Table of Contents
Abrasive cleaners are designed to remove medium to high amounts of soil often found in small areas, that won't be removed with gentle wiping or cleaning alone.
The abrasive products come both in powder and liquid form and contain a kind of built-in elbow grease, which helps cut down on the hard rubbing required to remove soil and makes the cleaning process a lot easier when using them. Scouring pads are also included in this category.
The abrasive action when using these products is provided by a variety of ingredients: small particles of minerals or a network of fine steel wool, copper, nylon or metal particles imbedded in a matrix of solid plastic. The mixture of these and the friction and pressure caused by the cleaning process is what will help lift those stubborn stains and marks.
Well established among common household cleaning products, the cleaning action of powdered cleansers is provided thanks to fine particles of common minerals such as calcite, quartz and silica. Powdered cleansers also contain small amounts of surfactants for removing more oily soils such as a greasy film often round found in sinks around the plughole and side after dishwashing.
When removal of food, drink or the always hard to remove mould stains is required, a bleaching agent is usually present in these products. If removal of rust stains is a feature of the product, oxalic acid or sodium hydrosulphite is usually present to make this process as easy and straightforward as possible.
Wet abrasive is a stronger option. Liquid cleansers are a strong form of solid abrasive particles in a thick liquid matrix. Containing more softer abrasives than are normally found within powdered cleansers, the result is a gentler abrasive action than powdered cleansers. which are great for when ever deeper cleaning is required.
Some abrasive cleaners also have the ability to disinfect surfaces, and include antimicrobial chemicals to reduce the bacterial population on soiled surfaces. The most common product in this category that we will all be familiar with is household bleach. Any such product in this category will be labelled as a disinfectant. As with any cleaning process, disinfectants should be used as part of a two step cleaning process, with cleaning followed by disinfecting.
The last of the four common abrasive cleaner options is that of tools. The most common two will be scouring pads and also the tougher wire wool scourer option.
These tools can provide effective cleaning and an attractive shine to surfaces after their use with a suitable product. With continued use, however, the cleaning mixture is used up and the metal pad begins to disintegrate. They should be replaced when there is a notable change to their appearance to avoid the loss of efficiency and effectiveness.
Whilst abrasive cleaners and tools are great for tackling the toughest stains and marks, It goes without saying that all abrasive cleaners and cleaning tools need to be used with extreme care and consideration. Always read the instructions on bottles, and ensure tools are suitable for the surface that you intend to use them on, to prevent the risk of damage being caused during the cleaning process. Simple checks out the outset can provide an expensive headache down the line!
Green Fox Cleaning are a commercial cleaning company with the skill and knowledge to select the best cleaning product for every task in every sector. Click here to learn more about Green Fox Cleaning, and find out how they can help improve the appearance of your business with theirs.
