Chemistry and Household Cleaning

[Jin+Guice]

I remember a section in the book outlining making your own cleaning supplies out of a few basic ingredients. I mostly use water, soap, vinegar and lemon essential oil. I'm seeking a more advanced way to do this and a better understanding of what I'm doing. Also, none of these combos work great on glass.

Is there any easy way to research, or does anyone know the chemistry behind making household cleaners and which surfaces/ materials to use them on?

[Hristo Botev]

Don't you add rubbing alcohol to the glass cleaner? I'm only about a month or so into making my own household cleaners, but I found wikihow supremely helpful: https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Vinegar- ... g-Solution

[Alphaville]

i don't use soap for household cleaning as it leave residue especially in hard water. i prefer detergent as a base instead (sls).

for vinegar cleaner 2.5% dilution in distilled water works well/leaves no residue. with regular water ymmv.

i use orange oil for heavy grease/gunk/bicycle. mostly in diluted form.

[chenda]

Has Covid changed anyone's products ?

I've use a lot of antibacterial wipes over the past year. The ones which apparently will stay in landfill for another few million years or so...

[Gilberto de Piento]

Here's what's in Windex https://www.whatsinsidescjohnson.com/us ... ss-cleaner:

Water Water
2-Hexoxyethanol Cleaning Agent
Isopropanolamine Cleaning Agent
Isopropanolamine Cleaning Agent
Ammonium Hydroxide Cleaning Agent
Lauryl Dimethyl Amine Oxide Wetting Agent
Sodium Dodecylbenzene Sulfonate Wetting Agent
Fragrance Fragrance
Liquitint® Sky Blue Dye Dye

I use DIY cleaners / hippie cleaners such as 7th generation and I find they work but are not as powerful.

[Alphaville]

Has Covid changed anyone's products ?

I've use a lot of antibacterial wipes over the past year. The ones which apparently will stay in landfill for another few million years or so...

oh i forgot to mention i make a mild dilution of chlorine bleach for disinfectant and just been using more this past year.

i can't remember % off the top of my head but usually there are instructions in the label (bleach is sold at multiple concentrations usu. in the single digits)

[theanimal]

i use orange oil for heavy grease/gunk/bicycle. mostly in diluted form.

Orange oil? As in something like this? https://www.homedepot.com/p/Eco-Clean-3 ... /306067752

[Alphaville]

Orange oil? As in something like this? https://www.homedepot.com/p/Eco-Clean-3 ... /306067752

yup. i use the citra solv brand. small bottle lasts me seemingly forever.

handle carefully around certain plastics.

[Frita]

yup. i use the citra solv brand. small bottle lasts me seemingly forever.

handle carefully around certain plastics.

+1 for this orange oil stuff It degunks kitchen grease and ceiling fan blades fast. My spouse uses it to remove the remnants of wax off of skis (after scraping).