All Questions
Tagged with everyday-chemistry cleaning
56 questions
23
votes
2
answers
10k
views
Vinegar and baking soda: Cleaning agent or neutralized sludge?
I've seen it suggested countless times that combining vinegar and baking soda is a great home cleaning solution, but this always seemed like nonsense to me.
I recognize that baking soda, a base, can ...
- 389
18
votes
1
answer
5k
views
How many times can we recycle one sheet of paper?
Its really interesting to see the process of recycling of paper (as shown in picture below) but at the same time I was thinking like for how many times can one sheet of paper can be recycled ?
- 1,491
8
votes
0
answers
298
views
DIY hand sanitiser solution forms spongy substance
I am trying to make my own hand sanitiser since it’s sold out everywhere. The formula I use is 1 part aloe vera gel in 2 parts 100% isopropyl alcohol. The problem is when mixing the two, the solution ...
- 197
7
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Does the main washing effect of soap come from foam?
I am curious if the main cleaning effect of soap comes from its foam (or, maybe, it is just a by-product).
Here are some points, that might clarify what I mean:
Does foam sort of "carry" dirt and ...
user77247
7
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Distilled water to clean greasy stains: Why does that work?
I noticed that distilled water works well to clean away fingerprints on touchscreens or oil stains on a ceramic field after frying an egg.
But water and oil/fat are not supposed to mix, so why does ...
- 179
7
votes
1
answer
32k
views
Which reagent can I use to remove carbon from oven?
I have a practical question: today I have to clean the oven, and it doesn't have self cleaning burn down mode, nor an official scraper I can use...
It's full of charred grease and sugar. I managed to ...
- 249
7
votes
1
answer
106k
views
Chemicals to clean natural stones
I picked up some stones from a hiking trip. What can I use to thoroughly clean the mud and other hard deposits on the surface of the stones? I have only washed them with plain water.
- 73
6
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How to achieve clean dishes and glasses?
I heard that there is a standard about cleaned glass, namely
Chemically clean glass supports a uniform film of water, with no hanging droplets visible.
I tried to clean my dishes at home using ...
- 635
6
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Are acids effective in removing soap scum?
In my experience, most of the commercial products intended for removing soap scum from bathroom surfaces are ineffective. No matter how long you leave it on or how hard you scrub, the soap scum doesn'...
- 922
6
votes
2
answers
8k
views
For what reasons, is isopropyl alcohol widely used as a cleaning solvent?
I have worked in electronics and aeronautics industry 30 years ago, and I have always wondered, what were the specific properties of isopropyl alcohol, which make it used instead of other alcohols ...
- 187
6
votes
2
answers
503
views
How can I make a better whiteboard cleaning solution?
I just started work as a lab assistant in a chem lab. The whiteboard the instructor uses for classes gets very dirty very quickly. The woman who started at the same time as I did spent over 3 hours ...
- 231
6
votes
3
answers
21k
views
Aluminium foil on windows: what is the residue, and how to remove it?
I put aluminium foil on some windows' glass pane wetted with plain tap water, as a typical trick to stop sunlight. After 5 days, I removed the foil to find some kind of whitish pattern on the glass. ...
- 171
6
votes
1
answer
182
views
Definitive Guide To Removing Stains From Baby Clothes
I'd like someone to explain, scientifically, what makes some baby clothes' stains so hard to remove, and what the right way to treat the stains is, chemistry-wise. A lot of internet sites have ...
- 61
5
votes
1
answer
384
views
Simple and cheap anti-graffiti layer based non-paint solvent
I have this issue with a group of people intentionally damaging a bench. So far, they would paint curses over the bench with permanent marker. However after I removed the curses with ethanol, they ...
- 2,538
4
votes
2
answers
785
views
I left scented candles in a polypropylene container. How do I remove the smell?
I left scented candles in a polypropylene container, for many weeks.
How do I remove the smell?
I've tried:
Hand wash with Dish Soap (a few times)
Hand wipe with Isopropyl Alcohol (a few times)
...
- 73
4
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Dangers of expired bleach?
I have some unopened Clorox bleach bought over a year ago (at $8.25~\%\ \ce{NaOCl}$) and read on Wikipedia that bleach naturally decomposes according to
$$\ce{3 NaOCl (aq) -> NaClO3 (aq) + 2 NaCl(...
- 1,566
4
votes
1
answer
23k
views
How to remove formaldehyde (smell) from clothes/jeans?
