PRODUCTION OF CLEANING AGENT

Cleaning Agents are chemicals that aid the removal of dirt from a surface. They produce cleaning effect.

CLASSES OF CLEANING AGENTS

1. Solvents: They are substances which remove dirt by liquefying it and holding it in suspension e.g water, grease, etc.
2. Detergents: These include detergents and soaps. They aid the removal of grease.
3. Abrasive Cleaners: These clean by rubbing off dirt through friction, eg vim, sand paper.
4. Polishes: They are applied on surfaces such as wood, glass, floor, etc. to improve their appearance, e.g. floor polish, wood polish, shoe polish, etc.
5. Waxes: They are used to protect surfaces and improve appearance, e.g. cream wax, paste wax, etc.
6. Bleaches: For removing stains, disinfecting drains and sinks, to whiten enamel sink, etc. Examples are jik, hypo, parazone, etc.

 

USES OF CLEANING AGENTS

1. Bleaches can be used as disinfectants.
2. They help to improve the appearance of a surface.
3. Waxes are used to protect surfaces.
4. They are the removal of dirt.

 

Evaluation Questions

1. Define cleaning agents.
2. Mention six classes of cleaning agents.

 

CLEANING AGENTS CAN BE HOMEMADE OR COMMERCIALLY PREPARED

1. Homemade Cleaning Agents: These are usually made from local materials within our environment; they are cheap and effective.
2. Paw-paw Leaves: Fresh paw-paw leave can be used for cleaning dirty galvanized pails and blackened aluminum pots.
3. Finely Grounded Charcoal:It is used to clean smooth metal surface.
4. Fine Sand: This can be used as an abrasive for cleaning pots.
5. Edo Powder: This is a yellow coloured substance which is used for cleaning ornaments such as copper, gold and brass.
6. Local Sand Paper Leaves (Asisa leaves): These leaves have rough sandy surface which is used as an abrasive for cleaning plain wood surface, blackened pots, etc.
7. Home-made Vim or Scoring Powder: These are abrasives made from the combination of eggshell, broken china ware and detergents.

 

PROCEDURE OF MAKING HOME-MADE VIMS

1. Grind the eggshells and pieces of china ware into very fine powder.
2. Sieve the mixture to ensure a smooth powder.
3. Mix the powder thoroughly with the detergent powder.
4. Store in a dry container with a good lid.

 

HOME-MADE FURNITURE POLISH

Materials needed

1. 8gm bar soap
2. 7ml boiling water
3. 7ml turpentine or kerosene

 

Procedure

1. Gratethe wax and soap
2. Place the grated mixture in an earth ware pot or an enamel pot
3. Pour boiling water over the mixture
4. Stand the pot in boiling water and allow the content to melt
5. Beat the melted mixture thoroughly into a cream using a wooden spoon.
6. Add turpentine gradually and keep beating until the polish is perfectly blended.
7. Store in a good container and cover well.

 

General Evaluation Questions

1. Define cleaning agents.
2. Mention five uses of cleaning agents.
3. Mention the materials for making homemade vim
4. Explain the procedure of making homemade furniture polish.
5. Mention the functions of the hair.

 

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT (SECTION A)

1. —– aids the removal of dirt from a surface (a) duster (b) mop (c) cleaning agent (d) bucket.
2. Cleaning agents can either be —– or —– made (a) commercial, international (b) home, local

(c) commercial, home (d) all of the above.

3. Vim, fine sand, pawpaw leaves and local sand paper are examples of (a) solvent (b) polish

(c) detergents (d) abrasives.

4. China ware, egg shell and detergents are used for making (a) solvents (b) polish (c) home-made vim (d) bleaches.
5. —– are used to protect surfaces and improve appearance(a) water (b) waxes (c) bleaches

(d) polishes.

 

SECTION B

1. Explain the following: (i) bleaches (ii) polish (iii) home-made vim.
2. Explain the procedure of making homemade furniture polish.

 

See also

PRODUCTION OF COSMETICS

CARE OF THE FAMILY HOUSE

MEANING AND CHARACTERISTICS OF A HOME

THE FAMILY

HEALTHY FEEDING HABIT AND EATING PRACTICES