Monday 31 October 2011

How to clean "green" - Dosing

We all like the idea of green cleaning and becoming super heroes who can save our planet. But we need to get rid of some of the old and incorrect ideas about cleaning in order to do that.

One mistake a lot of people make when cleaning is that randomly pour their cleaning products into a bucket of water and off they go. Using cleaning products at the recommended dose is a very important thing to do. Firstly, by using too much of the cleaning chemical, you're probably wasting a lot of it. This is like throwing money down the drain. Do I have your attention now?

Secondly, by using too much cleaning chemical we often do not help the cleaning process but rather hinder it. Less is more in cleaning. Many cleaning products become less effective in greater quantities. Thirdly, they will then leave a large amount of residue which instead of repelling dirt will now attract it. It is also harder to clean away the excess chemical and this will cost you time.

If saving you money and saving you time has not yet convinced you to follow recommended dosing of cleaning products, then hopefully the need for green will. The extra, unnecessary chemical that is used will then be washed down the drain and will join up with every extra bit of cleaning chemical that everybody else used and will further pollute our waterways. There was a very interesting tv programme on SABC 3 last night about the water crisis that we in South Africa are facing, particularly in Gauteng. It is frightening to think that we are running out of clean water and that our rivers are becoming so polluted that the we are affecting not just South Africa but Botswana, Mozambique and the Indian Ocean as well. The mines have added to this problem enormously by pumping uranium-rich water into our water ways and our water systems just simply cannot cope with the man-made additions. The rising water table in Johannesburg is not just some urban myth. Friends of mine who live in Melville recently came home to find their living being under water. Upon investigation they were told that it was due to the rising water table and that it is a very common problem these days. This rising water from the mines is not healthy living water it kills any organisms that try to live in it and wreaks havoc on the entire wild life system (including people) that need water to survive. Every possible thing we can do right, right now is going to help to tip the scale back to what it should be.

We are facing a water crisis and it is really important for us to not add to the problem. Please follow directions on your cleaning products and go green as often as possible as these cleaning products have much less impact on the environment. Whenever you are not sure how much to use rather start with less than you think you need - you can always add more.

For more information on green cleaning products please visit http://www.blendwell.co.za/ Blendwell Chemicals is a manufacturer of cleaning products based in Halfway House, Midrand, South Africa.

Friday 28 October 2011

How to clean your paddling pool

With all this deliciously hot weather we've been having, it's been impossible to keep my kids away from water. Any opportunity to get wet and they are running for their swimming costumes. Sometimes though they just can't seem to wait and clothes and all they get themselves wet.

The paddling pool is something no family with small kids can really do without in summer. It's really important to keep the pool clean as all sorts of germs can grow in it. After each day's use make sure you empty the pool and spray thoroughly with a hose to get rid of any germs that your little ones might have brought into the water. Then either lie it upside down or on it's side so that it dries out properly. It's good to have it dry out fully between uses as this will help destroy any bacteria that might be lurking.

To clean it properly, which you should do at least once a week, you have a couple of different options. You can use any of the dish washing liquids that Blendwell Chemicals manufacture. Take about a teaspoon in a five litre bucket of water. Use a soft cloth to wipe the surface of the pool. You don't want to use anything that could scratch the surface as plastic can scratch really easily and those scratches will be a great place for germs to get into. You can also use Wac GP cleaner. Again, about a teaspoon of the cleaning chemical in a 5 litre bucket of water. Clean the same way. Be sure to rinse well with water after cleaning and allow to dry thoroughly.

If your kids are prone to skin disorders like eczema, psoriasis or allergies you may want to consider rather using the Enviro Blend range of cleaning products. These cleaning products are free of most of the potentially skin irritating ingredients and they are enviromentally friendly. You can use Enviro Dish or Enviro GP Cleaner. Simply take a teaspoon of whichever you prefer to use and put it in a 5 litre bucket of water. Clean in the same way as you would for traditional cleaners. If your kids have sensitive skins it's even more important to ensure that the pool is well rinsed after cleaning and properly dried.

This should allow your little ones to enjoy the paddling pool all summer long. For more information on the range of cleaning chemicals manufactured by Blendwell Chemicals please visit www.blendwell.co.za. Blendwell Chemicals is a chemical manufacturer based in Halfway House, Midrand

Wednesday 26 October 2011

How to clean "green" - Nonylphenol Ethoxylates

It really is important to know your stuff when it comes to what goes into your green cleaning chemicals. Another substance to make sure is not in your cleaning products is nonylphenol ethoxylate.

