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Trial Number 432

Trial Purpose:

Laboratory evaluations of alternative cleaning products

Date Run:

11/16/2007

Experiment Procedure:

Basic cleaning performance testing was conducted using ASTM G122 as the bases for cleaning. 

Several "do-it-yourself" home formulations were evaluated for performance on several substrates and typical soils for bathroom cleaning.

Cleaning: Spray cleaner on the coupons
30 secs Manual Wipe cleaning at 130 F
Contaminant SSL Soil 1 - Bathroom Soil
Substrate 2"x 4"x 0.06"
Chrome Plated
Ceramic Coupons
Fiberglass Coupons (3"x 4.5"x 0.125")

Bathroom Cleaners - Toilet
Home Formulation 17 - Baking soda and vinegar – sprinkle baking soda in bowl, then squirt with vinegar and scrub. Cleans & deodorizes

Home Formulation 18 - Borax and lemon juice or vinegar removes stubborn stains like toilet bowl ring. Make a paste with the borax and lemon juice. For a tough stain flush toilet to wet the bowl and then apply the paste to the stain and let sit for 2 hrs.

Home Formulation 19 - Denture tabs are good substitute for toilet cleaner. Drop 2 tablets in the bowl and scrub as usual.

Home Formulation 20 - Liquid castile soap and baking soda or borax & scrub toilet

Home Formulation 21 - Baking soda and Murphy’s oil soap. Sprinkle baking soda in the wet bowl. Add a couple drops of soap and scrub bowl. Flush toilet to rinse.

Trial Results:

Product Substrate Average (%)
Formulation 17 Chrome Plated -38.49
  Ceramic -22.65
  Fiberglass -175.30
Formulation 18 Chrome plated -125.48
  Ceramic -59.01
  Fiberglass -18.04
     
Formulation 19 Chrome Plated 79.78
  Ceramic 46.38
  Fiberglass 104.75
     
Formulation 20 Chrome Plated -332.75
  Ceramic -287.95
  Fiber Glass -438.26
     
Formulation 21 Chrome Plated -346.59
  Ceramic -274.46
  Fiber Glass -494.98

Success Rating:

Preliminary compatibility tests on substrate coupons encouraging for at least one cleaning chemistry. More in-depth laboratory testing necessary.

Conclusion:

Many of the mixtures left behind a lot of residue when using the standard laboratory procedures for commercial cleaning products. Modification of the cleaning process may improve the effectiveness of these "do-it-yourself" formulations. Formulation 19 was the only product to remove over 75% of the bathroom soil using manual wiping.

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