Uses of common household cleaning products/chemicals

Sodium hypochlorite

has a bleach-like smell and is a colorless or slightly yellow liquid. It combines with water. USCG (1999). It is used as a disinfectant for glass, ceramics, and tiles, as well as a bleaching agent for laundry.

Sodium bicarbonate

can be lumps or an odorless white crystalline powder with a slightly bitter, alkaline taste. It is an ingredient in fire extinguishers, cleaning solutions, baking powder, effervescent salts and beverages, and pharmaceuticals for humans and animals. Employees who handle sodium bicarbonate may come into direct contact with it or breathe in mists. At levels present in consumer goods, sodium bicarbonate is a chemical that is generally regarded as safe (GRAS) and poses little risk of toxicity to people. It slightly irritates the skin and eyes.

Sodium hydroxide

is a white, crystalline, odorless solid that takes in moisture from the atmosphere at room temperature. It's a synthetic material. It releases a significant amount of heat when dissolved in water or neutralized with acid, which could be enough to set flammable materials on fire. Sodium hydroxide is extremely caustic. It is typically applied as a 50% solution or as a solid. Lye and caustic soda are other common names. Petroleum products, paper, rayon, soaps, explosives, and dyestuffs are all made with it. Additionally, it is employed in the following processes: oxide coating, electroplating, electrolytic extraction, metal cleaning and processing, cotton fabric processing, and laundry and bleaching. Commercial oven and drain cleaners frequently contain it. Shortness of breath, coughing, sore throat, and burning sensation may occur when inhaled.

Boric acid

is a white, crystalline solid with a density of 1.435 g/mL, a melting point of 170.9°C, and a boiling point of 300°C. Also known as orthoboric acid or boracic acid, it is a weak inorganic acid with antiseptic qualities. It is primarily used as an antiseptic agent, acne treatment, preservative, insecticide, pH buffer, swimming pool chemical, flame retardant, and a precursor to many other helpful chemicals. It is non-toxic and has antibacterial qualities.

Hydrochloric acid

is colorless to light yellow in appearance, has a pungent and irritating odor, has a pH of 0, a boiling point of 108.58°C @ 760 mm Hg (20.22% HCl in water) and a melting point of -62.25°C (20.69% HCl in water), is soluble in cold and hot water and diethyl ether, and conducts electricity. It is used to remove stains from metals despite being extremely corrosive. Iron, copper, brass, and other metals can be cleaned with it; however, it should be diluted by mixing one part acid with nine parts water. Because it is such a strong cleaner, it should not be applied directly to metal.

Formaldehyde

is a clear or water-white liquid. The smell is strong and irritating. It dissolves in water and can dissolve up to 55% in alcohol, ether, acetone, and benzene. It has a boiling point of 19.5°C and a melting point of -92.0°C. Since formaldehyde kills the majority of bacteria and fungi, including their spores, an aqueous solution of the chemical can be used as a disinfectant.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

is a white to pale yellow paste or liquid with a mild odor that sinks and mixes with water (USCG, 1999). It is derived naturally from coconut and/or palm kernel oil. Usually, a combination of sodium alkyl sulfates, primarily lauryl, make up this mixture. SLS is utilized as a fat emulsifier, wetting agent, and detergent in toothpaste, cosmetics, and medications. It also reduces the surface tension of aqueous solutions. It is also utilized as a research tool in protein biochemistry and to evenly distribute ingredients in creams and pastes. Additionally, SLS exhibits some microbicide activity. It is utilized as a wetting agent, detergent, and in the textile industry specifically for the electrophoretic separation of proteins and lipids.

Ethanol

1. is a clear, colorless liquid that is quickly absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract and distributed throughout the body. It is frequently used as a topical disinfectant and possesses bactericidal activity. It is the main component of alcoholic beverages and is frequently used as a solvent and preservative in pharmaceutical preparations.