This substance is also known as NP9. It has been banned in Europe for more than 12 years but is still used in the US and South Africa. This substance is banned because it mimics estrogen and when entering the body would cause earlier menstrual cycles and lower sperm counts. This could have serious repercussions for people and all kinds of animals.

It would be important to always wear gloves when handling a product that contains NP9 so that the user is not directly affected. However the potential harm does not stop there. Once finished cleaning the used chemical is then washed down the drain and then fish and all sorts of animals can be affected. This is one substance it is best to avoid.

In cleaning products, it is used as a surfactant or wetting agent. This means that it would be the part of the cleaning product that helps water to penetrate the surface to be cleaned and lift dirt off more quickly. It helps to perform a very necessary function in cleaning. There are newer substances that are able to do the same job.

Blendwell Chemicals has developed the Enviro Blend range of green cleaning products. None of the cleaners in this range contain nonylphenol ethoxylate surfactants. Please visit www.blendwell.co.za to see more about the Enviro Blend range and all the cleaning products they manufacture.

Monday 24 October 2011

How to clean "green" - Formaldehyde

When cleaning green it is very important to know what your chemicals should not contain. Formaldehyde is one of those chemicals that your green cleaning products should never contain.

Formaldehyde is particularly nasty as it is a known carcinogenic. This means that it is can cause cancer. For me, that would be enough reason to stay well away from it.

This chemical substance would typically be used as a preservative or disinfecting agent in cleaning chemicals. Do you remember biology class with all those jars stuffed with weird things floating in liquid. That liquid was formaldehyde. It is excellent at preserving dead organic tissue but unfortunately it is good at killing living things too, it seems. This is definitely not an environmentally friendly substance.

For more information on green cleaning chemicals, please visit http://www.blendwell.co.za/

Blendwell Chemicals is a manufacturer of cleaning products. Amongst of ranges of cleaning chemicals is the Enviro Blend range. We also manufacture Delphis Eco cleaning products under licence to the UK.

Wednesday 19 October 2011

How to clean "green" - Fragrance

When cleaning green it's important to consider all aspects of the product you are using. Fragrance is an element that is so easily overlooked because it seems such a small part of the cleaning product. Very little fragrance is used in cleaning products but it doesn't make it less of a risk.

Synthetic fragrances would be most commonly used as they are cheaper and easy to find. There is a huge variety of them available. Having the versatility is great, but the problem comes in with the substances that make up the fragrances in the first place. In South Africa, a cosmetic product is supposed to list all it's ingredients on the product label. In the case of a fragrance in the cosmetic, the allergen causing substances within the fragrance are supposed to be individually listed as well.

The problem with fragrances is that there are substances that help to stabilise the fragrance that have been classified as probable carcinogens. The EU has begun to ban many of these fragrances.

There is also the problem of skin irritation. Some individuals are more susceptible than others and those with sensitive skins can be caused huge discomfort.

There is, of course, rather opting for a natural fragrance and the problem here is two-fold. There is a considerable price factor. These fully natural fragrances can be four times more expensive. The other problem is that many natural and organic fragrances are still be put into synthetic bases to stabilise them. Lots of questions need to be asked by the manufacturer who is sourcing green raw materials.

When Blendwell developed it's Enviro Blend range fragrance became a major concern. We opted instead for essential oils, not fragrances. These essential oils are pure plant substance and are very potent. We had to do a great deal testing to see which could be stable in our products and which would simply not work. They also had to smell good.

To find out more about Blendwells Enviro Blend range, please visit www.blendwell.co.za

Tuesday 18 October 2011

How to clean "green" - Dyes

There really are so many factors to consider in what makes a cleaning product green or not green. Another of these factors is, is the product dyed by artificial means?

Dye is placed in cleaning products for consumers to to differentiate between products as well as to make products look good. Would you think that your dishwashing liquid was good if it was clear? Dishwashing liquid is traditionally green and it is now quite common for it to be orange with an orange fragrance as opposed to the usual lemon smell. A clear product may not leave all consumers convinced of the cleaning products ability to clean. Colour also helps us to easily see which product we have in front of us - dishwashing liquid is green, fabric softener is blue or white, bleach is clear, etc. Labelling the cleaning product and ensuring the label is always readable is very important when working with products that are not all dyed.

The problem with artificial dyes is that they can cause irritation to the skin. I fully support always using gloves when using any cleaning product. However, not everybody does use gloves and skin irritation is a possibility.