Bought several jeans, then to discover they have a really nauseating smell, that is not removed by washing. Reckon it's formaldehyde, from what I can read. Anyway, assuming you have jeans with ...
- 149
4
votes
2
answers
8k
views
Isopropyl Alcohol Vs Acetone for Dissolving Organic Contaminants on PCB
Acetone is widely used in labs as a solvent to clean vials and tubes as it is a good solvent for organic materials. Isopropyl alcohol is used as a rubbing alcohol for cleaning contaminants on the body ...
- 201
4
votes
1
answer
70k
views
Deodorizing using baking powder instead of baking soda
I am an engineer and I understand the difference between baking power and baking soda as baking powder is baking soda (alkali) with tartaric acid (acidic) and an inert starch (why? Is this a catalyst ...
- 283
4
votes
0
answers
80
views
Why do vessels get a better shine when tea-leaves are soaked overnight in it before washing?
The other day I dumped consumed tea leaves into a brass utensil because I needed the tea-pan urgently. The vessel with the tea leaves didn't get around for cleaning until the next day. Ergo, the tea ...
- 904
3
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Disrupting the chemistry of oobleck so that it behaves like a newtonian fluid
Oobleck (a mixture of cornstarch and water) is a non-newtonian fluid, so it acts like a solid when under pressure, and like a liquid otherwise. My question is this, is there anything you could mix in ...
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Safely lowering bleach pH without chlorine gas?
According to Eurekalert, by lowering the pH of household bleach (e.g., by adding vinegar or citric acid), we can increase $\text{[HOCl]}$ and consequently greatly improve the disinfecting capabilities ...
- 1,566
3
votes
1
answer
180
views
Why isn't washing up liquid dry
Washing up liquid is wet and it is added to water. Why does it not come in a half size package and you add the water yourself? In the same way washing powder is?
- 395
3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Is propanol 1-2 diol 178 the same as propylene glycol?
I clean vinyl records in an ultrasonic vinyl record cleaning machine the manual states it uses propanol 1-2 diol 178 as a surfactant. I think this is the same chemical as propylene glycol. Is it?
3
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Rust removal ended with black oxide on the metal?
I have tried to remove common red iron rust from a small piece of metal that looks like steel.
I submerged it into hot water with a bit of citric acid, and let it sit overnight. In the morning I ...
- 219
3
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Cleaning stains with hydrogen peroxide and bleach
A while back, I discovered that if you have a stain on a white shirt, you can remove it by putting hydrogen peroxide on the stain, then adding some bleach to it. I have used this for getting out wine,...
- 171
3
votes
1
answer
3k
views
How to remove paraffin wax drop from cam lense glass?
When I put a my cellphone on a table for charging, some drops of paraffin wax were laying there which I couldn't see. After some time during charging, heat melted the paraffin wax and it stuck on the ...
3
votes
1
answer
986
views
Will washing child seat belt straps with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide make them unsafe to use?
My friend is afraid to use the child seat for her next child. She was told washing them with the solution weakened the fabric, The straps weren't submerged, but they did get throughly wet.
- 31
2
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Isopropyl alcohol to clean germs on countertops
My wife recently found some website recommending mixing 91% isopropyl alcohol, white vinegar, water, and corn starch and using it to wipe down countertops. This would be where we put our raw chicken ...
- 129
2
votes
1
answer
334
views
Water in the ultrasonication bath
Why something jelly forms in the water if it is kept in in a ultrasonication bath for long periods?
When water is exposed to ultrasonication for say a month, some jelly substances form in the ...
- 91
2
votes
1
answer
149
views
Is triclosan harmful?
I keep hearing about this product known as triclosan, and that it is used in sanitizing soap. And I also heard that it is harmful, and causes some sort of muscle problems.
However some people aren't ...
- 3,050
2
votes
1
answer
42
views
Which agent is best for cleaning epoxyfloor from carbon black powder?
I have a question regarding carbon black powder. Which detergent/agent is best for removing carbon black powder from epoxy floors? large amounts of Carbon Black powder has leaked after production, all ...
2
votes
1
answer
3k
views
What is formed when hydrogen peroxide reacts with titanium?
I just got night contact lenses, and you are supposed to use a "one-step" cleaning solution to clean it over a period of six hours. At the bottom of the lenses case, there is a "titanium plate ...
- 145
2
votes
0
answers
118
views
Is cleaning silverware with tinfoil and salt dangerous?
Premise: I'm not a chemist and I've already had a look at this and this but they don't fully answer my question.
