The process of cleaning versus the process of disinfecting is uniquely different – actually, they both use detergents, but in opposite ways. Detergents are products that are used to remove soil, dirt, dust, organic matter, and germs (like bacteria, viruses, and fungi). To clean a dirty surface, one uses a detergent, mixed in water, to break up and dissolve the soil particles. Disinfectants are chemical products that destroy or inactivate germs and prevent them from growing. Disinfectants have no effect on dirt, soil, or dust.
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What is Detergent?
A detergent is a chemical that is a wetting agent and, when combined with clean, hot water, dissolves grease and cleans more easily. A detergent is a cleaner; it does not kill germs (microbes). Also, it is important to change detergent water frequently, otherwise, germs (microbes) carried in the dirt will be moved from place to place.
Household and Clinical Detergents: It is also important to distinguish between household dish-washing detergent and a clinical detergent. Household detergents are made with a large emphasis on mildness to skin and scent. Household detergents are formulated to have a neutral pH (7.0) and contain moisturizers and skincare additives that do not contribute to the cleaning process and may lead to unwanted residues (Bio-Soil) on instruments and equipment.
Broadly speaking, when it comes to different types of detergents, there are a lot many available, Let’s discuss a few of them one by one and learn about their benefits and flaws:
- Conventional Detergent: Conventional Laundry detergent, like any other household product, can contain toxic chemicals and even carcinogens. The conventional detergents use chemicals to bring fragrance, the cleaning agents to make the laundry cleaner, the stabilizers to stabilize their shelf life, and bleach, brighteners, and phosphates to make the detergents more effective in hard water. Their remains are found to be there on the clothes even after washing and are likely to come into contact with skin, causing irritation.
- Powder detergents: Powder detergents have a longer shelf life than liquid detergents, thus you can easily buy them in bulk without any worry. The main limitation of powder detergents is that they don’t dissolve well into the liquid and can leave deposits of chalky residue on clothes.
- Liquid detergents: Liquid detergents work great with water, especially in cold water. Before washing the clothes, they can easily be used to pre-treat stains also. However, the limitation with them is that being liquid, they can easily be overused and their packaging also creates more waste.
- DIY (Do It Yourself): DIY homemade laundry detergents are an easy way to save some bucks. You can give them the fragrance of your choice and select the ingredients as per your comfort and skin suitability. Though they are organic with no toxins and harsh chemicals and last for long, yet they come with their own share of difficulties and challenges. The DIY detergents are less convenient, less effective and efficient than the conventional detergents, take time and are messy to prepare.
Use of detergents:
Detergents are used anywhere where it is necessary to remove dirt or grease, such as floors, toilets, benches, showers, sinks, etc. In some cases, you may need to use a detergent and then a disinfectant – but never mix the two products together. Have you known any uses of detergents, aside from using them for cleaning your clothes? Laundry detergents are often sold at a low price, so make sure to grab one sometimes to use it for other purposes.
What purposes? We’ll let you know below.
- To whiten pillows
Pillows often turn to off-white color as time passes by. You can mix a cup of liquid or powdered detergent with a cup of powdered dishwasher soap, 1 cup of bleach and ½ cup of borax to whiten your pillows and make it look as good as new.
- To clean oil spills
Some products purposely made for cleaning up oil spills are expensive. However, if you pour some powdered detergent with a sprinkle of water on these stains and leave it overnight, it will be gone the next day after spraying the mixture off.
- To degrease stove
Inside a spray bottle, mix the liquid detergent with bleach and water. This will turn into a stove greaser.
- To eradicate weeds and moss
Vinegar can be versatile in killing weeds, but powered detergents can also do the same. Just sprinkle 1-2 cups of powdered detergents in your yard – specifically on the moss and weeds. After three to four days, you would see the vegetation turn to brown from green, and once it has all dried up, you can brush it all away and rinse your yard.
- To be an all-purpose cleaner
Using ¼ cup or powdered (or liquid) detergent, mix it with a jug of warm five-gallon water and you now have a big supply of household cleaner for your toilet, walls, sink, and anywhere that needs the deep cleaning. This will be less harsh than other cleaners that have a lot of chemicals and also, this doesn’t smell.
What is Disinfectant?
A disinfectant is a chemical capable of killing some germs (microbes) under certain conditions. Disinfectants do not clean dirt or grease; this is the job of detergents.
Disinfectants and detergents should never be mixed together unless recommended by the manufacturer, as the two kinds of chemicals may work against one another producing a solution which neither kills germs nor assists in cleaning. The strength of disinfectant solutions is important: if they are too weak, they will not kill germs, and if they are too strong, they may be harmful.
Use of disinfectants:
Disinfectants are used in areas where it is necessary to kill germs (microbes) for the safety and health of humans and animals, such as toilets, sinks, food preparation areas, hospitals, floors, drains, kitchens, etc. Disinfectants can also be used to clean items such as mops, buckets, brushes, cleaning cloths, clothes, etc.
Are disinfectants dangerous?
Disinfectants can indeed be dangerous if they are too strong – in other words, not properly diluted.
Disinfectants can harm the skin and eyes and give off strong fumes. There are many disinfectant products on the market, so be absolutely sure that the one you use is recommended for the job you are doing and you follow the manufactures instructions.
Detergents and Disinfectants: Differences in Terms of Cleaning?
There is a definite distinction between detergent and disinfectant; those two products complement each other perfectly. A detergent does not kill bacteria, viruses and fungi. Whereas, a disinfectant typically would have no effect on a sticky stain. Therefore, to clean a surface correctly, use of these products or an “all-in – one” combination consisting of both detergent and disinfectant can be effective.
A thorough cleaning may require a first pass with detergent to remove stains and restore shine (for example, to a tile floor), then a second pass with a disinfectant (after rinsing and drying). The detergent has a cleansing benefit, while the disinfectant absorbs the dirt-related microorganisms and leaves only a neutral, non-hazardous coating.
Only removing the dirt is not enough to properly clean a room; it is safer to use a disinfectant for it to be healthy and completely clean. Bathrooms, classrooms, swimming pools, clinics, restaurants, and many other areas are real breeding grounds for bacteria; cleaning needs finish with a disinfection to remove them. Therefore, if you wish to have your house, apartment or company washed in full, you can use both for optimum results.
Detergents and Disinfectants Registrations
We at PRD are experts in completing the whole procedure for detergent and disinfectant registration in Dubai. If you want to register any product in Dubai, we are here to help. You can Contact Us via our WhatsApp # 971 54 582 1012 or send email at info@productregistrationdubai.com.
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