u/shaneoffood posted this comment in a discussion about unscented laundry detergents.
I’m familiar with the fact that ammonia and bleach creating something like chlorine gas, and I get that mixing different elements can cause them to react.
But is the original comment a good rule of thumb? Are there exceptions? And why do they make “the best” cleaning products?
In: 491
Lol, that’s not completely accurate but I love that saying.
There are basically three types of cleaners; acids, bases, and soaps.
Base is very good at breaking down organic matter. Cleaning mold, bacteria, and colors.
Bleach is a base. The OH^- of HOH. Bleach has a lot of O connected to chlorine. When it hits an acid, the H^+ of HOH, the H and O make water and the chlorine is left to poison the air.
Acids, like vinegar, are good at breaking down minerals. Like soda on your teeth. So they’re useful for cleaning sinks and faucets to get rid of rust and other buildup.
Soaps basically have one end that’s like water (polar) and one end that’s like oil (non-polar) so while oil and water famously don’t mix, soap will force them to, and that makes oil easier to rinse off.
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