Some of the substances that make up dyes have been found to be toxic. Within the cleaning product this dye would be diluted to be a tiny amount of the finished product. However, the whole point of going green is to be good to the environment and good to people too. This would include the people who make the product and would be exposed to large quantities of the dyes and other raw materials.

In recent years there has been a move towards more natural dyes being available. These natural dyes are made mostly from plant sources. This is a much better choice for green products.

Blendwell Chemicals manufactures the Enviro Blend range of cleaning chemicals. The Enviro Blend range is free of artificial dyes and where possible we have eliminated dyes all together. Please visit www.blendwell.co.za to find out more about this fantastic range of green cleaning chemicals.

Monday 17 October 2011

How to clean "green" - Phosphates

It is important to know about which ingredients or raw materials to avoid when buying green cleaning products. As the legislation still needs to be set and there are as yet no governing bodies in the arena of green cleaning in South Africa, the consumer needs to be informed as to what makes a product green.

One of the particularly environmentally unfriendly ingredients is phosphates. These would typically be found in washing powders. The phosphates help to clean the clothes or linens and then the water containing the used washing powder is pumped out of the washing machine and follows its usual pathway often to watercourses. This water is then higher in phosphates that might occur in nature. Phosphate-high water will help encourage algae growth in a natural environment. This increase in algae then begins to suffocate the body of water - oxygen is removed from the water and plants and aquatic life cannot be supported in such a body of water.

It's important to see why phosphates are something you would want to avoid in your cleaning products. Blendwell Chemicals manufactures a range of green cleaning products called Enviro Blend. The Enviro Blend range is completely free of phosphates and we have a wonderful washing powder called Enviro Wash that has enzymes to make cleaning more effective.

To find our more about Enviro Wash or any of the huge range of products that Blendwell Chemicals manufactures please visit www.blendwell.co.za

Friday 14 October 2011

How to clean "green" - SLES

When looking for green cleaning products there now seem to be so many out there and it can be a little overwhelming for a consumer seeing so many choices. The thing is, if a product says it's green, is it really? Not always. One almost needs a science degree to work it out.

Here are some tips to make your choices easier.

There has been a lot of talk about different raw materials or ingredients that go into cleaning products and one that has received a lot of talk is SLS and SLES (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate and Sodium Laureth Ether Sulphate). These products are used to create bubbles in cleaning products. It it this process of foaming that helps lift the dirt, grease and grime from the surface to be cleaned.

A great deal of the uproar with these products is due to them being used in cosmetic preparations, baby products and toothpaste. They can cause skin irritation particularly in individuals who are prone to irritation. These products used in cleaning chemicals can also cause skin and eye irritation. Most responsible chemical companies will advise using gloves and avoid product splashing into your eyes when using these products so that the user can avoid any problems. In fact regardless of whether or not the manufacturer tells you to wear gloves it is always a good idea to do so. And of course, avoid splashing any chemical into your eyes - wear goggles if necessary

The other problem with SLS and it's family of raw materials is that it is most often made from petroleum. All green products steer away from petroleum based raw materials as they increase our carbon footprint. Blendwell Chemicals now uses SLES that is made from renewable plant sources only.

For more information on Blendwell Chemicals and its huge range of cleaning products, go to http://www.blendwell.co.za/

Thursday 13 October 2011

How to clean "green"

Blendwell Chemicals has been doing research and reformulating our products for years in order to find better, more environmentally friendly ways of cleaning. It's really important to us to go green but also that our green products are not less effective than their non-enviornmentally friendly counterparts. Eighteen months ago, Blendwell Chemicals launched it's Enviro Blend range. We are very proud of this range and will continue to add new products as time goes on.

Another green venture that has made us very excited is that we have begun manufacturing the Delphis Eco range under licence to the UK. This awesome range of green products has part of their range accredited by Defra. This means that they carry the Ecolabel mark which is also know as 'The Flower'. It is a European-wide symbol for products that satisfy stringent controls with respect to their effects on the environment and people. All products bearing the Flower have been checked by independent bodies to ensure they comply with strict ecological and performance criteria.

All the products in the Delphis Eco range are non-toxic and non-flammable as well as not being tested on animals. These green products are phosphate free which means that they have reduced impact on aquatic life. They are suitable to use in many different areas, Besides all this, are made from sustainable resources and readily biodegradable. Using these green products will help you to reduce your carbon footprint.

Recently, Delphis Eco won the prestigous 'Greenest Business Award'. For more information on this award you can go to http://www.blendwell.co.za/ and you will find the press release under 'Articles'.
For further information on green cleaning products please see our website.

