Complicated Chemical Affair

[box type=”shadow” ]An all-purpose cleaner or multi-purpose cleaner may sound safe and suitable for all kinds of cleaning. However, the complexity of the surface being cleaned could lead to a chemical reaction, damaging it permanently. Hence, all-purpose cleaners, may be simple to use, but could get complicated when used without understanding the chemical composition of the surface being cleaned. Vijayalakshmi Sridhar speaks to experts and end users to evaluate all-purpose cleaners (APCs) and its applications[/box]

During an interaction with a facility service company, a hassled supervisor confided his frustration and outcome of trusting his boys with cleaning chemicals. In a five-star property, an area of wooden flooring was cleaned using a wrong chemical. The flooring was damaged completely and the supervisor was facing a furious executive housekeeper.

At times in an attempt to simplify processes and identify the right chemicals by numbering them according to applications could also backfire. Many properties have the auto-dispensing system installed besides the daily and periodic training offered to workers engaged in cleaning. In spite of all these education and systems, there is a clear indication that the user has to understand what exactly is the chemical being used, its composition and above all the character of the surface on which it is to be applied and the reaction thereof. This reiterates the fact that cleaning is a science and has to be learned and understood for proper implementation.

All-purpose Cleaners

The APCs are generally made of anionic surfactants without any special additives. They are used for general cleaning of most surfaces, including floors, furniture or glass.

[box type=”shadow” ]“The market is divided when it comes to using APCs. One segment is cost-driven, another is quality-driven and yet another one is brand-driven”.

– Jigar Shah

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“This is one chemical that can be used for different modes/methods of cleaning for different surfaces,” says Jigar Shah, MD, Reva Chemicals Pvt Ltd.

Even though, it is all-purpose, APCs have their limitations when it comes to industries like food, pharma, healthcare and so on. In a food industry, the use of chemicals itself is restricted and APCs hardly finds its place. In addition to stabilized chlorine solution for sanitization, solutions that are bio degradable, high detergency aqueous that are safe on hands or is alcohol based, having neutral pH and a good bactericidal property, form the popular industry choice. For hand wash, a gentle soap with balanced pH and emollients for moisturizing action is preferred.

“The APCs though are cost effective, have inherent limitations as they could be a hazard in the food industry,” says Prakash N, Manager Operations, Annamrita – ISKCON Food Relief Foundation that serves 1.2 million meals every single day through its 20 kitchens across India. However, he adds, “The efficacy, stability and safety data of various chemicals in combination need to be studied over prolonged usage. The chemicals if not biodegradable, could become a sewage pollutant and cause ecological damage.”

“The market is divided when it comes to using APCs. One segment is cost-driven, another is quality-driven and yet another one is brand-driven,” says Jigar Shah.

Adding a new perspective to this discussion, Rachna Dave, MicroGo LLP, feels that it is “more to do with the strict enforcement of standards and practices of hand hygiene, regular washing of uniforms and the need for staff that has enough awareness of dos and don`ts.”

Guidelines for choice

Of course, the choice depends on the nature of the business, employees and the mode of use.

At Garlic Fast Foods, where 90% of the products are frozen and all the offerings are deep fried, cleaning is a daily activity that is done manually. The platters and spoons are used and thrown. The counters are wiped after each use and the fryers are scrubbed to degrease. A single cleaner is not used for cleaning; customized solutions that clean and leave a fragrance in the air are their choice.

[box type=”shadow” ]“With lax attitude and lack of compliance, hygiene and disinfection cannot be brought about only with the use of quality chemicals.”

– Rachna Dave [/box]

Says Kalpesh Parikh, Owner, Garlic Fast Foods, “I am 100% satisfied with the cleaning achieved with the solutions I am using right now.” But if he were to look for an all-purpose cleaner, he adds, “I would prefer something that is easily available in the market, easy to use since it is not an organized sector and the employees cannot follow complicated directions.”

