Cleaning is one of the tasks that we often find annoying, but that has to be done if we want to feel comfortable in our own homes in the long term. With the right cleaning agent, this is easy to do and the results are impressive.
In the jungle of cleaning supplies, however, it is easy to lose track. Which home remedy for what? What does the pH value of the cleaning agents say? What are alkaline cleaning agents? Acidic, alkaline, or neutral?
Don’t let the multitude of terms unsettle you. In today’s blog post, we have compiled 6 facts and tips with which you can not only use the right acidic, neutral, or alkaline cleaning agent in the household but also look forward to quickly visible success.
Tip 1: Find Out About The pH Value Of The Cleaning Agents
Before assessing which cleaning agent is best for which task, you should know the pH value. This makes it relatively easy to determine which cleaner is best for oily stains or limescale, for example. But don’t worry, you don’t need to be a chemist to easily understand the connections.
The lowest value 0 stands for strongly caustic acids. the average pH value of 7 for neutral products, and the highest value of 14 for highly caustic lyes.
Tip 2: Distinguish Between Acidic, Alkaline, And Neutral!
Acidic, alkaline, or neutral? The fact about this tip is certainly already clear to you, the three designations are related to the pH value just described.
Sounds scientific and highly complicated, but it isn’t if you understand these three terms and know which cleaning agents are best suited for which purpose in the household.
Neutral: We start with neutral cleaning agents, which have a value of 7 because they can be used universally and are therefore well suited for a regular house or apartment cleaning.
Acidic: As you move from the neutral center with a value of 7 into the acidic range, the acidity increases from weak to stronger. One generally speaks of acidic cleaners.
Alkaline: The same applies in the other direction for lye mixtures with pH values between 7 and 14. These are also referred to as alkaline cleaning agents. Alkaline cleaning agents are particularly popular cleaning agents because they are excellent at removing organic dirt.
Our practical overview shows you once again what is important:
pH less than 7 means acidic
pH value = 7 means pH neutral
pH greater than 7 means alkaline or basic
The pH value is therefore an indicator of the effectiveness of acids or alkalis and makes it easy to roughly differentiate between cleaning agents.
Tip 3: Use Acidic Cleaning Agents To Remove Limescale And Urine Scale
The fact is that acids can be very effective against inorganic or mineral dirt. They are ideal for eliminating limescale, urine scale, rust, and base metals. For this reason, acidic cleaning agents are often used in bathrooms, toilets, and sanitary facilities.
However, caution should be exercised in this regard as there are lighter and highly corrosive acids on the market. For most bathroom products, milder acids such as citric acid or sulfamic acid will do just fine.
However, you should be particularly careful with vinegar and vinegar essence, because the irritating acids can cause lasting damage to brass alloys, for example.
Because lime is attacked by acids, natural stones, which include marble floors and areas made of granite or slate, are also damaged by acids. For this reason, never clean kitchen worktops made of marble or granite with a vinegar-based cleaner or acidic cleaning agent. This can cause unsightly discoloration or make the surfaces look dull.
The same applies to floors and surfaces made of cork and, of course, to items of clothing that you wear during the cleaning. If cork and fabrics come into contact with acids, extreme damage can occur. This also applies to the skin. Always wear gloves when cleaning with acidic cleaners to avoid injuring your skin.
Tip 4: Use Alkaline Cleaning Agents To Remove Grease, Protein, Dirt, And Other Deposits
We already have the question: what are alkaline detergents? answered in tip 2. Alkaline cleaning agents are, so to speak, the counterpart to acids and are suitable for organic soilings such as deposits of fat, protein, plant residues, and similar substances. However, alkalis do not damage metals. Aluminum is an exception.
An important fact in this tip is the fact that alkaline solutions are also ideal as drain cleaners due to their properties. For example, they remove hair from the pipes without damaging them. They are also suitable for removing some paint and glue residues.
Numerous all-purpose cleaners available on the market are slightly alkaline and therefore also have excellent protein and fat-dissolving properties. The alkalis adhere firmly to the dirt and are often removed from the surface to be cleaned together with the dirt by lightly rubbing.
As with acids, caution should be exercised when dealing with alkalis, which can range from mild soda used in washing up to extremely caustic sodium hydroxide, which is used in oven cleaners and drain cleaners, among other things.
This is made clear by the hazard symbol GHS 09, which indicates the environmental risks of alkaline cleaning agents. As with acids, wear gloves to protect your skin when working with alkalis.
Tip 5: Use Neutral Products As Universal Cleaners For Wiping Or High-Pressure Cleaning
The clear fact in this tip is that neutral stands for a neutral reaction and for cleaners that are ideal for universal cleaning with the surfactants and emulsifiers they contain. You can use this for light soiling or for daily cleaning, but also for house cleaning when wiping and high-pressure cleaning.
Neutral cleaners have a number of advantages over acids and alkalis, because they can be used without any major concerns, are gentle on the material, and are also suitable for use on sensitive surfaces. In addition, do not harm the skin when doing housework.
Tip 6: Pay Attention To A Resource-Saving And Environmentally Friendly Application
Alkaline cleaning agents in the household ensure radiant cleanliness, but like acidic cleaning agents they should only be used sparingly and in places where they are actually needed.
For all other cleaning tasks, it is best to use neutral universal cleaners that are environmentally friendly in the correct dosage and do not contain any questionable or caustic substances. This protects the surfaces in your household and the environment at the same time.
Conclusion: Which Home Remedy For What?
After reading our article, you will not only know the PH value of detergents, but you will also know which products are best suited for which purpose in the household.
Slightly acidic and alkaline cleaning agents are highly effective cleaning agents for the respective areas of application. However, the use of a neutral all-purpose cleaner in your apartment or house is often sufficient to achieve the desired goals.
With the knowledge you have gathered, you can start immediately and clean your home thoroughly and at the same time gently, or you can give us a call and we’ll do the cleaning for you.
