Cleaning agents are mixtures of common cleaning chemicals (surfactants, water softeners) and abrasive powders. The abrasive powder must have a uniform particle size.

The particles are usually less than 0.05 mm in size. Pumice, calcium carbonate (limestone, chalk "Crete (rock)"), dolomite), kaolinite, quartz, soapstone or talc are often used as abrasives, i.e. polishing agents.

Special bleaching powders contain compounds that release sodium hypochlorite, the classic household bleach. These precursor agents include trichloroisocyanuric acid and mixtures of sodium hypochlorite ("chlorinated orthophosphate").

Examples of notable products include: Ajax "Ajax (cleaning product)"), Bar Keepers Friend, Bon Ami, Comet, Vim, Zud and others.

oven cleaners

Traditional oven cleaners contain sodium hydroxide (lye), solvents, and other ingredients,[3][4][5]​ and work best when used in a slightly warm (not hot) oven. If used in a self-cleaning oven, lye will cause permanent damage to the oven.

New style oven cleaners rely on ingredients other than bleach. These products must be used in a cold oven. Most new style oven cleaners can be used on self-cleaning ovens.

Oven cleaners are some of the most toxic household cleaning products available on the market.[6] Correct use of an oven cleaner can be reasonably safe, but incorrect use can cause poisoning.

A popular brand of oven cleaner in the United States is "Easy-Off," sold by Reckitt Benckiser. Popular options in the UK include "Zep Oven Brite" and "Mr Muscle Oven Cleaner".

All-purpose cleaners

All-purpose cleaners contain mixtures of anionic and nonionic surfactants, polymeric phosphates or other sequestering agents, solvents, hydrotropic substances, polymeric compounds, corrosion inhibitors, skin protecting agents, and sometimes perfumes and dyes.[7] Aversive agents, such as denatonium, are occasionally added to cleaning products to discourage animals and small children from consuming them.

Some cleaners contain water-soluble organic solvents such as glycol ethers and fatty alcohols, which facilitate the removal of oil, grease and paint. Disinfectant additives include quaternary ammonium compounds, phenol derivatives, terpene alcohols (pine oil), aldehydes, and aldehyde-amine condensation products.

All-purpose cleaners are typically concentrated solutions of surfactants and water softeners, which improve the behavior of the surfactant in hard water. Typical surfactants are alkylbenzenesulfonates, an anionic detergent, and modified fatty alcohols. A typical water softener is sodium tripolyphosphate.

All-purpose cleaners are effective on the most common types of dirt. Its diluted solutions are neutral or slightly alkaline and are safe for use on most surfaces.

Toilet cleaning/hygiene/deodorant products

Cleaning the toilet bowl is often aimed at removing calcium carbonate deposits, which are attacked by acids. Powdered cleaners contain acids that come in the form of solid salts, such as sodium hydrogen sulfate. Liquid toilet bowl cleaners contain other acids, typically diluted hydrochloric, phosphoric, or formic acids. These convert calcium carbonate into salts that are soluble in water or easily rinsed away.

metal cleaners

Metal cleaners are used to clean sinks, faucets, metal trim, cutlery, etc. stainless steel. These products contain abrasives (e.g., siliceous "Crete (rock)" chalk, diatomaceous earth, alumina) with a particle size <20 μm. Fatty alcohols or alkylphenol polyglycol ethers with 7-12 ethylene oxide (EO) units are used as surfactants.[7]​.

For ferrous metals, cleaners contain chelating agents, abrasives and surfactants. These agents include citric and phosphoric acids, which are not aggressive. Surfactants are usually modified fatty alcohols. Silver cleaning is a specialty, as silver is noble but tends to tarnish through the formation of black silver sulfide, which can be removed through silver-specific complexes such as thiourea.

Stainless steel, nickel and chrome cleaners contain lactic, citric or phosphoric acid. A solvent (mineral spirits) can be added.

Nonferrous metal cleaners contain ammonia, ammonium soaps (ammonium oleate, stearate), and chelating agents (ammonium citrate, oxalate).

Glass cleaner

Light-duty hard surface cleaners are not designed to handle heavy dirt and grease. Because these products are expected to clean without rinsing and give a streak-free shine, they do not contain salts. Typical window cleaning supplies consist of alcohols, either ethanol or isopropanol, and surfactants to dissolve grease. Other components include small amounts of ammonia, as well as dyes and perfumes.

These are composed of a water-miscible organic solvent, such as isopropyl alcohol, and an alkaline detergent. Some glass cleaners also contain a soft, fine abrasive. Most glass cleaners are available in spray or liquid form. They are sprayed directly onto windows, mirrors and other glass surfaces or applied with a soft cloth and wiped with a soft, lint-free cloth. A glass cloth ideal for the purpose and soft water to which you add a little methylated spirit or vinegar, which is an economical glass cleaner.

Cutlery can be freed from silver sulfide tarnish with thiourea and hydrochloric or sulfuric acid.

Building facade cleaners

For acid-resistant building facades, such as brick, acids are typically used. These include mixtures of phosphoric and hydrofluoric acids, as well as surfactants. For acid-sensitive facades such as concrete, strongly alkaline cleaners such as sodium hydroxide and thickeners are used. Both types of cleansers require rinsing and often special care, as the solutions are harsh on the skin.

