How to Choose a Cleaning Product
If you have been to the supermarket lately, you have probably noticed that there is usually one full aisle dedicated to home cleaning products. Home cleaning products are a billion-dollar-a-year plus business and no matter what we need to clean; we can usually find a product specifically made to clean it. As a society we are obsessed with keeping our living area clean and the myriad of cleaning products available emphasizes this point. If you are like many others and confused about which is the best cleaning product for your home and lifestyle, here are some tips on how to choose a cleaning product.
What Are You Cleaning?
One of the basic questions you should ask yourself is what do you want to clean? Most people have a few things that they want to clean, they include the kitchen floor, pots, pans and utensils that they eat with, countertops, appliances and cabinets, wood, carpet, rugs and floors, bathroom, shower, baths and surrounding tiles, clothing, etc. Obviously, there are lots of things to clean and while many products work on different types of items, there are a few products that focus on specific cleaning tasks.
Choose a Type of Cleaning Product
Just as there are many categories of cleaning products available for each task, within each cleaning category there are usually many types of products. Some may be in powder form, others may be in liquid form, others are in creams or are disposable, and so on. Usually your lifestyle and attitudes come into play when choosing the type of cleaning products. For instance, if you are looking for more affordable cleaning products, these products generally come in less convenient and bulky sizes. To wash your dishes in a dishwasher you can choose a generic powder dishwasher cleanser or a much more expensive individually packaged tablet. It is important to note that while packaging and marketing can add to the cost of the product; this does not generally mean the product will perform better than the generic product. For clever consumers, testing several cleaning products to find the best performer is a worthwhile strategy.
Choose a Product to Fit Your Lifestyle
Cleaning products can be made from harsh or harmful chemicals. As an adult using these products correctly with safety in mind is a top priority. For those that have small children, pets or family members in the home who get allergic reactions to certain chemicals, it is important to be extra choosey with your cleaning products. All chemical cleaning products should have an information label that clearly states any warnings that the user should be aware of. In addition, you can contact several government agencies or the manufacturer of the product directly to learn more about using the product in a home environment. It is always important to follow the directions when using a product, and if you or a family member has a reaction to the cleaning product, you should contact the poison control or call 911 for emergency help immediately.
Choose a Green Cleaning Product
Some cleaning products are made with extremely harsh chemicals. The process in which they are created and disposed of can threaten or damage the environment. Many consumers have taken note and choose natural, green chemical products. Green cleaning products are those that generally are made from natural substances and not harsh, dangerous chemicals. Green cleaning products can be disposed of easily and are bio degradable, causing practically no harm to the environment. Green cleaning products are becoming increasingly popular; some of them include citrus cleansers, products that are non toxic and products that are sold without unnecessary packaging.
Choose a Cleaning Product by Price
Obviously, you should never choose price over safety. However, when choosing a cleaning product by price, it means that you should compare products to get the best deal for your money. There are plenty of cleaning products that accomplish the same tasks; however, some can be 3 to 5 times as expensive. When choosing a cleaning product by price look carefully at the active ingredients, the size of the product and how the product is used in real world conditions. Another good idea is to first research about the product, read reviews and ask friends about its effectiveness before going ahead with the purchase.