Cleaning Terms and Lingo – Breaking it Down For You
If you ever had a conversation with a cleaning company, then you probably have them use terms that you may not understand. Similarly, you may find there are words and phrases on cleaning products that you don’t recognise. This is perfectly normal. Even within the world of cleaning, there are specific industry terms which mean different things, and understanding them is key to making informed decisions. So, what we are going to do is take a look at some of the most common cleaning terms, and then explain exactly what they mean to you.
- Active Ingredients
When we talk about active ingredients in a cleaning product, we are referring to the ingredients within that product which have specifically been chosen for the purposes of cleaning. They are actively working to clean the area.
- Eco-Friendly
When we say that we use eco-friendly cleaning products, we are referring to products which don’t have negative impacts on the environment when they are used. This means no chemicals which generate obnoxious gases, or chemicals that are damaging to organic mass. Eco-friendly materials are those that can be used without hurting the planet.
- Antiseptic
Antiseptic or antibacterial cleaning chemicals are those which are designed simply to target bacteria and destroy them or stop them from growing again.
- Corrosion
Corrosion is a scientific process where certain acids and chemicals can burn and destroy an object overtime. Corrosion can be the result of using harsh cleaning chemicals.
- Heavy Duty
Heavy duty is most often used in relation to cleaning chemicals. It refers to chemicals made primarily with strong acids and ingredients that are designed to destroy everything. These are effective for cleaning but often damaging to the surfaces they clean.
- Dilute
If we dilute something, we reduce its effectiveness by adding another ingredient or compound. In cleaning, we often dilute stronger chemicals to ensure there is no damage to the surface they clean.
- Oxidation
Oxidation refers to the scientific process whereby materials combine with oxygen and visibly change their appearance. Certain metals develop rust as a result of oxidation over time.
- Wetting Agent
A wetting agent is a special type of material or process that allows water to spread more freely. We often use wedding agents to make cleaning more accessible.
Lots of Terms
As we can see, there are a lot of terms to keep in mind when it comes to working with cleaning professionals. If you are ever not sure what we mean, do you feel free to ask because we appreciate that these terms can get confusing and difficult to keep in your head. Ultimately, the language that we use enables us to provide the service that we do, so it’s important that our customers understand what we’re talking about. With that in mind, we encourage you to learn these terms and any others that you come across. Hopefully, you can use this information to get a better understanding of cleaning chemicals that you might find in your daily life.
