One of the first things we teach our new employees is the difference between organic and inorganic contaminants. This is the foundation behind choosing the correct cleaner for a task. Choosing an incorrect cleaner can cause you to work harder than necessary or can damage a surface. “To clean” is to remove contaminants from a surface, but what does this mean?
Organic contaminants are impure substances such as food residue, oil, feces, bacteria, or mold. Inorganic contaminants are mineral deposits, hard water, and rust. Different types of contaminants require a cleaning agent in a specific pH range to properly and safely remove from a surface.
Here’s this secret: Alkaline to neutral cleaners are best for organic contaminants, while acidic to neutral cleaners work best for inorganic contaminants. This information proves cleaning is a science, not magic.
At Eckler Cleaning, we generally use Mr. Clean or borax as our alkaline cleaners of choice, and Bar Keeper’s Friend and vinegar as our acidic cleaners. Our favorite neutral cleaner is Dawn dish soap. Seriously, I want to write Dawn a love letter.
Ovens, with their greasy spilled over food messes, need alkaline to neutral cleaners such as oven cleaner or borax. Grimy cabinets, and crusty food spills also clean up easier with alkaline cleaners. Hard water stains in and around your sinks require acidic to neutral cleaners. If you use a cleaner within the wrong pH range, you will find yourself working harder than you need to.
Your best bet is to choose a cleaner as neutral as possible for the task so as not to risk damaging a surface. If you find yourself using a lot of elbow grease, check your pH. Maybe you are using an acidic cleaner when you need alkaline. Or perhaps you need to choose a cleaner higher on the scale.
Remember: always read the labels and dilute accordingly. The cleaner’s Safety Data Sheet can tell you it’s pH balance. Don’t assume you can use a cleaner because it is labeled as “All purpose.” Not sure which cleaner to use? Ask your Eckler cleaner or reach out to Maggie at ecklercleaning@gmail.com.
Written by: Maggie Eckler
Leave a Reply