| Kinds of Soil and Appropriate Cleaners Information |
Many different kinds of soils get deposited on many different kinds of surfaces in the average house. Dust and mud, spilled foods or beverages, or personal care products that are spilled or wiped off human bodies onto surfaces are common soils. Usually water will dissolve many of these soils but often a surfactant such as detergent needs to be added to dissolve the special soil. The water and/or the added cleaning ingredients may damage many surfaces from which the soil needs to be removed.
Greasy soils on surfaces come from food, cosmetics, cooking fumes, burning of certain fuels for heat, and other sources. They're hard to dissolve unless the water is hot, and/or more detergent is used, and/or alkali is added (as baking soda, ammonia, TSP). Petroleum solvents also help dissolve grease, but they are very flammable and the fumes are dangerous to breathe, so directions must be followed exactly.
Stains may be caused by natural(i.e.-blueberries) or artificial (i.e.-soft-drink) food coloring; by inks; by dyes in paints, crayons, candles, cosmetics, and many other products. Sometimes stains can be removed by immediate action to remove the staining material (blotting, washing or spotting) (see Stains). Stains that "set" often do permanently dye the surface, and then the surface itself needs to be refinished, replaced, or the stain covered up as by furniture placement.
Surface soil that "sets" a long time, builds up, and/or is hardened as by heat, may need long soaking (if surface can be soaked) and scraping with some type of scraper or abrasive that will not damage the surface. Sometimes all the deposit of hardened soil cannot be removed without also partially removing or otherwise damaging the surface.
It's usually much easier to remove soil from hard, smooth surfaces where it stays on the surface, (vinyl floor, appliance, sink) than from soft absorbent surfaces where it penetrates into the material (upholstery, carpets).
Sudsy cleaners will have to rinsed off. Rinsing off any water-based cleaner, without getting any wetter than necessary, helps to remove extra soil.
Use the mildest method recommended for the surface first. Use only as much cleaning product as actually needed to prevent damage to the surfaces, and pollution of the water supply and environment. Clean with chemical products only when necessary, not because of habit and routine.
Using more chemicals than actually needed wastes money, and increases pollution of our water supply.
This article was written by Anne Field, Extension Specialist, Emeritus.
MSU 2003
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