Wednesday 12 October 2011

Halaal Certified Food Cleaning Chemicals

Blendwell Chemicals has recently passed its Halaal certification inspection for food grade cleaning chemicals. This is a very exciting opportunity to be able to supply cleaning products into Halaal food factories.

We have done a great deal of searching the web to see if there are many competitors in this field and there are not. I have taken a look at the South African National Halaal Authority website and they actually have a list of Halaal certified factories. They can be found at http://www.sanha.co.za/. This website is filled with a huge amount of information regarding halaal certification and the requirements thereof. You will be able to find further information at http://www.halaal.org.za/

Customers of Blendwell Chemicals will be able to venture into a new market thanks to this certification.

Monday 10 October 2011

How to clean your carpets by hand

The weekend is over and it's time for things to get back to normal. If your household is anything like mine you will have all sorts of food trampled into your carpets by your precious little toddler. It doesn't matter how hard I try to contain food to tiled floor areas only there is always some that escapes.

I simply cannot afford to call in professional carpet cleaners once a week so it's necessary to clean my carpets by hand. The trick to cleaning carpets by hand is to not use too much chemical. I know we've all grown up with the theory that using more of a cleaning chemical will make something cleaner but this simply isn't true. Especially with carpets, if you use too much chemical and this is left to dry on the carpet it then becomes slightly sticky and attracts dirt. Within a day or too, your carpet will be dirtier than ever.

Fact of the matter is, is that you can't hose down your carpets without potentially rotting them and the underlay. You can't use just water as it's unlikely you'll get out the stains and chemicals can make it attract dirt.

Your best option is to use Blendwell Chemicals'  Carpet Shampoo. The reason this cleaning product works so well is that you use the foam, not the liquid to clean the carpet. You can mix one cup of Carpet Shampoo to 5 litres of water. It's best to use water that is no warmer than luke warm. Agitate the water to create foam. First remove any lumps that you can from the carpet. Then with medium-stiff plastic brush scoop the foam onto the brush and work it into the carpet. This may require a little elbow grease but the result will be well worth it. As you need more foam, just agitate the water again and away you go. This will not leave your carpets soaking wet so they'll be completely dry in a few hours if you make sure to just use the foam. Make sure to check with the carpet manufacturer that this method of cleaning is recommended - it is for most carpets.

Blendwell Chemicals is a cleaning chemical manufacturer based in Halfway House, Midrand, South Africa. Carpet Shampoo is just one of a huge range of cleaning chemicals that we manufacture and you can visit our website on http://www.blendwell.co.za/

Friday 7 October 2011

How to clean your braai

Spring has certainly sprung! With this fantastic weather we're having and rugby to watch this weekend, it's time to get out the braai and invite friends over.

It seems inevitable that we always remember to buy all the food and get everything ready but as we go to light the fire we remember that the braai hasn't been cleaned for months and there's still all sorts of things stuck to it.

Not this time, I have some fabulous tips to help you get your braai cleaned up before the braai actually starts. If your braai looks anything like mine you'll need to start with brushing out the old, burnt-out coals. It's always a good idea to wear gloves when handling any cleaning products. Take the grates which all the meat rests on while cooking and have them soak in a special solution. Now you'll need a container large enough for the grates to be able to soak in. Into this container you can add five parts of hot water and one part of Blendwell Chemicals' Wac GP Liquid. So if you are adding 5 litres of water you will then add 1 litre of Blendwell Chemicals' Wac GP Liquid. Wac GP Liquid is a brilliant cleaning chemical that seriously wacks away grease, grime and dirt. For cleaning your braai you're going to use this cleaning product at a very high ratio but as we all know burnt-on grease is no fun to clean off.

Leave the grates soaking in the solution for 20 minutes. This will give the cleaning chemical a chance to start working and for the hard parts to begin to soften. You should then take a wire brush and brush off the grates. Depending on how much dirt and grease is on the grates, you may need to scrub a little but this fantastic cleaning product will be doing most of the hard work for you.

If you have a built-in braai with some metal sides, you can clean these with the same solution as you used to soak the grates but you can use a plastic brush or cloth to clean the sides and wipe with a wet cloth afterwards. For a weber braai use a cloth and rinse with clean water.

Blendwell Chemicals manufactures Wac GP Liquid. Wac GP Liquid is an extremely versatile cleaning product that can clean just about anything. For more information on this and other cleaning products please visit http://www.blendwell.co.za/ Blendwell Chemicals manufactures their huge product range in Halfway house, Midrand, South Africa.