Cleaning agents

Cleaning agents are substances (usually liquids, powders, sprays, or granules) used to remove dirt, including dust, stains, bad smells, and clutter on surfaces. Purposes of cleaning agents include health, beauty, removing offensive odor, and avoiding the spread of dirt and contaminants to oneself and others. Some cleaning agents can kill bacteria, e.g. on door handles, worktops and other metallic surfaces, and clean at the solvent-containing and are then called degreasers

Acidic cleaning agents are mainly used for removal of inorganic deposits like scaling. The active ingredients are normally strong mineral acids and chelants. Often, surfactants and corrosion inhibitors are added to the acid.

Hydrochloric acid is a common mineral acid typically used for concrete. Vinegar can also be used to clean hard surfaces and remove calcium deposits. Sulphuric acid is used in acidic drain cleaners to unblock clogged pipes by dissolving greases, proteins, and even carbohydrate-containing substances such as toilet tissu

Alkaline cleaning agents contain strong bases like sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. Bleach (pH 12) and ammonia (pH 11) are common alkaline cleaning agents. Often, dispersants, to prevent redeposition of dissolved dirt, and chelants, to attack rust, are added to the alkaline agent.

Alkaline cleaners can dissolve fats (including grease), oils, and protein-based substances

Neutral washing agents are pH-neutral and based on non-ionic surfactants that disperse different types

Cleaning agents specially made for removal of grease are called degreasers. These may be solvent-based or solvent-containing and metamorphic

          

ECO FRIENDLY CLEANING: A small step can lead to big leap in future to save our earth

Now a day, every country is trying to implement the green practices which will protect the mankind and nature from the diverse effect of synthetic chemicals either used at homes, offices and factories. Therefore, many hotels have already started to use the green chemicals like lemon juice, vinegar, etc for there daily cleaning activities and few are working, to opt for them at frequent level. Green chemicals comprise natural and biodegradable substances instead of alkali and acid and are made by techniques that do not harm the environment.

Green chemicals are plant-based and do not contain synthetic and harmful chemicals and to incorporate such practices little thinking is required. It is false to believe that eco-friendly cleaning agents cannot eliminate resistant spots and stains from hard or textile surfaces. There is no compromise from the efficiency of cleaning the stubborn marks too.

And if we talk about hospitality industry and there housekeeping department, the change-over to eco friendly cleaning practice begins with very basic programs.

For its regular and smooth functioning, house keeping department have to deal with hard water, water stains and scaling. And the easiest way out is to use detergents. But most of the detergents have high pH level, acid contents, petrochemical, chlorine, aerosol propellants, ammonia and bleach which act as a capable carcinogenic element and their excessive exposure can lead to the ailment and allergies too.

With this, these chemicals are non biodegradable, and will not breakdown at the time of decomposition. When ecological protection is the cause of the matter, bio-degradability of products used is fundamental. Alkalinities of synthetic products affects the life cycle of flora and fauna and even led them to distinction and also act as one of the major resource for water contamination. Going green with green chemicals reflects positively in the minds of customers and can actually reduce operation costs associated with hazardous material removal (Zwiebel, 2009). Most of the hotels realizes the problems of chemical-based products and have switched to environment-friendly cleaning agents. What is required is an increased level of attentiveness, and even though it might seem as a high investment proposition, in the long run it has other benefits.

Many major lodging companies like Lotus Suites (www.lotussuites.com), Lemon Tree (www.lemontreehotels.com), etc have already introduced basic environmental programs. These programs help with training, finding vendors of environmentally friendly cleaning products and providing marketing support for the guest rooms and for these activities there are different training films and information packages which will help the organization to shift to environmentally friendly practices

What are the advantages of switching to eco friendly cleaning?

TOWARDS THE ENVIRONMENT

Green cleaners poses no harm to the environment as they neither contain nor release harmful substances like volatile organic compounds (VOC) into the air therefore act as the most evident benefit for their use. Synthetic cleaners are extremely harmful because when they go into the air and water, they try to break-in the food chain and cause adverse affect on living beings and tend to destroy ecosystem. Green products are deficient in irritants or abrasives, lower in toxicity and can easily biodegrade in the environment.

