With so many different types of cleaning products on the market, it’s tough to know which way to turn when you’re developing your cleaning routine. Knowing more about cleaning agents will give you a better idea of what product to use where and it can help you clean more effectively and more efficiently. While there’s a cleaning agent for any and every kind of mess, there’s no need to get overwhelmed with all of the options. For the most part, all types of cleaning products fall into one of the following categories:

‍Abrasives: ‍

Abrasive cleaners can come in both powder and liquid form but also in hard materials like scouring pads, steel wool and pumice. Abrasives include small mineral or metal particles to scrape away large amounts of soil and wear down tough dirt, stains, and discoloration. You can use mild abrasives to clean tough stains on furniture and countertops, or you can opt for a stronger abrasive to clean stubborn and burnt-on stains on surfaces like your pots and pans.‍

Degreasers:

‍Degreasers are cleaning products with chemicals specifically intended to break down water-insoluble messes like oil, wax, and grease. These types of cleaners particularly come in handy in the kitchen, where they can be used to break down pesky grease stains on all of your kitchen appliances or countertops.Acid Cleaners: Acidic cleaners have a low pH and are typically used to remove tough stains like rust and mineral deposits. These types of cleaners are common for use in bathrooms and kitchens because of their ability to remove rust stains and hard water deposits from all types of tiles and tubs.

‍Organic Solvents:

‍Solvents are liquids that dissolve or break up other substances. Organic solvents are cleaners that contain carbon in their molecular structure, and they can be used safely and effectively on almost all of your surfaces to break down and dissolve all kinds of stains and soils.

‍Bio-enzyme Cleaners:

Bio-enzyme cleaners use safe bacteria to absorb and break down soils and stains. These types of cleaners are generally multi-purpose so they can be used to clean anything and everything from your dishes to your floors.

‍Oxygen Cleaners:

‍This type of cleaner uses bubbles to lift and remove messes. Oxygen cleaners contain either hydrogen peroxide, sodium percarbonate or sodium perborate as an active ingredient and they’ve become a staple in many households and businesses for their cleaning power. These types of cleaners come in handy for all sorts of messes including anything from getting out carpet stains to cleaning the grout in tile floors.

‍Detergents:

‍Detergents are surfactant cleaning agents that are made up of petrochemicals to be more effective at lifting stains than regular soap. This type of cleaner has become a hit because of its two most common uses: dishwashing and laundry. Keeping informed about the different types of cleaning products and where to use them can be overwhelming but it’s a necessary step on the road to getting a sparkling clean. If you’re still not sure where to start, leave it to the pros.