Friday, March 13, 2009

Guide on how to choose cleaning products

By Alice Sy

Choosing cleaning products is a very important practice. Cleaning is part of daily activities and good judgment of which product to use is essential. With so many cleaning products available in the market today, it is very confusing to decide which one to use. And advertisements and promotional materials greatly affect our judgment. So, what are the factors to consider in choosing cleaning products?

First, you have to identify which item to clean. We use different cleaning solutions for specific materials like woods, glass, tiles, fabrics, etc. Using the wrong product may damage the surface of the item. Therefore, awareness of the materials to clean and knowledge of the product are very important.

Some cleaning products claim to be multi-purpose. They can be used in cleaning plastic, wooden surfaces and even glasses. However, in choosing cleaning products, it is very basic to check the effectiveness of the solution. Examine how spotless a glass cleaner can clean your mirror compared with a multi-purpose cleaner. Cleaning products for specific purpose are very effective in cleaning particular items. Thus, choose the right cleaning products for a specific surface.

Prepare a small surface to test the effectiveness of the cleaning product. Observe if the product is effective in cleaning the item. It is advisable to make a trial application on a small surface only, in case the cleaning product is ineffective. This is a safety measure on damage control.

Choose cleaning products which cleans the item consistently without causing any bad effect after constant use. Some cleaning products may be effective in the beginning but may contain strong solutions which can damage the item over time. So it is very critical to check on the proper instruction before applying the cleaning products.

We also have to consider our personal safety in using cleaning products. We should be aware of harmful substances used in manufacturing cleaning products. It is important to read instructions on how to use cleaning products properly, and be aware of what adverse effect they have in our health. Whenever possible, refrain from, or at least minimize, using such cleaning products.

In choosing cleaning products, also take into consideration the kind of substances contained in them. Whether they are organic, biodegradable or non-biodegradable substances matter a lot. In this way, you are being conscious of protecting the environment.

Product knowledge is the key element in choosing cleaning products. Choose the best cleaning product not because others said so, but because you have proven so. And trial is the best way to measure the effectiveness of the product.

About the Author:

No comments: