By Sumit Manwal, Founder, Hospitality Vacancy
Some soils need more than water and detergent. Reagents clean by chemical reaction.
Here is how they are used safely.
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These bring about cleaning by a chemical reaction requiring a distinctly low or high pH. They thus include acids and alkalis that aid in the cleaning process. To understand the action of acids and alkalis one must have knowledge of the term pH. pH is a measurement of the level of acid or an alkali in a solution or a substance. In the pH range of 0 – 14 a reading below 7 shows an acid and one above 7 shows an alkali.
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Types of reagents
Reagents may be acids or alkalis.
Acids used as cleaning agents may vary from mild acids (such as acetic acid) with a pH of 3 to strong acids (such as dilute or concentrated hydrochloric acid) with a pH of 1. Mildly acidic substances used commonly in cleaning include lime, tamarind and buttermilk. Acids may be used in solution alone or may be a part of some special formulations, as in toilet cleaners. Housekeeping staff need to be trained in the safe handling of strong acids, as they are highly corrosive. They literally eat away dirt. Rubber gloves should always be used while handling them. They should be used in very small quantities as they emit toxic fumes as well. Strong acids should be thoroughly rinsed away after the cleaning process. Table 7.6 summarizes the use of different acids in cleaning.
Acids and their use in cleaning
Alkalis are used as cleaning agents in the form of liquids and powders. They are particularly useful in the laundry. Very strong alkalis should be used with the utmost caution as they are corrosive and toxic. These are called caustic alkalis. Many alkalis act as bleaches. Caustic soda based cleaning agents are used to clear blocked drains and to clean ovens and other industrial equipment. Ammonia is a strong grease emulsifier and should also be carefully used as it emits strong fumes. It is also added to abrasive formulations. Toilet cleaners to which bleach has been added are very effective. It should be kept in mind that sodium chlorite bleach should never be used with an acidic toilet cleaner, however, as it will release toxic chlorine gas. The use of alkalis in cleaning is summarized in the below table.
Manwal
FAQ
Why should chemicals never be mixed?
Mixing some products, such as bleach and acids, can release harmful gases.
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Related reading on this blog
- Cleaning Agents in Housekeeping: An Introduction
- Alkalis as Cleaning Agents: Uses, Examples and Safety in Housekeeping
- Water as a Cleaning Agent: Hard Water, Soft Water and Housekeeping
About the Author
Sumit Manwal is the founder of Hospitality Vacancy (since 2017) and has 20+ years of experience in hospitality. He received the "Excellence in Hospitality Sector of Uttarakhand" award, presented by Shri Dhan Singh Rawat ji (January 2023), and the Dainik Jagran inext Uttarakhand Ratan Samman for Excellence in Hospitality & Education, presented by Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari ji (2023). He helps hotels build reliable teams and professionals grow their careers.
📧 Contact: manwal@hospitalityvacancy.com | 🔗 LinkedIn
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