Sep
24
The accepted methods of cleaning in household and industrial environments has traditionally included the use of synthetic chemicals that have been found to present certain hazards to both public health and the environment. Concerns about these negative effects has resulted in the development of new compounds and technologies that depend on the use of natural, organic elements that can produce equal or improved cleaning actions without endangering the well-being of either humans or the environment.
Nearly all of the cleaning solutions that have traditionally been used for various cleaning functions were composed of chlorinated hydrocarbons. These compounds, although effective enough, presented the possibility of serious health issues and environmental damage due to their carcinogenic characteristics. These harmful elements would make their way into soil content and water tables by way of water treatment processes that did not sufficiently filter out these carcinogens. Additionally, cleaning solutions that were used in the household environment, such as carpet cleaning solutions and everyday chemical cleaners, presented immediate exposure to their harmful elements through physical contact and inhalation.
The concerns about these long-term negative effects led to more research into environmentally-friendly cleaning products and methods that would be able to attain sufficient levels of removing dirt, stains, and other debris without the use of dangerous substances. This research resulted in the discovery of the cleaning properties of organic elements - such as ethanol, sodium carbonate, and citric acid - that would produce the same caustic action that synthetic solutions relied on to remove dirt and stains from surfaces and fabrics.
Ethanol, more often associated with alcoholic beverages and bio-fuel products, is actually an organic element that is the by-product of the fermentation of yeast sugars, and is the main component of vinegar. The activation of enzymes when vinegar is applied as a cleaning agent causes debris to be loosened from the surfaces to which it adheres. Vinegar is generally diluted with water to reduce the possibility of inadvertent damage to the surface it is applied, such as fading of colors in fabrics.
Sodium carbonate is an organic substance that is more commonly referred to as baking soda or washing soda. These forms of sodium carbonate have been used for many years by many cultures as an effective general cleaner. It is especially effective in removing petroleum-based elements, such as grease and oil. This is due to the ability of sodium carbonate to prevent magnesium and calcium ions from binding to water molecules, thus increasing the cleaning action of soap and water solution, such as detergents.
Citric acid has also been found to be extremely effective in the removal of those elements that stain fabrics and surfaces more readily. The use of lemon juice specifically is an effective stain remover. The citric acid in lemon juice not only acts as a caustic agent that loosens elements from surfaces, but also has a lightening characteristic that can remove discoloration that can be a side effect of some types of stains, such as coffee and blood stains.
The introduction of the use of environmentally-friendly cleaning elements such as these has had a significant effect on reducing the possibility of health risks and environmental damage.
Domestic and commercial cleaning company based in London, DS Cleaning provides Environmentally Friendly Cleaning and sanitizing service that uses natural products for home, office and end of tenancy cleaning. All cleaning products used are eco friendly and will not harm the environment. For details visit http://www.dscleaning.co.uk
Article Source: Environmentally-Friendly Cleaning