Cleaning agents made especially to remove grease are called degreasers. These can be solvent-based or solvent-containing and metamorphic.

Cleaning agents are mixtures of common cleaning chemicals (surfactants, water softeners) and abrasive powders. The abrasive powder must have a uniform particle size.

The particles are usually less than 0.05 mm in size. Pumice, calcium carbonate (limestone, chalk "Crete (rock)"), dolomite), kaolinite, quartz, soapstone or talc are often used as abrasives, i.e. polishing agents.

Special bleaching powders contain compounds that release sodium hypochlorite, the classic household bleach. These precursor agents include trichloroisocyanuric acid and mixtures of sodium hypochlorite ("chlorinated orthophosphate").

Examples of notable products include: Ajax "Ajax (cleaning product)"), Bar Keepers Friend, Bon Ami, Comet, Vim, Zud and others.

oven cleaners

Traditional oven cleaners contain sodium hydroxide (lye), solvents, and other ingredients,[3][4][5]​ and work best when used in a slightly warm (not hot) oven. If used in a self-cleaning oven, lye will cause permanent damage to the oven.

New style oven cleaners rely on ingredients other than bleach. These products must be used in a cold oven. Most new style oven cleaners can be used on self-cleaning ovens.

Oven cleaners are some of the most toxic household cleaning products available on the market.[6] Correct use of an oven cleaner can be reasonably safe, but incorrect use can cause poisoning.

A popular brand of oven cleaner in the United States is "Easy-Off," sold by Reckitt Benckiser. Popular options in the UK include "Zep Oven Brite" and "Mr Muscle Oven Cleaner".

All-purpose cleaners

All-purpose cleaners contain mixtures of anionic and nonionic surfactants, polymeric phosphates or other sequestering agents, solvents, hydrotropic substances, polymeric compounds, corrosion inhibitors, skin protecting agents, and sometimes perfumes and dyes.[7] Aversive agents, such as denatonium, are occasionally added to cleaning products to discourage animals and small children from consuming them.

Some cleaners contain water-soluble organic solvents such as glycol ethers and fatty alcohols, which facilitate the removal of oil, grease and paint. Disinfectant additives include quaternary ammonium compounds, phenol derivatives, terpene alcohols (pine oil), aldehydes, and aldehyde-amine condensation products.

All-purpose cleaners are typically concentrated solutions of surfactants and water softeners, which improve the behavior of the surfactant in hard water. Typical surfactants are alkylbenzenesulfonates, an anionic detergent, and modified fatty alcohols. A typical water softener is sodium tripolyphosphate.

All-purpose cleaners are effective on the most common types of dirt. Its diluted solutions are neutral or slightly alkaline and are safe for use on most surfaces.

Toilet cleaning/hygiene/deodorant products

Cleaning the toilet bowl is often aimed at removing calcium carbonate deposits, which are attacked by acids. Powdered cleaners contain acids that come in the form of solid salts, such as sodium hydrogen sulfate. Liquid toilet bowl cleaners contain other acids, typically diluted hydrochloric, phosphoric, or formic acids. These convert calcium carbonate into salts that are soluble in water or easily rinsed away.

metal cleaners

Metal cleaners are used to clean sinks, faucets, metal trim, cutlery, etc. stainless steel. These products contain abrasives (e.g., siliceous "Crete (rock)" chalk, diatomaceous earth, alumina) with a particle size <20 μm. Fatty alcohols or alkylphenol polyglycol ethers with 7-12 ethylene oxide (EO) units are used as surfactants.[7]​.

For ferrous metals, cleaners contain chelating agents, abrasives and surfactants. These agents include citric and phosphoric acids, which are not aggressive. Surfactants are usually modified fatty alcohols. Silver cleaning is a specialty, as silver is noble but tends to tarnish through the formation of black silver sulfide, which can be removed through silver-specific complexes such as thiourea.

Stainless steel, nickel and chrome cleaners contain lactic, citric or phosphoric acid. A solvent (mineral spirits) can be added.

Nonferrous metal cleaners contain ammonia, ammonium soaps (ammonium oleate, stearate), and chelating agents (ammonium citrate, oxalate).

Glass cleaner

Light-duty hard surface cleaners are not designed to handle heavy dirt and grease. Because these products are expected to clean without rinsing and give a streak-free shine, they do not contain salts. Typical window cleaning supplies consist of alcohols, either ethanol or isopropanol, and surfactants to dissolve grease. Other components include small amounts of ammonia, as well as dyes and perfumes.

These are composed of a water-miscible organic solvent, such as isopropyl alcohol, and an alkaline detergent. Some glass cleaners also contain a soft, fine abrasive. Most glass cleaners are available in spray or liquid form. They are sprayed directly onto windows, mirrors and other glass surfaces or applied with a soft cloth and wiped with a soft, lint-free cloth. A glass cloth ideal for the purpose and soft water to which you add a little methylated spirit or vinegar, which is an economical glass cleaner.

Cutlery can be freed from silver sulfide tarnish with thiourea and hydrochloric or sulfuric acid.

Building facade cleaners

For acid-resistant building facades, such as brick, acids are typically used. These include mixtures of phosphoric and hydrofluoric acids, as well as surfactants. For acid-sensitive facades such as concrete, strongly alkaline cleaners such as sodium hydroxide and thickeners are used. Both types of cleansers require rinsing and often special care, as the solutions are harsh on the skin.