I have read that you can clean silverware using tinfoil, salt and water, though from ...
user133482
2
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Crusty white armpit stain that can't be removed by washing
Some of my t-shirts (the ones that are 100% cotton) started developing this strange armpit stain:
it makes the fabric feel brittle and crusty around it;
it can't be washed off with water and ...
- 587
2
votes
0
answers
2k
views
Why does the black powder that comes off aluminum pans behave the way it does?
When I wet an aluminum pot or cookie sheet and then dry it with a towel, it creates dark gray marks on the towel. This happens more if the aluminum is a little rough. It seems that there's a fine ...
- 119
1
vote
3
answers
26k
views
Why hot water is more effective than cold water in cleaning
Today while washing curtains, my mother dipped them in hot water(containing detergent) for an hour and then washed them.When i asked her that why she done that,her answer was simple(it will make the ...
- 1,417
1
vote
1
answer
206
views
Getting magnesium chloride gunk off a wood shelf
I have a situation. Some magnesium bath salts got left on a wood shelf in my bathroom in a bag that was not closed. Being hydroscopic, it sucked up a ton of water, and then spilled onto the wood. ...
- 189
1
vote
1
answer
123
views
Could mixing naphtha-based cleaner and industrial floor cleaner produce hazardous substances?
I work in a car dealership, and the guy who cleans the workshop uses an industrial floor scrubber / vac on the floor tiles. On particularly stubborn oil / soot marks, he uses naphtha-based brake ...
- 21
1
vote
1
answer
3k
views
How to dissolve the build-up from a paraffin based oil?
I have a CNC lathes that use "oil" for cutting fluid during the machining of mostly metal materials. Typically a heavy paraffinic based cutting oil (petroleum distillate) is used during machining. ...
- 11
1
vote
0
answers
91
views
Solvent + Photopolymer Waste Disposal
I have a 3L jug of SLA printer-related waste that's been sitting under my desk for a while now and I'd really like to finally figure out how to get rid of it. It contains:
Ethanol (primarily) and ...
- 1,162
1
vote
0
answers
533
views
Why is my washing powder not to be used for pre-wash?
Apologies but I can't find a more suitable stack exchange website to ask this question. I feel the technical answer is chemical in nature so I landed here.
For at least the past two years (and on-...
- 119
1
vote
0
answers
201
views
What neutralizes the active ingredients (napthalene and/or paradichlorobenzene) in moth balls? [closed]
Question: What is effective in removing residual moth ball smell from inside a car?
Issue: We used moth balls in our car to rid it of mice. (Never do this; it does not work.) We removed the moth ...
- 21
1
vote
1
answer
131
views
Function of 'organic' vs regular pipe cleaner
Recently, I needed to buy some pipe cleaner, as sometimes even with care hair and other detritus gets lodged so deep down the shower drain that it is not possible to get it out. I always try to avoid/...
- 23
0
votes
1
answer
306
views
Cleaning with sodium bicarbonate
I have a small metal, most likely silver, cross. It is an old object and has turned dark. In order to clean it, my mother told me to boil it for a few minutes in water containing sodium bicarbonate.
...
- 1,033
0
votes
0
answers
2k
views
Chemistry behind cleaning with vinegar vs citric acid; do they work differently? Should I prepare the same pH solutions to compare them?
I noticed a pack of "Mysterious Citric Acid" while out shopping so I picked it up to see what the big deal was. Several palates of the stuff had just arrived at a local outlet store. I ...
- 5,997
0
votes
0
answers
182
views
Does burning plastic completely disintegrate it? Accidentally melted some plastic in a BBQ, wondering if pyrolytic cleaning is an option
I accidentally barbecued some plastic today, making quite a mess. It's a cushion for a lawn chair, so I imagine probably some sort of plastic or polyurethane.
Rather than cleaning melted plastic ...
- 137
0
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Rotten meat odor in plastic
I've been struggling for a few days with the cleaning of a fridge that was left off for a few weeks with raw chiken meat in the freezer compartment. When I found it, the meat had turned liquid with ...
- 103
0
votes
0
answers
2k
views
How do I clean a silk tie at the knot?
I would like to know how I can clean a silk tie at the knot. I presume it got filthy, over time, due to "fatty" fingers. I am looking for answers either based on 1) good theory or 2) personal ...
- 101
-1
votes
3
answers
80k
views
Repairing acetone damage and discoloration to plastic
I used acetone on the back of my monitor to get rid of old stickers from LED strips. However it severely damaged my monitor. Anyway to undo this or repair it?
- 19