4 Types of Cleaning Agents, From Detergents to Acids—and How to Use Each in Your Home (2024)

There are so many cleaning supplies on the market, but all formulas ultimately fall into one of four distinct categories: detergents, degreasers, abrasives, and acids. Ultimately, each has a specific job, which means it's critical to use the correct agent for the task at hand. To ensure you're doing just that, we're sharing the difference between each cleaning agent and what tasks you can and cannot use them for.

Detergents

Detergents reduce the surface tension of water and make it easier for cleaning products to disperse over a surface or into fabric. "Detergents include cleaning agents called surfactants, which are long chain hydrocarbons that are water loving (hydrophilic) on one end, and water hating (hydrophobic) on the other," says Mary Gagliardi, in-house scientist and cleaning expert forClorox. "The hydrophobic end attaches itself to the soil to make it easier for water to remove the soil from a surface."

The most common types of detergent are dish and laundry detergent, but the term can include a range of products, including shampoo and hand soap. Additionally, these cleaning agents can also contain other ingredients, like enzymes and water softeners.

When to Use Detergent

Detergents are good for many basic cleaning tasks, from washing dishes and laundry to cleaning floors, says Gagliardi. "Note that this is only for cleaning and doesn't sanitize or disinfect. But it is an important first step when you do want to kill germs," says Gagliardi. Cleaning surfaces with detergent first before sanitizing or disinfecting is often necessary, depending on the product.

When Not to Use Detergent

Detergent shouldn't be used in any situation where a water-based cleanser wouldn't be appropriate (silk or wool), or the pH of a detergent is not compatible with a surface (like marble), says Gagliardi. You also want to ensure you're using the appropriate amount of detergent. "As detergent builds up, it can leave behind an invisible layer of film that can trap dirt and hard water minerals, giving clothes a dingy or faded appearance," says Bree Lemmen, kitchen brand manager forWhirlpool.

Degreasers

A degreaser is anything that removes oil, like fats and proteins. Multi-surface cleaning sprays that include surfactants, scouring powders, and acids all can break up oil. "Whether one outperforms the others depends on the formulation or strength of the acid, as well as the concentration of the oil," says Gagliardi. Generally, products with a higher pH are most effective at removing oil. Oven cleaners, for example, are highly alkaline, since they need to remove baked-on carbonized messes that build up over time.

When to Use Degreasers

Use degreasers anytime you have oily spots or stains you need to remove. "Liquid dish detergent used for hand washing dishes actually works as a degreaser when used to pretreat oily stains on fabric," says Gagliardi.

When Not to Use Degreasers

Don't use degreasers if you aren't trying to remove an oil. "For example, if you have a water-based stain like coffee or red wine on a kitchen counter, a degreaser won't do anything to remove the color," says Gagliardi, nothing that the same goes for laundry.

Abrasives

Abrasives are materials used for rubbing away dirt, grime, and other debris from surfaces. They need to be hard enough to remove soils, but not so hard they damage the item you're trying to clean. "Abrasives for cleaning include: steel wool and other scrubby sponges, abrasive powder cleansers, chlorine bleach, rust remover, ammonia, and glass window cleaners," says Lemmen. These materials are used with mechanical energy that you provide and require scrubbing in order to work, says Gagliardi.

When to Use Abrasives

You can use an abrasive as long as it is compatible with the material you're trying to clean. For example, a mirror may be susceptible to scratches if it's cleaned with an abrasive. Abrasives are typically used to remove stubborn spots and stains that can be lifted with gentle scrubbing.

What Not to Use Abrasives

Don't use an abrasive if it may potentially damage the surface you're cleaning—or if it won't be effective against a certain type of soil. "Soap scum is a great example of this," says Gagliardi. "Scrubbing a surface covered in soap scum using an abrasive cleanser is typically not enough to remove the soap scum."

Acids

An acid is a cleaning solution with a pH of six or lower. "Some toilet bowl cleaning products are acids, which is why toilet bowl cleaners should not be mixed with bleach," says Gagliardi. "Rust remover products are also very strong acids and should also never be mixed with bleach." Products that are effective at removing soap scum are typically acidic. Some natural cleaning solutions, like vinegar and lemon juice, also fall into the acids category.

When to Use Acids

Weak acids like vinegar and lemon juice can be used for a variety of cleaning tasks, including removing hard water stains, cleaning your toilet, and removing stains from certain garments. Acids are also helpful whenever rust is an issue, as it requires products with a pH less than 7, Gagliardi says.

What Not to Use Acids

Avoid using acids on gentle surfaces or bright colors in the wash. It's also best to avoid acids that may be too harsh. "White vinegar is safe to use in your front load washing machine to help clean and deodorize," says Lemmen. "However, it may not remove all of the buildup that can stick to your washing machine drum, pump or drain."