluble in cold water
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Be effective in hard water and wide range of temperature.
Be hard on surface that has to be cleaned.
Suspend soil in a cleaning solution, and once the soil is removed, to hold it in
suspension and not let it redeposit.
Rinse easily and leave no streaks or scum
Be economical to user
Be harmless to the skin and article.
Be bio-degradable
Chemical composition of detergent: - 15
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Surfactants are chemicals, whose molecules when dissolved in water possess,
water seeking end (hydrophilic) and a water-repelling end (hydrophobic).
They may or may not carry the positive and negative electrical charge.
The molecules disperse through water and reduce the surface tension of water by
overcoming the forces of attraction between the water molecules, thus allowing
the water and surfactant molecule to penetrate the soil and surface.
Conti..... 16
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Builders are alkaline chemicals that influence the effectiveness of a cleaning agent
in one or both of the following ways -
Builders in general can cause damaging effect on many surfaces, e.g. chrome,
aluminum, wool, silk, paint, wood, linoleum.
It may constitute up to 30% of heavily built powdered detergents and helps in
softening water too.
Conti..... 17
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Foaming agents increase or stabilize the foam formed by a detergent. Foaming
can be used to surfactant activity, the level of foam depending on the amount of
surfactant active in a cleaning solution, e.g. ethanol .
Suspending agents increase the amount of soil that can be held in suspension in
the cleaning solution, e.g. sodium carboxymethyl cellulose.
Bleaches will break down with oxidation, those stains that have not been removed
from the surface by surfactants or builders. Sodium perborate, oxidizing weak
bleach is frequently included in detergents intended for washing textiles.
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Bulking agents contribute to the volume of detergent powders, e.g. sodium
sulphate.
Conditioning agents ensure that the granules in the detergent powder are crisp,
firm and dry.
Whiteners cause absolute ultra-violet light to transmit as visible white light.
Enzymes are complex proteins that break down organic substances, e.g. blood
stains, food stains, etc. they are effective at 30 to 50 degrees C and are inactivated
at temperatures above 60 degrees C.
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ABRASIVES
The cleaning action of abrasives depend on the presence of fine particles which
when rubbed over a soiled hard surface, dislodges the soil, removes tarnishing and
surface scratches from meat surfaces. Abrasives can be divided into –
Hard surface cleaners
Metal polishes.
Abrasives are usually not used alone in cleaning agents. For example, a cream or
paste meant for cleaning utensils contain about 80 % of finely ground limestone,
along with other substances such as bleaches, anionic surfactants, alkaline
builders, and perfumes.
TYPES OFF ABRASIVES 20
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Fine Abrasives: These include precipitated whiting (filtered chalk) and jeweler’s
rouge (a pink oxide of iron) used for shining silver. They are also constituents of
commercial silver polishes.
Medium abrasives: these include rotten stone, salt, scouring powder and
scouring paste. Scouring powders are made up of fine particles of pumice mixed
with soap/ detergent, and alkali and a little bleach.
Hard / coarse abrasives: these include bath bricks, sandpaper, pumice, steel
wool, and emery paper.Glass paper, calcite, sandpaper, fine ash, emery powder
and paper, jeweler’s rouge, powdered pumice, precipitated whiting (filtered
chalk). Ground limestone, sand, steel wool and nylon scourers are some
commonly used abrasives.
ACIDS AND TOILET CLEANSERS 21
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Cleaning agents with acidic properties react with water-soluble chemical deposits
to produce water-soluble salts.
Acids dissolve metals and so is used to remove metal stains such as water stains in
baths, hard water deposits around taps, tarnish on silver, copper and brass, etc.
Weak acids include citric acid (lemon juice), acetic acid (vinegar). They are used
for removing tarnish from copper and brass and mild water stains in baths.
Strong acids are oxalic acid, phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, and sulphuric
acid.
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ALKALIS: 23
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These are used as cleaning agents in the form of liquids and powders.
They are particularly useful in the laundry.
Very strong alkalis should be used with utmost caution as they are toxic. These are
called caustic alkalis.
Many alkalis act as bleaches.
