A Little Chemistry Goes a Long Way

I thought that rather than talking about cleaning processes, I would talk about chemistry. There are many ways to look at the world of cleaning, and since everything around us is made up of chemicals, why not start there?

Let’s begin with one of the basics: the pH scale.

Most of us know that it exists, and many of us have a general idea of how it works. What is often overlooked is that each step on the pH scale represents a tenfold change. That means if a product has a pH of 5 and moves to a pH of 4, it becomes ten times more acidic. Move from a pH of 5 to a pH of 3, and it is one hundred times more acidic. The same principle applies on the alkaline side of the scale.

If there is one thing I have learned over the years, it is that taking a few minutes to understand chemical safety can prevent a great deal of trouble. One of the simplest rules is this: never mix chemicals. If you have followed our blog for a while, you have probably heard me say that before.

The best way to explain why is with a story.

Back in 1986, just before Material Safety Data Sheets became common practice, my father’s best friend was cleaning a washroom that had not been properly maintained for years. He asked one of our staff members for advice and headed off to the job site with gloves, scrub pads, and a quart of bowl cleaner. At the time, that cleaner contained 23 percent hydrochloric acid. Different times, different products.

After three hours of scrubbing, he had made tremendous progress but felt the room still looked a little dull. Since it was after 5:00 PM, he stopped by a grocery store and picked up a gallon of bleach.

Unfortunately, he had not read either label.

The moment he began washing the wall with a diluted bleach solution, he was overwhelmed by toxic fumes created by mixing bleach with the acidic residue left behind. What followed was a long recovery, and it took nearly two weeks before he felt normal again.

The moral of the story is simple. Education, health, and safety should always come first. Understanding the products you use and following their directions can prevent serious accidents.

If you would like to learn more about cleaning chemistry, product safety, or proper chemical handling, ask us. We are always happy to help.