There are several chemicals that one can be able to use in the house cleaning to make it an easy job. These chemicals vary in composition and are appropriate for cleaning different items. House cleaning chemicals can be acidic or alkaline in nature. Detergents, commercial blends, bleaches, solvents and abrasives are also commonly used during house cleaning activities. It is most important to know the material of the item you want to clean so as to be able to choose the appropriate chemical to clean it. Most house cleaning chemicals are also very dangerous and care should be taken when using them. Some protective clothing such as gloves can be used to protect the skin.
Acid house cleaning solutions range from mild lemon juice to highly acidic hydrochloric solutions. They are mostly used to clean metallic stains, alkaline discoloration, hard water deposits, and tarnish. They basically neutralize alkalis and also contain some bleaching effects. You should be very careful when using acidic chemicals for house cleaning. They are not only dangerous to your skin and eyes but are also capable to cause damage to your fabrics. They can also etch surfaces and damage porcelain enamel metal items.
Alkali cleaners are mostly reliable for the cleaning of grease and soil stains. It acts by suspending the stains so that as you rinse they are washed off. It is also important to be careful with alkaline house cleaning chemicals as they can cause damage to your fabrics. They can also darken or corrode aluminum. Other than baking soda, make sure that any house cleaning alkaline solution is not swallowed.
Bleaches act as oxidizers and are good to use in the removal of stains on fabrics and surfaces. They can also lighten stains on wood and can also be used to naturally remove wood color like that of mahogany. Like the other house cleaning chemicals, bleaches should be used with a lot of care. If not rinsed properly and promptly, they could cause fabric to fade. Neutralization may be necessary before using some types of bleaches.
Detergents are house cleaning chemicals that can either be neutral or alkaline in nature. A Ph 7 neutral detergent is neither acidic nor alkaline. It is mostly indicated on the bottle or detergent can. The surfactants in house cleaning detergents dissolve any grease or dirt on the items being cleaned. They are best used with warm water to clean fixtures, appliances, floors and counter tops. Most of them are high in suds and should be used moderately and rinsed off thoroughly.
Solvents such as water are very useful whenever one is doing house cleaning. Water dissolves soils in items and is also very useful for rinsing purposes. It is however important to take care when working around electric wires so as to avoid cases of electrocution.
Currently, there are several commercial cleaners which are formulated as blends of the other types of house cleaning chemicals. They are mainly used for commercial or multi-purpose house cleaning jobs.