Cleaning Agents

What is a Cleaning Agent?

Cleaning agents are substances that are used to remove dirt, stains, and tarnishes from household surfaces and articles.

Examples include detergents, bleach scouring powder (e.g., vim), etc.

These cleaning agents can be in liquid form, for example, water, some in powdered form, for example, detergents and vim, while some are in the form of a paste, such as polish.

Let’s discuss some of these cleaning agents;

1. Water: Water is very important in house cleaning. It is used for cleaning the toilet, floor, bathrooms, and kitchen floor, and washing plates. It is also used for washing hands and legs after cleaning.

2. Detergents and Soap: These are in the form of flakes, for example, Omo, Ariel, Surf, or Solid form, for example, bar soap, and toilet soap, or in liquid form. They are used for cleaning walls, the kitchen, the bathroom, and the toilet.

3. Scouring Powder: Used for removing dirt on hard surfaces, for example, wash hand basins, toilets, and kitchen sinks.

4. Disinfectants: These are used to prevent germs and to remove odour in the houses, for example, Dettol, Izal, Harpic, etc. 

Purposes of Cleaning Agents:

• Health.
• Beauty.
• Absence of offensive odour.
• Avoidance of shame.
• To avoid the spreading of dirt and contaminants to oneself and others.
• To kill bacteria.

Evaluation Questions: