Bolster
Well-known member
Bolster's "Toolbox of Cleaning Chemicals."
EDIT: Please note this list has been significantly updated and extended, Jan 29 '13. The list got too long for one post, so it spills over onto post 11.
Toolboxes for every conceivable purpose! That's my goal.
Recently I created a "cleaning toolbox" (a 5-gal bucket with bucket-boss) with various cleaning chemicals. This entailed quite a bit of research into which cleaning agent was good for what task. Herewith are my research results for discussion, correction, commentary, general edification, and perhaps amusement:
Acetone
A strong solvent, but relatively safe for humans (low toxic, VOC and HAP exempt). Dissolves plastic, paint, polyester, label adhesive. A last-ditch cleaner for removing oil stains from marble. Leaves virtually no surface film behind so cleans glass, porcelain. Solvent for oil, epoxy, paint, wood putty, superglue, resin, ink, rubber cement. Warning, it eats paint and plastic. Highly flammable.
Ajax
Powdered cleaner with abrasive. Traditionally it was ammonia based, now Ajax is advertised as bleach-based. Caution with glass, ranges. (Remember, don’t mix ammonia and bleach!)
Alcohol (Ethanol)
Semi-aggressive cleaning agent. Dissolves shellac, thins lacquer, dissolves aniline dyes. Removes overspray from some finished woods (not shellac, obviously). Also removes pencil marks from wood, removes dried latex paint. Removes vinyl paint. Wear gloves, removes protective oil from skin.
Alcohol (Isopropyl)
aka “Rubbing alcohol.” Cleans electric contacts, lens cleaner, glass cleaner. Also for resinous stains on clothing and gummy tar on ashtrays. Removes dried latex paint. Removes mildew stains from leather.
Ammonia
Grease-cutter, dissolves filmy residue. Excellent for glass, mirrors, stainless steel, enamel, painted doors, painted wood, painted walls, ceramic, concrete. Removes mildew stains. Cleans chrome. Cleans barbecue grills. Deodorizes sink drains full strength. A bowl of diluted ammonia in the oven overnight softens the grease. A last-ditch chemical for removing organic stains from marble. Use up to 1/2-1 cup per gallon of water (1:32 to 1:16) or even 1:8 for a strong solution. Do not use on aluminum or aluminum screens, will oxidize it dark. Do not use on brass, will pit. Do not use on plastic or acrylic, can haze. Do not mix with bleach, yields toxic fumes. If ammonia gets on skin, flood with water and rinse with vinegar. In eyes, flush with water for 15 minutes. Respirator highly recommended.
Baking Soda
Cleans chrome, stainless steel, wrought iron, plastic dishes and utensils. Used after a vinegar wash to remove hard water stains from glass. For cleaning refrigerator interior, mix 8 T soda with 1 gal warm water (1:32) and sponge walls—remember no bleach or petrol cleaners on the door gasket. Removes stain and film around faucets on porcelain. Mix 1:8 to clean microwave interior. Mix 3:1 to make a paste to remove baked-on food; OK for cast iron. Add 2 T to coffee maker to “sweeten” it.
Barkeeper’s Friend
Oxalic acid is the active ingredient, with abrasive powders. For aluminum, copper, brass, glass cook tops, tile. Good for removing rust, mineral spots, cuts soap scum. Do not use on silverware, marble, pewter, or anything that could scratch. Can scratch glass. Oxalic acid is poisonous.
Bleach
Cleans and sanitizes floors, walls, sinks, porcelain, refrigerators, toilets, garbage cans, patio bricks. The best treatment for mildew. Removes gasoline smell from cloth. Maintenance for bathrooms and showers. Repeat every couple of weeks at 1:32 for mildew abatement. 1:16 often recommended for surface cleaning, toilets, mildew removal. Removes persistent mildew stains at 1:3 in water. Mixed with laundry detergent, it removes stains from concrete and brick. Do not use on asphalt, which it will soften. Will dull porcelain and enamel if left standing. Never mix bleach with ammonia.
Bon Ami (“low-abrasive cleaner”)
Bon Ami is made of feldspar, hardness 6 is less than glass 7, so it won’t scratch glass. OK for mirrors, ceramics, porcelain, ceramic range tops, appliance surfaces, tile countertops. OK for plastic laminate like Formica. Not for plastic, Lucite, laminate floors, etc. Use nonabrasive cleaner if in doubt.
Brake Cleaner
A powerful solvent (tetrachloroethylene). Possibly more aggressive than carb cleaner. Brake cleaner is oil free. Bad for the health. Tetrachlorides are toxic. Don’t breath it. Irritating to skin. When heated, even small amounts can create deadly doses of phosgene gas. Some brands will damage plastic, others won’t. Can swell o-rings and deteriorate rubber. Kills nitrile gloves. A last-ditch solvent.
Brushes: Nylon, Brass, Steel
Don’t use nylon brush with acetone or lacquer thinner. Brass brushes are fragile and will bend. Steel brushes leave scratches.
Carburetor Cleaner
A powerful solvent. May have some oil in it, may leave a little residue. Generally brake cleaner is preferred for cleaning, but it’s even more dangerous. Bad for health. Don’t breathe it. Kills nitrile gloves.
Citrus
Lemon juice and salt remove many stains in cloth. (Or lemon juice and borax.) Lemon juice a traditional deodorizer. Citrus rinds with ice will clear the smell from a garbage disposal. Lemon rind removes smell of onions from hands. Similar uses to vinegar.
CLR,
Lime-Away
(or other
sequestrant)
Advertised to remove calcium, lime, & rust from tubs, toilet bowls, sinks, glass, chrome, fiberglass, stainless steel, humidifiers, dishwashers, washing machines, shower heads. Mix 1:1 with water for toilets, tubs, sinks, porcelain, cement, stucco, brick. Scrub and rinse promptly (2 minutes). If stain doesn’t disappear, use CLR full strength and rinse promptly. Also cuts soap scum. Wear rubber gloves, work in ventilated area. Do NOT use on: natural stone, marble, terrazzo, colored grout, painted or metallic glazed surfaces, anodized metal, plastic laminates, Formica, aluminum, copper, brass, steam irons, refinished tubs. May etch older sinks tubs and tiles. May bleach older cement to white. Toxic if mixed with bleach.
Detergent, Concentrated
Fantastik, an “all purpose cleaner,” is made of ammonium chlorides. Fantastik is advertised for appliances, countertops, sinks, floors, stainless steel, cabinets, chrome, tubs, glazed tile, porcelain, sealed fiberglass, and showers. Effective for removing grease, tar, road film, & “grime.” Kills mold and mildew with 3-min. contact. Also anti-bacterial, anti-virus, and a deodorizer. Wash hands with soap and water after handling. Pine-sol is a detergent and general cleaning solution, a wall detergent like Mr. Clean. Simple Green & Greased Lightning & Purple Power are similar (?). Also removes pitch from saw blades. Simple Green full strength can dull/etch epoxy paint.
Detergent, Liquid
aka Dishwash
Liquid
aka “Liquid Detergent.” Dawn is one of the most popular for cutting oil & treating oily stains, but also formulated not to harm hands. (Also Gain, Ivory, Joy, others.) For dirty exterior walls, for plastic laminate such as Formica, for acrylic, plastic & vinyl. First solution for marble. One of the only safe cleaners for fiberglass. (For fiberglass, you can’t use abrasives, except when surface is dull, then use automobile rubbing compound. Have seen fine steel wool rec’d for scuffs and scratches).
Germicide
Lysol. Great for killing mildew.
Glass Cleaner
Removes decals, too. Never use glass cleaner on a computer monitor.
Gloves
Goof Off
Spot remover and degreaser. Advertised for removing dried latex paint, pen and marker, ink, grime, oil, shoe polish, makeup, stickers, residue, grease, crayon, gum. (Note: Pre-wash laundry spray will remove label adhesives safely.)
Lacquer Thinner
Strong solvent mix of acetone, ketone, toluene, alcohol. Dissolves any water-based finish. Softens tar and plastics. Removes ink, adhesives, decals. Attacks surfaces and fabrics. Dangerous. Don’t breathe it. Wear gloves & respirator.
Lime
Chlorinated lime, sprinkled, removes musty mildew and mold odors.
Mineral Spirits aka Paint Thinner
Aka Paint Thinner, Solvent Naphtha, Stoddard Solvent, White Spirits, Petroleum Spirits, Mineral Turpentine, & Turpentine Substitute. Mild and low-toxicity solvent, but stinky. The odorless variety is less powerful. The standard oil-based brush cleaner & safe de-greaser for metal. Thins & removes oil-based products, varnish, carbon, wax. Removes wood gums from blades. Brush cleaner, but only dissolves fresh paint.
...due to length, continued on post 11.
EDIT: Please note this list has been significantly updated and extended, Jan 29 '13. The list got too long for one post, so it spills over onto post 11.
Toolboxes for every conceivable purpose! That's my goal.
Recently I created a "cleaning toolbox" (a 5-gal bucket with bucket-boss) with various cleaning chemicals. This entailed quite a bit of research into which cleaning agent was good for what task. Herewith are my research results for discussion, correction, commentary, general edification, and perhaps amusement:
Acetone
A strong solvent, but relatively safe for humans (low toxic, VOC and HAP exempt). Dissolves plastic, paint, polyester, label adhesive. A last-ditch cleaner for removing oil stains from marble. Leaves virtually no surface film behind so cleans glass, porcelain. Solvent for oil, epoxy, paint, wood putty, superglue, resin, ink, rubber cement. Warning, it eats paint and plastic. Highly flammable.
Ajax
Powdered cleaner with abrasive. Traditionally it was ammonia based, now Ajax is advertised as bleach-based. Caution with glass, ranges. (Remember, don’t mix ammonia and bleach!)
Alcohol (Ethanol)
Semi-aggressive cleaning agent. Dissolves shellac, thins lacquer, dissolves aniline dyes. Removes overspray from some finished woods (not shellac, obviously). Also removes pencil marks from wood, removes dried latex paint. Removes vinyl paint. Wear gloves, removes protective oil from skin.
Alcohol (Isopropyl)
aka “Rubbing alcohol.” Cleans electric contacts, lens cleaner, glass cleaner. Also for resinous stains on clothing and gummy tar on ashtrays. Removes dried latex paint. Removes mildew stains from leather.
Ammonia
Grease-cutter, dissolves filmy residue. Excellent for glass, mirrors, stainless steel, enamel, painted doors, painted wood, painted walls, ceramic, concrete. Removes mildew stains. Cleans chrome. Cleans barbecue grills. Deodorizes sink drains full strength. A bowl of diluted ammonia in the oven overnight softens the grease. A last-ditch chemical for removing organic stains from marble. Use up to 1/2-1 cup per gallon of water (1:32 to 1:16) or even 1:8 for a strong solution. Do not use on aluminum or aluminum screens, will oxidize it dark. Do not use on brass, will pit. Do not use on plastic or acrylic, can haze. Do not mix with bleach, yields toxic fumes. If ammonia gets on skin, flood with water and rinse with vinegar. In eyes, flush with water for 15 minutes. Respirator highly recommended.
Baking Soda
Cleans chrome, stainless steel, wrought iron, plastic dishes and utensils. Used after a vinegar wash to remove hard water stains from glass. For cleaning refrigerator interior, mix 8 T soda with 1 gal warm water (1:32) and sponge walls—remember no bleach or petrol cleaners on the door gasket. Removes stain and film around faucets on porcelain. Mix 1:8 to clean microwave interior. Mix 3:1 to make a paste to remove baked-on food; OK for cast iron. Add 2 T to coffee maker to “sweeten” it.
Barkeeper’s Friend
Oxalic acid is the active ingredient, with abrasive powders. For aluminum, copper, brass, glass cook tops, tile. Good for removing rust, mineral spots, cuts soap scum. Do not use on silverware, marble, pewter, or anything that could scratch. Can scratch glass. Oxalic acid is poisonous.
Bleach
Cleans and sanitizes floors, walls, sinks, porcelain, refrigerators, toilets, garbage cans, patio bricks. The best treatment for mildew. Removes gasoline smell from cloth. Maintenance for bathrooms and showers. Repeat every couple of weeks at 1:32 for mildew abatement. 1:16 often recommended for surface cleaning, toilets, mildew removal. Removes persistent mildew stains at 1:3 in water. Mixed with laundry detergent, it removes stains from concrete and brick. Do not use on asphalt, which it will soften. Will dull porcelain and enamel if left standing. Never mix bleach with ammonia.
Bon Ami (“low-abrasive cleaner”)
Bon Ami is made of feldspar, hardness 6 is less than glass 7, so it won’t scratch glass. OK for mirrors, ceramics, porcelain, ceramic range tops, appliance surfaces, tile countertops. OK for plastic laminate like Formica. Not for plastic, Lucite, laminate floors, etc. Use nonabrasive cleaner if in doubt.
Brake Cleaner
A powerful solvent (tetrachloroethylene). Possibly more aggressive than carb cleaner. Brake cleaner is oil free. Bad for the health. Tetrachlorides are toxic. Don’t breath it. Irritating to skin. When heated, even small amounts can create deadly doses of phosgene gas. Some brands will damage plastic, others won’t. Can swell o-rings and deteriorate rubber. Kills nitrile gloves. A last-ditch solvent.
Brushes: Nylon, Brass, Steel
Don’t use nylon brush with acetone or lacquer thinner. Brass brushes are fragile and will bend. Steel brushes leave scratches.
Carburetor Cleaner
A powerful solvent. May have some oil in it, may leave a little residue. Generally brake cleaner is preferred for cleaning, but it’s even more dangerous. Bad for health. Don’t breathe it. Kills nitrile gloves.
Citrus
Lemon juice and salt remove many stains in cloth. (Or lemon juice and borax.) Lemon juice a traditional deodorizer. Citrus rinds with ice will clear the smell from a garbage disposal. Lemon rind removes smell of onions from hands. Similar uses to vinegar.
CLR,
Lime-Away
(or other
sequestrant)
Advertised to remove calcium, lime, & rust from tubs, toilet bowls, sinks, glass, chrome, fiberglass, stainless steel, humidifiers, dishwashers, washing machines, shower heads. Mix 1:1 with water for toilets, tubs, sinks, porcelain, cement, stucco, brick. Scrub and rinse promptly (2 minutes). If stain doesn’t disappear, use CLR full strength and rinse promptly. Also cuts soap scum. Wear rubber gloves, work in ventilated area. Do NOT use on: natural stone, marble, terrazzo, colored grout, painted or metallic glazed surfaces, anodized metal, plastic laminates, Formica, aluminum, copper, brass, steam irons, refinished tubs. May etch older sinks tubs and tiles. May bleach older cement to white. Toxic if mixed with bleach.
Detergent, Concentrated
Fantastik, an “all purpose cleaner,” is made of ammonium chlorides. Fantastik is advertised for appliances, countertops, sinks, floors, stainless steel, cabinets, chrome, tubs, glazed tile, porcelain, sealed fiberglass, and showers. Effective for removing grease, tar, road film, & “grime.” Kills mold and mildew with 3-min. contact. Also anti-bacterial, anti-virus, and a deodorizer. Wash hands with soap and water after handling. Pine-sol is a detergent and general cleaning solution, a wall detergent like Mr. Clean. Simple Green & Greased Lightning & Purple Power are similar (?). Also removes pitch from saw blades. Simple Green full strength can dull/etch epoxy paint.
Detergent, Liquid
aka Dishwash
Liquid
aka “Liquid Detergent.” Dawn is one of the most popular for cutting oil & treating oily stains, but also formulated not to harm hands. (Also Gain, Ivory, Joy, others.) For dirty exterior walls, for plastic laminate such as Formica, for acrylic, plastic & vinyl. First solution for marble. One of the only safe cleaners for fiberglass. (For fiberglass, you can’t use abrasives, except when surface is dull, then use automobile rubbing compound. Have seen fine steel wool rec’d for scuffs and scratches).
Germicide
Lysol. Great for killing mildew.
Glass Cleaner
Removes decals, too. Never use glass cleaner on a computer monitor.
Gloves
Goof Off
Spot remover and degreaser. Advertised for removing dried latex paint, pen and marker, ink, grime, oil, shoe polish, makeup, stickers, residue, grease, crayon, gum. (Note: Pre-wash laundry spray will remove label adhesives safely.)
Lacquer Thinner
Strong solvent mix of acetone, ketone, toluene, alcohol. Dissolves any water-based finish. Softens tar and plastics. Removes ink, adhesives, decals. Attacks surfaces and fabrics. Dangerous. Don’t breathe it. Wear gloves & respirator.
Lime
Chlorinated lime, sprinkled, removes musty mildew and mold odors.
Mineral Spirits aka Paint Thinner
Aka Paint Thinner, Solvent Naphtha, Stoddard Solvent, White Spirits, Petroleum Spirits, Mineral Turpentine, & Turpentine Substitute. Mild and low-toxicity solvent, but stinky. The odorless variety is less powerful. The standard oil-based brush cleaner & safe de-greaser for metal. Thins & removes oil-based products, varnish, carbon, wax. Removes wood gums from blades. Brush cleaner, but only dissolves fresh paint.
...due to length, continued on post 11.
Last edited:
. The bottles are thick and less prone to breakage.
