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.
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Does a sulfuric acid/nitric acid mixture dissolve PTFE (ie. teflon)?
In our lab, we commonly use a mixture of sulfuric acid and nitric acid to clean borosilicate glassware. I'd like to clean some PTFE pieces in there, too, but not sure if they will dissolve or not.
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How to reverse damage done by nail polish remover without acetone to a laptop keyboard?
Today I was trying to clean my laptop with a nail polish remover (ingredients: ethyl acetate, peg-40, hydrogenated castor oil, panthenol, parfum, d-limonene, geraniol, ci 26100, ci 60725). Not only it ...
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What causes the smell in rotten meat-grease and how can I get rid of it thoroughly?
We've just spilled the can of used meat-grease we collect so that it doesn't go down the drain and it turns out it was rotten. Now the granite counter-top and the wood-laminate floor of the kitchen ...
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Acetic(vinegar) and citric acid as the rust remover
I tested, separately, acetic and citric acids for cleaning steel parts. After 24 hours I have moderate results for acetic acid, and good results for citric acid. But in both cases, rust doesn't ...
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Dangers of expired bleach?
I have some unopened Clorox bleach bought over a year ago (at $8.25~\%\ \ce{NaOCl}$) and read on Wikipedia that bleach naturally decomposes according to
$$\ce{3 NaOCl (aq) -> NaClO3 (aq) + 2 NaCl(...
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Cleaning stains with hydrogen peroxide and bleach
A while back, I discovered that if you have a stain on a white shirt, you can remove it by putting hydrogen peroxide on the stain, then adding some bleach to it. I have used this for getting out wine,...
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What could happen when mixing bleach with other cleaning residue?
I have a wall covered in mold. I have used various cleaning wipes attempting to clean it, including a vinegar mixture. I now want to spray the wall with a bleach cleaner. I am concerned for fumes from ...
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Vinegar and baking soda: Cleaning agent or neutralized sludge?
I've seen it suggested countless times that combining vinegar and baking soda is a great home cleaning solution, but this always seemed like nonsense to me.
I recognize that baking soda, a base, can ...
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Will using vinegar harm car paint?
After having parked my car in a newly constructed airport parking garage, I came back to find something had dripped through a crack in the ceiling of the structure and left considerably thick film on ...
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Does the main washing effect of soap come from foam?
I am curious if the main cleaning effect of soap comes from its foam (or, maybe, it is just a by-product).
Here are some points, that might clarify what I mean:
Does foam sort of "carry" dirt and ...
user77247
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Deodorizing using baking powder instead of baking soda
I am an engineer and I understand the difference between baking power and baking soda as baking powder is baking soda (alkali) with tartaric acid (acidic) and an inert starch (why? Is this a catalyst ...
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Yellow stains after cleaning silver
I've recently moved to a old house and found some stuff in the attic, along that I found some really beautiful silverware(??) that unfortunately was VERY tarnished, one of the pieces was totally black ...
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