Caustic soda- based cleaning agents are used to clear blocked drains and to clean
ovens and other industrial equipment.
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ORGANIC SOLVENTS 25
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These are chemicals that dissolve fat, oil, grease, wax or similar compounds from
different surface, e.g. white spirit (turpentine substitute), carbon tetrachloride.
The former two are highly inflammable while carbon tetrachloride is harmful if
inhaled, and hence should never be used in a closed area.
Many are used for routine stain removal. They are harmful to skin and some
surfaces and are fire hazardous.
POLISHES 26
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They do not necessarily clean but produce a shine by providing a smooth surface
from which light is reflected evenly. They do this by smoothing out any
unevenness on the surface of the article, in many cases by forming a thin layer of
wax on the surface, thus giving some protection.
Metal polishes – these remove the tarnish resulting from the attack on the metal
by certain compounds and some foodstuffs.
They are of two basic types, one for hard metal and other for soft. Abrasive when
rubbed on the surface of the metal provides friction to remove the tarnish and
produce a shine.
FLOOR SEALERS 27
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Oleo-resinous sealers: they are used for imparting an attractive surface gloss
penetrating the floor darkening the colour and highlighting the grain of wood
floors.
One-pot plastic sealers: they are used on wood, wood- composition, cork and
magnesite floors.
Two-pot plastic sealers: they are also used on wood, wood- composition, cork
and magnesite floors.
Pigmented sealers: these may be used on concrete, wood, wood-composition,
magnesite, asphalt, and stone floors.
water-based seals: these may used on marble , terrazzo, magnesite, linoleum,
rubber, thermoplastic tiles, PVCs, asphalt, concrete, stone-, and quarry tiles.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg2LQn36NLA
Use, care and Storage 29
Indicate the dilution rate if required
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Ensure all tops are secured and containers are kept clean
Store containers neatly to avoid damage and spillage
Keep aerosol containers away from hot pipes and radiators
Ensure shelves are strong enough to bear the weight of containers storing cleaning agents
Keep the store locked when not in use
Keep bin cards up to date
Rotate stock
Use funnels for dispensing and pre-diluting
Keep the store well ventilated
Do not store heavy item on high shelves
Use dispensers where possible
Clean the store regularly
Check stock regularly
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Storage
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Distribution and Controls
Issuing of the cleaning agents can be 32
done in the following ways:
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Requisition
Each peripheral storage area will have a requisition book with forms in triplicate. Every time
good are required, the person responsible for the storage area will complete the form and sign it.
The top copy of this form will then be taken or sent to the central store prior to the collection
time, where it will be checked by the supervisor and the items put together for collection by the
cleaner. The second copy will go to the housekeeper responsible for cleaning expenditure. The
third copy will remain in the book which is returned with fresh supplies.
Full for empty/ new for old
This system is used extensively in smaller establishments. Individual cleaners will take empty
containers or old dusters, etc. to the central store and will be given a replacement in return.
Topping up
At a fixed time each day or week, the cleaners will take their containers to the main store to be
topped up. This avoids the danger of running out of supplies. In some establishments, cleaners
will deposit their bucket of cleaning agents in the main store at the end of each day or regular
intervals. These will be replenished ready for collection at the start of the next shift.
Use of Eco-friendly products in 33
Housekeeping
UNIT 2/SRM-IHM/B.Sc.-I/ROHIT KUMAR
Use of recycled paper products for stationary
Use of toiletries such as soaps, shampoos, moisturizers etc made from natural substances
like aloe Vera, neem, basil, Indian gooseberry, turmeric, sandalwood etc
Use of equipment like ozonizes to treat air and water in rooms and public areas leaving them
disinfected and deodorized.
Use of equipment that consume less electricity such as a jet hand dryer instead of a hot air
hand dryer.
Using cleaning agents that are biodegradable and Green Seal certified.
Switching to natural cleaning agents wherever possible e.g. using tamarind pulp to clean
brass articles that using the chemical agents.
Using microfiber mops that use 90% less water.
Controlled and automatic vending dispense of cleaning chemicals for efficient use.
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UNIT 2/SRM-IHM/B.Sc.-I/ROHIT KUMAR
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