TOWARDS HUMAN BEING Synthetic cleaners are harmful to the health of the users. They may contain chemicals that are irritants and can cause harm to the skin of the user or give off fumes that pose a health risk. Mostly allergy sufferers- both those with skin sensitivities and breathing/asthma difficulties- are less likely to have adverse reactions to environmentally friendly cleaners Since green chemicals are made of natural materials, however, are effective in cleaning with organic approach, and moreover no side effect ,help in improving indoor air quality and reducing water and ambient air pollution, which will directly have the impact on mankind.

ADHERENCE TO HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINESopting to green practices in the organization would ensure better health and environment to the employees and guests. It will not only affect the life cycle but also help in lowering the pollution level. Besides protecting our body system and the environment, green practices also help in cost saving.

INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND OCCUPANCY

 Increasing demand of green products by the customers and their awareness towards environment enforce the mangers to look on the other side of the fence, where the grass just might be greener. They have to look for normal practices particularly on the transformation facade supporting the greening of their organization.

SAFER PRODUCTION PROCESSES

Companies that are producing green products are also using environment friendly production processes. They are using processes that help to reduce the amount of waste produced and thus decrease the amount of pollution

Environment friendly cleaning agents

Vinegar- it is a fermented ethanol and is preferred in bathroom and kitchen cleaning, or can be also used as fabric softener in laundry and if used with warm water than can be the excellent cleaner for glassware and window. The chemicals which we are using in cleaning the kitchen, bathroom, windows, and glassware or as fabric softener may contain Alpha- terpineol, Benzyl Acetate, Phenol, Ammonia, Benzyl Alcohol, Camphor, Chloroform, Ethyl Acetate, Limonene, Linalool, Pentane etc. According to the manufacturers' Material Safety Data Sheets, these chemicals have the potential to do things to human being such as:

· cause central nervous system disorders, headaches, and loss of muscle coordination;

· irritate mucous membranes and impair respiratory function;

· cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or drowsiness;

· cause liver or kidney damage;

· cause skin disorders and allergic reactions;

· Cause cancer.

Lemon juice-it is a very good toilet cleaner, smells fresh and is free from airborne toxins. It can be used against hard water marks and deposited soap scum or to clean metal and wood surfaces. Lemon peel can be also used as a very good and natural air freshener. Normally the chemicals used at commercial level contain hydrochloric acid, a highly corrosive irritant to both skin and eyes that damages kidneys and liver; and hypochlorite bleach, a corrosive irritant that can burn eyes, skin and respiratory tract. If came in contact with other chemicals may cause chlorine fumes which may be fatal. (Siegel, 2008)

Baking soda-it is white crystalline sodium bicarbonate and is act as the best abrasive cleanser and deodorizer, and is preferably used in the kitchen. It is low in toxicity and forms a "detergent" which reacts with grease and oil. The chemicals which are used on high rate in the industry are very harmful for the human being as they contain ammonia and some corrosive alkaline substance which can affect the respiratory system and can act as the skin allergic substance.

Borax- it is a natural occurring mineral also named as sodium borate and can be easily dissolves in water and is a wonderful cleaner! It helps in dissolving grease and removing stains and is also work as disinfectant, deodorizer and inhibits mould. It can also be used as a water or fabric softener. The cleaning products available in the market contain chlorine in a dry form that is highly concentrated and is harmful for mankind.

Soap flakes- they are the pure translucent flakes of vegetable oils and purified water and are biodegradable low toxic and unlike detergent, do not contribute to algal blooms in rivers. As detergents are neither soluble nor biodegradable and once put into water, they tend to remain there, resisting breakdown.

Eucalyptus and tea-tree oil- naturally scented disinfectants- add to hot water but can also be used neat as they are good for removing sticky goof off surfaces. Air fresheners available in the market usually contain formaldehyde, which when come in contact of the skin can cause it to swell, burn, peel and break out in hives.

Washing soda- consisting of sodium carbonate (moderate alkaline) washing soda is useful in the kitchen for cutting through grease. Also removes stains and softens water. Most of the cleansers used for cleaning purpose contain include perchlorethylene, extremely irritable to eyes, skin and respiratory passages

Recommendations

By following simple practices, as

· Setting out recycling bin

· Asking guest to switch off the lights while leaving

· To ask guest if they would like to clean room when required or after they check out can work as the beginning towards safe and sound environment.

These steps are simple, and are less costly than many other green approaches, and they do make a difference in developing a green hotel. A very important factor in becoming green is to realize that, while some steps may be small, none are insignificant. This small initiative taken by the hotel can be helpful in saving global warming issues and can also be appreciated by the guests because travelers are equally aware about the changes going in our environment and their after-effects