Trial Purpose:
Laboratory evaluations of alternative cleaning products
Date Run:
11/16/2007Experiment 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.
