Cleaning Chemicals

Commercial Cleaning Products: What You Need to Know

Using the right cleaning chemicals for your facility and equipment will help your operation establish cleaning procedures that maintain a clean, sanitized environment. Routine cleaning instructions should be given for floors, contact surfaces, restrooms, and equipment, as well as any customer-facing areas. For your employees' benefit, these cleaning procedures should be well-documented so they can review when to clean, which products to use, and how to use them. This will also ensure your facility and equipment are regularly cleaned to the same standards every time.

Common Questions About Cleaning Chemicals & Sanitizing Chemicals

What is a cleaning chemical?

This is a broad term encompassing substances that ensure cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting can be done safely and effectively in commercial businesses and residences. Although "cleaning" may be used as an umbrella term for these three processes, each one has a different purpose:

• Cleaning removes dirt and visible grime from a surface.
• Sanitizing greatly reduces the amount of bacteria and viruses that may be present.
• Disinfecting eliminates sources of potential infection.

To streamline the cleaning process in your facility, you can use commercial cleaning products that have been engineered to accomplish two of these steps, or even all three, at once. Some products may also advertise additional benefits or features, such as also deodorizing a surface and leaving behind a pleasant scent, which can be particularly helpful in restrooms and other high-odor or heavily trafficked areas.

What chemicals are used for cleaning?

Commercial cleaning products are manufactured with various compounds, so you should check the label for more information about what substance you're actually cleaning with. However, here are some commonly used compounds:

• Sodium hydroxide, another name for lye, which is very corrosive
• Quaternary ammonium compounds, a common ingredient in disinfectants
• Alcohol ethoxylate, a surfactant (which reduces a liquid's surface tension)
• Glycol ethers, solvents often used in cleaning substances
• Phosphoric acid, found in sanitizing agents

How do you handle industrial cleaning products safely?

It's important to follow the instructions that are provided on the chemical's bottle or jug. Most substances need to be diluted with a specific amount of water, generally measured by ounces, before they can be used. If you transfer an industrial cleaning product to a different container, you should ensure that container is clearly and accurately labeled and make note of the substance's usage directions in your cleaning procedures. To avoid mistakes when using cleaning chemicals, we recommend storing them in their original containers whenever possible. It's especially important to label any restaurant cleaning chemicals that may be on the premises, particularly if they are in the kitchen, to prevent a caustic substance from entering the flow of food service.

Before handling any commercial cleaning agents, you should wear a pair of cleaning gloves that can withstand the water and chemicals you'll be using. Because many of these chemicals are quite caustic, they may cause irritation or even burns if they come into contact with bare skin. However, instructions for administering first aid to someone if the substance has gotten into their eyes or onto their skin are likely included on the product's label. Generally, anyone who has gotten a potentially harmful substance into their eyes or onto their skin will be advised to rinse the affected area with water, but you should check the label and follow the manufacturer's specific first aid recommendations.

What is included in office cleaning?

Although every office's specific design, daily use, and traffic level is unique, there are some general cleaning requirements to consider. No matter what industry they're serving or how many people work there each day, offices most likely include high-contact entry and exit doors, desks with computers and chairs, conference rooms, multiple restrooms, and a kitchen or breakroom. In cramped or poorly cleaned office buildings, one employee being sick can quickly lead to multiple employees being sick.

To ensure shared spaces are cleaned and sanitized to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria, you should stock your supply closet with office cleaning chemicals that can be used to scrub floors, clean and sanitizer counters and door handles, wipe down desks and keyboards, and thoroughly clean, sanitize, disinfect, and deodorize restrooms. Routinely cleaning windows and breakroom equipment to remove grime and visible dirt will give your employees peace of mind that you're prioritizing their health and safety.

What other cleaning chemicals are available?

In addition to janitorial cleaning chemicals, you'll find substances meant for specific equipment – such as waffle grids, fryers, ovens, and ice machines – or surfaces, including stainless steel and glass. These products are usually clearly marked and should be easy to identify. As with other cleaning supplies, you should take care to read any directions provided on the label for best results.