Care in the Use of Detergents

More accidents happen in the home than anywhere else, so care is needed, especially with detergents. You have to realise that to clean properly means that on occasions you will have to use some stronger detergents than washing up liquid. So? The detergents we recommend are in regular use world wide with no ill-effects, except to a dirty surface. If you have a toilet and bathroom grout full of scale, then you are going to have to use an acid to dissolve the scale on a regular basis. Bleachand mild acids will not work.
If you have a dirty, greased cooker and kitchen and drains, then only an alkaline degreaser will work. Cleaning is a very safe procedure if you use common sense and follow a few rules:

You should note well the following:
  • 1.If you have sensitive skin with a tendency to dermatitis, then use rubber gloves (just like one woman who stood in the wreckage of her smoking kitchen after the fire and said " i can't clean with detergents because my hands get sore" - so how do you clean then?
  • 2.When handling caustic cleaners and acids, always wear gloves - these cleaners find every little crack and crevice in your skin, and your hands will hurt. This is the voice of experience telling you this.
  • 3.The reason for not using bleach and ammonia is that as cleaners they are very poor, as chemicals they react with anything and everything.
  • 4.Never use acids or caustic soda in spray bottles - but realise also there is never any need to use spray bottles or spray cans, you can put more into your lungs than you do to the surface. Use a bucket of solution and wash the surface with a cloth. We have given you guidance and advice on using detergents which are all water based, and are used by us in all our cleaning operations. Our business never usually uses organic solvents, neither should you - alcohol cleans most organic stains and adhesives quite well and safely.
    • Detergent works as well if it is used in very dilute quantities, much less than recommended. Even the squeeze of washing up liquid damages your skin after a full day's work with it.( this is worse than most hard surface detergents!).
    Rinse your hands and dry them well after using detergents. Using a barrier cream on your handswhen wearing gloves will protect them, wash this off after you have finished. After you have washed your hands use a hand cream on your skin (don't use barrier cream and then put your hands in detergent!).
    Keep your detergents, and everything similar (insect sprays, waxes, rat poison, plant fertilisers, etc.) well away from children and pets. Do not mix them and label them well and clearly. Spillages should be cleaned up immediately.
    Leaving a mop in dirty water is a hazard - and it smells after a day. Hold your nose, throw the water out and wash your out mop and leave it to dry. Wash out your sweeping brushes and leave to dry.

    LADDER SAFETY

    You may need to use ladders and step ladders - to clean anything over height. Care is needed. Ladders need someone to foot the bottom while work goes on, and they should be placed on level hard ground, not on a loose shifting surface, with your mate's big feet placed either side of the ladder so it doesn't move.
    Make regular checks on the steps for looseness and stability, especially if youhave a wooden ladder which you leave out in all weathers (you shouldn't) Step ladders need some care - they can tip over quite easily. Keep them on a flat hard surface.
    Never lean over, while working on a ladder or step ladder so that your position becomes unstable
    Never use a ladder in high winds, no matter how desperate you are to get the job done. The chances of you getting blown off increase with the wind speed.

    VACUUM CLEANERS AND ELECTRICITY

    Vacuum cleaners use electricity to run, so care is required here. Only use your vacuum cleaner for water if it is a wet/dry vacuum with the properly water-proofed on/off switches and a sealed motor.
    Don't plug in and switch on with wet hands. Home repairs? Changing plugs or fuses? Don't leave bare live wires around water or where they can be touched and use the correct fuse for the appliance load.