Questions tagged [cleaning]
For questions about cleaning agents and methods used to remove dirt, stains, residues, and bad smells, including proper waste disposal. For particular questions about surfactants, use the [surfactants] tag.
154
questions
2
votes
0
answers
82
views
Fundamental reasons for using vapors for ALD rather than solutions
Atomic layer deposition (ALD) has been developed for many materials, as can be seen from this overview: https://atomiclimits.com/alddatabase/
However, a search for liquid phase ALD gives less results.
...
4
votes
2
answers
596
views
I left scented candles in a polypropylene container. How do I remove the smell?
I left scented candles in a polypropylene container, for many weeks.
How do I remove the smell?
I've tried:
Hand wash with Dish Soap (a few times)
Hand wipe with Isopropyl Alcohol (a few times)
...
0
votes
0
answers
50
views
Cleaning Cobalt with Dodecylbenzene Sulphonic Acid
Here in Brazil we use a special detergent to clean up metals, based on Dodecylbenzene Sulphonic Acid, it is very effective at shining up all sorts of different metals.
I recently acquired 2 samples of ...
0
votes
0
answers
297
views
Best ways to dissolve large amounts of candle wax?
I work for a company that occasionally rents out candles and (mostly glass) holders for events. Many times these holders come back covered in candle wax. I am looking for an efficient way to clean ...
2
votes
1
answer
796
views
How to Remove Copper Sulphate from a Leather Belt
I was careless when we were doing a routine footbath of our sheep in copper sulphate solution, and it splashed onto my leather belt. There are now little dark spots all over it, and I was wondering ...
-3
votes
2
answers
92
views
Sodium hypochlorite bleach and chromium mop handle [closed]
I have been using sodium hypochlorite bleach as a cleaning method in my house. During a two week period when I was at home I left the mop handle in the bucket with bleach in it. I did not know it was ...
0
votes
0
answers
36
views
Can I reuse LDPE bottles after trace element analysis?
I run some algae samples through mass spec a few times over the month to test the P content of algal samples. My (simplified) procedure was as follows:
Put a small portion of algae in a teflon vessel
...
0
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Chemistry behind cleaning with vinegar vs citric acid; do they work differently? Should I prepare the same pH solutions to compare them?
I noticed a pack of "Mysterious Citric Acid" while out shopping so I picked it up to see what the big deal was. Several palates of the stuff had just arrived at a local outlet store. I ...
2
votes
0
answers
242
views
I stained my lab workstation with Coomassie blue. How do I clean it?
I stained my work station with Coomassie blue solution during my SDS-PAGE protocol. I have been cleaning but the solution seems to can't be removed. What should I use to remove all these stains?
2
votes
0
answers
97
views
Is cleaning silverware with tinfoil and salt dangerous?
Premise: I'm not a chemist and I've already had a look at this and this but they don't fully answer my question.
I have read that you can clean silverware using tinfoil, salt and water, though from ...
1
vote
0
answers
91
views
Can stainless steel "soap" bars actually work or is it just deceptive marketing?
The Wikipedia — Stainless steel soap article sounds highly skeptical, although it does include a possible mechanism involving the chromium in the stainless steel binding with the sulfur compounds and ...
-1
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Drano and Bleach reaction? [closed]
I’m not sure if anyone can answer this but I might’ve messed up, or I’m just overreacting.
My bathtub has been clogged for about a month now and I used a splash of Drano to see if it would do anything,...
2
votes
0
answers
257
views
What will remove this screen printed logo without destroying the polycarbonate safety sunglasses lens?
I bought some safety sunglasses and didn't notice until I'd taken the tags off that there's an annoying logo painted or printed right in my field of view. (You can feel with your fingertips or ...
4
votes
0
answers
75
views
Why do vessels get a better shine when tea-leaves are soaked overnight in it before washing?
The other day I dumped consumed tea leaves into a brass utensil because I needed the tea-pan urgently. The vessel with the tea leaves didn't get around for cleaning until the next day. Ergo, the tea ...
0
votes
0
answers
35
views
Best way to bond polyethylene to to aluminum?
I am a quality engineer looking for some chemistry expertise that can hopefully assist in solving a problem we are having at our company. We are a water filtration company and our location produce the ...
