Other washing and washing products
In addition to washing agents, many products can be distinguished, which support the washing process or are used in finishing processes, after washing. These products generally do not contain detergents.
The problem of removing dirt in practice is not limited to removing it from soiled clothing materials and from the surface of the body. It also applies to other surfaces, such as sanitary facilities, home appliances and others. Washing is therefore not limited to the hygiene of the human body, but it also ensures an adequate level of environmental hygiene. There are many products on the market, which are designed to wash various surfaces. The common feature of these products is that they use the same dirt removal mechanism as in the washing processes, thus, the removal of soil takes place with the aid of aqueous solutions of cleaning agents.
Washing aids
The most important auxiliary agents used in washing processes should be included: water softeners, bleaching agents, stiffening measures, fabric softeners.
■ Almost all detergents contain various water softening systems. Apart from them, water can be additionally treated, preventing limescale deposits, mainly on heating elements of laundry equipment. An example of such a measure is Calgon, which is recommended to be added to each washing bath.
■ Stiffening agents include starch. They are starchy plant products. Basic raw materials, from which starch is obtained: potato flour, wheat and rice. Cotton and linen fabrics are starched, mainly bed linen, tablecloths etc.. The starch is introduced in the last phase of the linen rinsing process, by dissolving it in water. After rinsing in a solution with starch and drying, the linen becomes stiff and gives the impression of a new and undamaged product.. Commercially, starch is sold packaged and in the form of a powder or a liquid, as well as a novelty in aerosol packaging. In the past, starch was prepared by spreading potato flour in cold water, and then by warming it up, stirring until the mass becomes glassy. The mass prepared in this way was put into the water, in which the linen was rinsed.
■ The most numerous group are fabric rinsing agents. These agents are in the form of liquids and are intended mainly for rinsing delicate fabrics, including wool, because these fabrics may become rough and unpleasant to touch after washing, losing its original properties. Rinse aid also prevents the build-up of electrostatic charges on the surface of fabrics, which prevents them from getting dirty quickly, and give fabrics a pleasant and lasting fragrance. They may also contain optical brighteners. Examples of such products are: How many, Global, Lenor, cuddle, liquid K, Parole, Bill, fluid E, Dosia in inside.
■ Bleaching agents are also a large group of products. These agents contain chemical bleaches. They are used to whiten colored stains on the surface of fabrics. They are used as an additive to the washing bath. Examples of this type of product are: Clorox, ACE, which are universal bleaches, and Bielinka for bleaching linen and cotton products. The bleach formerly used in washing linen was perhydrol (ok. 30-percentage aqueous solution of H2O2).
■ Except for bleaches, commercially available, the so-called. stain removers, np. Shout. These agents are enriched with enzymes.
■ Blue linen dye is a refreshing agent for white fabrics, known as Ultramarine, used as an additive to the washing bath.
Other products containing soaps and detergents.
■ The most important products containing soaps and detergents include products used for washing dishes and glassware.
Liquids are an example of products intended for washing dishes: Louis, „E”, Yo, Palmolive, Dosage, Kop, sunlight, Pur Universal
in inside. A separate group are dishwasher liquids and powders.
■ The second group of household products, containing detergents and soaps, there are detergents and cleaning agents, mainly kitchen and sanitary appliances. It stands out among the products belonging to this group:
• general purpose measures, for washing kitchen appliances, sinks, flooring and tiles, np. Domestos Universal fluids, MR. Proper, Ajax;
• toilet cleaners, np. Domestos, WC Girls;
• special washing and cleaning agents, np. for cleaning fittings, car shampoos, detergents and disinfectants in hospitals, caterers, industrial plants;
• agents containing abrasives, used, among others. for cleaning sanitary facilities, np. Cif, Gnome.
