The pH scale is very important and understanding it helps you achieve better cleaning results. This is especially important in the professional cleaning industry. What is pH? How to read the pH scale? When to choose acidic preparations and when to choose alkaline preparations? How to choose the right products to make cleaning effective? We give you a hint!
What is pH?
A well-known concept from chemistry, i.e. pH, is also very often used in cleaning products. This value is indicated according to the scale. What is the pH scale? A pH of 0 to 14 can help determine whether a preparation is acidic, neutral or alkaline. Products with a pH of 7 are considered neutral. This is the reaction of water. All substances below 7 are acidic . The lower it is, the more acidic the preparations, with 0 being a very strong acid. Preparations with a pH above 7 are increasingly alkaline, with 14 being a very strong base.
Oven and grill cleaners – pH from 13 to 14 – strong alkalis
Oven and grill cleaners are at the high end of the pH scale. So they have an alkaline pH . This is because their main ingredient is potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide. This type of alkaline product is perfect for removing dirt based on fats. A product that effectively and quickly removes burns and fat from ovens is Clinex Grill , which is a strong base and has a value of 13.
Thorough cleaning of the surface – pH – 11-12 – alkaline
Products with a slightly lower pH than 13 are perfect for thorough cleaning of floors or equipment in the catering industry. Clinex MaxDirt, thanks to its strong cleaning properties, effectively dissolves accumulated dirt on floors. For thorough cleaning in gastronomy, the solution that will ensure quick and comprehensive removal of fat is the use of Clinex Fast Gast . The product has an alkaline pH of 11.
Daily surface cleaning – pH from 6 to 8 – neutral pH
When performing regular professional cleaning services, you will need products that have a neutral pH , or in other words – neutral. For regular cleaning of desks and tables, for example, it is worth using CLINEX Delos Mat . The preparation is efficient and, regardless of its low pH compared to the strongest bases, it easily removes typical dirt found on desks in offices.
Washing and cleaning of sanitary facilities – pH from 3 to 5 – acidic
Acidic products are intended for sanitary areas. Due to the fact that they have a value below 5, they can effectively remove inorganic deposits, rusty traces, scale and soap residues. The use of an acidic preparation ensures that dirt is removed easily and quickly. A product that has very good cleaning properties in the sanitary area is CLINEX W3 Active Shield . The modern formula of the preparation has been enriched with polymers that delay the re-deposition of dirt and facilitate the subsequent washing process.
Thorough cleaning of sanitary facilities and toilet bowls pH from 1 to 3 – strong acids
Professional chemicals for thorough cleaning of sanitary rooms or toilet bowls are at the very bottom of the scale. These are strong acids . Why? This is because the main ingredient may be based on hydrochloric acid or another acid with similar properties. Regardless of whether it is hydrochloric acid or phosphoric acid, special care should be taken when using acidic agents. Clinex W3 Forte with extreme effectiveness removes, and not only masks or whitens, difficult inorganic dirt such as: rust, hard water deposits, lime deposits, stone coating, soap residues, but also concrete, cement and carbon deposits. We write more about this in our article about acidic cleaning agents for sanitary rooms .
Where can I find information about the pH of cleaning products?
The value on the scale is very important. Where can I find information about the pH of the preparation? This information should appear in several places. You can find out whether the reaction is acidic or alkaline from the manufacturer’s website. Fortunately, this is not the only place. We can also check it during cleaning. Information about pH can be found on the packaging of professional cleaning products. Thanks to this, we will quickly find out whether the preparation is alkaline or acidic!
Understand the pH scale
Understanding how a cleaning agent works and where it falls on the pH scale can help you optimize your cleaning process. The pH value helps us understand what type of dirt we can use a given preparation for. For this reason, it is worth paying attention to the surface to be cleaned and choosing a preparation that has the appropriate reaction. Sometimes these will be alkaline cleaning products. Other times, preparations with a neutral or acidic reaction.
We hope that our guide has helped you better understand what pH is and the difference between an alkaline reaction and a neutral or acidic reaction. After all, it is very important in cleaning. The pH can help with cleaning and make it more effective and faster. Choosing a preparation with the wrong reaction may again result in losses.
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