-1
votes
1
answer
44
views
Brown sediment in shower, nothing works
I have an ensuite shower with white floor (or call it pad) which is from some kind of composite plastic material.
Over time, brown discoloration and sediments started to acumulate in areas where the ...
6
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Are acids effective in removing soap scum?
In my experience, most of the commercial products intended for removing soap scum from bathroom surfaces are ineffective. No matter how long you leave it on or how hard you scrub, the soap scum doesn'...
0
votes
0
answers
246
views
Can vinegar be used to clean wood (a porous surface) after it has been cleaned with germicidal bleach?
I recently cleaned moldy air vents and hardwood floor with diluted germicidal bleach water (1/3 cup bleach to 1 gall). I would like to go back in with vinegar to make sure the mold stays gone, mostly ...
0
votes
1
answer
160
views
Getting magnesium chloride gunk off a wood shelf
I have a situation. Some magnesium bath salts got left on a wood shelf in my bathroom in a bag that was not closed. Being hydroscopic, it sucked up a ton of water, and then spilled onto the wood. ...
2
votes
0
answers
446
views
Rotten chicken smell
My boyfriend and I have a camper and he forgot to take a package of chicken out of the refrigerator before parking it. The chicken sat in the fridge which was off in the heat for a few months. We ...
1
vote
1
answer
896
views
Does sodium percarbonate break down into 'safe' compounds in water?
I'm writing this question as a wine brewer (not a chemist), so apologies if I use inaccurate terminology.
I'm interested in using sodium percarbonate as a cleaning/sanitising solution for brewing ...
1
vote
1
answer
117
views
Could mixing naphtha-based cleaner and industrial floor cleaner produce hazardous substances?
I work in a car dealership, and the guy who cleans the workshop uses an industrial floor scrubber / vac on the floor tiles. On particularly stubborn oil / soot marks, he uses naphtha-based brake ...
-3
votes
1
answer
75
views
How to dissolve cobalt ferrite spinel for cleaning reactor? [closed]
I put some cobalt ferrite powder and did some catalytic test and I can't clean my reactor very well. I have already used aqua regia, hydrochloric and nitric acids, sodium hydroxide at high ...
-3
votes
1
answer
48
views
Possible Plumbing Acid through Leaky Pipe in Floating Ceiling, How to Test/Clean?
So I had a plumber in the other day, and I don't know if he used acid drain cleaner or not. The pipe where the possible leak is, is over some drop ceiling (vinyl or expanded polystyrene).
Before I go ...
-2
votes
1
answer
354
views
How does soap help in cleaning clothes and rinsing off oil and grease?
When we say that we agitate clothes so that grease particles get separate out from clothes as ionic part of hydrocarbon chains of soap is attached to water and non polar part of chain is dissolved in ...
1
vote
0
answers
81
views
Converting dissolved chromates to solids for disposal
I have 4 liters of electrolysis waste that was used to process stainless steel cathodes.
About half of it was oxalic acid based and the other half was sodium bicarbonate based (currently stored ...
2
votes
0
answers
54
views
Best bet for separating fused glassware
I have a sintered glass funnel stuck in a flask with a 24/40 ground glass joint.
I regularly used this glassware to process very dilute solutions of uncured photopolymer resin dissolved in ethanol. ...
1
vote
0
answers
45
views
General cleaning solution for clinical chemistry applications
I want to reuse some plastic and glass items that I am using to do colorimetric concentration analysis of serum and urine. There are some enzymatic assays, mineral assays and so on. I have been trying ...
3
votes
0
answers
129
views
Can Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) be used for disinfection of medical device (e.g. of polyethylene material)? [closed]
Chlorhexidine is commonly used as a skin antiseptic, hand disinfectant, endodontic irrigant etc. It possess antibacterial and antifungal properties, and is considered low toxicity when used in low ...
1
vote
1
answer
249
views
Cleaning with Hydrogen Peroxide is not a chemical process?
Reading here:
if the peroxide does seem to help is that the bubbles forming and foaming is helping dislodge tiny particles in the cracks of the mineral.
Is this the case in general for cleaning with ...