[box type=”shadow” ]“The APCs, though are cost effective, have inherent limitations as they could be a hazard in the food industry,”

– Prakash N

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Where to use

There is a general speculation on where to use APCs and where not to P. Prabhakar, Director, Surfactants and Allied Chemicals Pvt. Ltd explains, “Any surface which is easy to clean, clean or non-dusty by nature or regularly cleaned without accumulation of dirt or stain, can be cleaned with an APC. Any surface made of special stone and has maximum footfall, is delicate, gets regularly stained or has stubborn stains, has to be cleaned only with a special cleaner. For example, marble floor will require a delicate pH neutral special cleaner whereas APC might be harsh on marble. Similarly, epoxy surfaces will need an alkaline cleaning medium rather than an APC.” Hence, it is essential to know the character of the surface, in terms of whether to use an acidic or alkaline solution.

Jigar Shah adds, “It boils down to application. For example, a kitchen APC is used for utensils and floor washing, floor cleaning APC doubles up for use on the floor and the glass. We cannot mix and match them. The kitchen all purpose cannot be used for housekeeping and vice versa. These are driven by different set of standards. Similarly, specialty cleaners are meant for specialty applications. They are not going to serve the purpose in generic situations.”

Advantages and limitations

Multipurpose cleaners have their own advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are in them being multi-purpose, available in concentrated form with maximum strength and can be diluted and used upon discretion. The disadvantages and limitations are also many. Rachna opines. “Efficacy towards a particular grey area (read: a target species) may decrease. But, for a blind area the multipurpose cleaners are the best alternative.

[box type=”shadow” ]“I would prefer something that is easily available in the market easy to use… the employees cannot follow complicated directions.”

– Kalpesh Parikh

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“The multipurpose cleaners are not cost-effective,” Parikh weighs in. Yes, if a wrong chemical is used on a wrong surface, the consumption of the chemical will definitely go high, especially when it is being used to remove grease or dirt.

Prakash says, “The advantages are cost savings, lower inventories, ease of monitoring, lesser training inputs and lesser opportunities for misuse. The disadvantages are that the powerful and toxic chemicals can damage surfaces and the environment, can emit residue polluting the air or the sewage system. In the long term, its usage can impact the skin, lungs by inhaling residue and accidental ingestion that turns out to be a hazard.”

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“Any surface which is easy to clean, clean or non-dusty by nature or regularly cleaned without accumulation of dirt or stain, can be cleaned with an APC.”

– P. Prabhakar

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Prabhakar opines that specific requirement based cleaners rule the market in comparison to APCs. “A neutral APC will be no match for an acidic toilet cleaner for the stains on ceramic surfaces. Similarly, APC will leave a lot of foam and froth if used in glass surfaces, whereas a specially developed glass cleaner with less surfactant and less foaming agent will give a dazzling shine. Artificial surfaces like mosaic and vinyl will need an alkaline cleaner.”

Mixed demand and trend

Even though cost cuts keep the APCs out of the doors of the housekeeping departments, a demanding situation such as a tough and stubborn stain is what makes them go for such chemicals. “But the market is always receptive to effective and efficient cleaning solutions suited for specific purposes.”

Anand, Manager, Naga Flour Mills, says cost is not an issue so long as the multi-purpose cleaners meet the expectations of the users. Of course, with multi-purpose cleaners, time and effort can be saved and there will be no handling error. “But they should be of good quality, certified food grade, safe to use, odour-free and to suit our application and easy to dry,” he shares his expectations thus.

[box type=”shadow” ]“With multi-purpose cleaners, time and effort can be saved and there will be no handling error.”

– Anand

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“The APCs are cleaners the industry cannot do without. They belong to the DIY category. But unlike countries abroad, the areas of application are not so wide and here the people have not been sufficiently educated about it. But going ahead, it is the APCs that are going to rule the market,” Jigar Shah ascertains.

How-to of cleaning

The common grey areas in terms of cleanliness and hygiene and the ways to control infection lie beyond the choice of cleaning chemicals.

“With lax attitude and lack of compliance, hygiene and disinfection cannot be brought about only with the use of quality chemicals. Along with we need to make hygiene as part of our habit and lifestyle. Development of practices or options that mitigate manual interventions, along with technologies that are specifically designed for Indian users and not developed for the western world by the western world will be the best guiding principle to go by,” says Rachna.

Prakash feels there is a need to draw a line between requirement and choice. “We need to strike a balance between cost efficacy, safety, biodegradability and health while selecting any product to meet our requirements.”