In the cleaning industry, you will come across the term degreaser quite frequently. A degreaser is a cleaning product that has been designed to lift grease, oils and fats from a surface. Degreasers can be solvent or water-based and are usually highly effective at cleaning very difficult to clean objects.
Typically one would use a degreaser to clean factory floors, machine parts, industrial stoves and kitchen appliances to name but a few.
Degreasers usually contain solvents to help lift the grease and grime off the surface. These solvents are usually classified as flammable and highly flammable. It's a good idea to first test what you are needing to clean with a water-based degreaser that contains less solvents but might be easier to use. Degreasers often also contain surfactants which also help to reduce the surface tension of water and lift dirt and grease off surfaces. It is important to find the right degreaser for the job you are wanting to do with the perfect mix of solvent and surfactant to get the job done quickly, properly and easily.
Blendwell Chemicals manufactures a fantastic range of degreasers that are highly effective. We manufacture both solvent and water-based degreasers as well as some green degreasers too. Blendwell Chemicals is based in Halfway House, South Africa and manufactures a huge range of cleaning products. For more information on the products we make, please visit http://www.blendwell.co.za/
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
How to clean "green" - Dosing - Ratios
As I have already discussed it is very important to dose your cleaning chemicals correctly. The reasons for this are saving you money, saving you time and saving the environment.
When using cleaning chemicals, many people do not quite understand the instructions that come with the products. It's easy enough to follow when the instructions read that you should add one scoop (when the scoop is provided) and fill a 5 litre bucket with water. Unfortunately, it is not always that simple.
Sometimes instructions will read one part cleaning product to five parts of water. This is where mistakes can often be made. I have put together a table that will hopefully help you or your cleaners to avoid making any mistakes. I have broken it down into mixing up solutions of 1,4,10 and 20 litres. If you need to mix a different quantity you can still use the table as a guide. In each block the first quantity listed is the amount of cleaning product and the second number would usually be water. Please check product instructions carefully and it is always a good idea to at least wear gloves, if no other safety gear is required, even when only mixing the solution.
Hope this table helps you get your dosing of your cleaning products right. Happy cleaning!
For more information on the products that we manufacture, please visit www.blendwell.co.za Our factory is in Halfway House, South Africa.
When using cleaning chemicals, many people do not quite understand the instructions that come with the products. It's easy enough to follow when the instructions read that you should add one scoop (when the scoop is provided) and fill a 5 litre bucket with water. Unfortunately, it is not always that simple.
Sometimes instructions will read one part cleaning product to five parts of water. This is where mistakes can often be made. I have put together a table that will hopefully help you or your cleaners to avoid making any mistakes. I have broken it down into mixing up solutions of 1,4,10 and 20 litres. If you need to mix a different quantity you can still use the table as a guide. In each block the first quantity listed is the amount of cleaning product and the second number would usually be water. Please check product instructions carefully and it is always a good idea to at least wear gloves, if no other safety gear is required, even when only mixing the solution.
1 litre | 4 litres | 10 litres | 20 litres | |
1:1 | 500ml:500ml | 2L:2L | 5L:5L | 10L:10L |
1:2 | 333ml:667ml | 1,33L:2,67L | 3,3L:6,6L | 6,6L:13,4L |
1:5 | 200ml:800ml | 660ml:3,34L | 2L:8L | 4L:16L |
1:10 | 100ml:900ml | 400ml:3,6L | 1L:9L | 2L:18L |
1:20 | 50ml:950ml | 200ml:3,8L | 500ml:9,5L | 1L:19L |
1:25 | 40ml:960ml | 160ml:3,84L | 400ml:9,6L | 800ml:19,2L |
1:50 | 20ml:980ml | 80ml:3,92L | 200ml:9,8L | 400ml:19,6L |
1:100 | 10ml:990ml | 40ml:3,96L | 100ml:9,9L | 200ml:19,8L |
1:200 | 5ml:995ml | 20ml:3,98L | 50ml:9,95L | 100ml:19,1L |
Hope this table helps you get your dosing of your cleaning products right. Happy cleaning!
For more information on the products that we manufacture, please visit www.blendwell.co.za Our factory is in Halfway House, South Africa.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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
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