In this crazy world we live in it can be hard to know what to use when cleaning. I’m willing to bet (and I want you, the reader, to comment on this) that most people have no fewer than 10 separate cleaning chemicals under their kitchen sink. I may be remiss in saying this, but most, if not all, of those chemicals could be replaced using just water.

The idea of cleaning is pretty simple- removing soil and creating a “safe” surface without destroying the surface itself. To do this, there are a few simple steps. The first step is what is called dry soil removal. This is pretty simple- get the easy stuff off first. Sweep, vacuum, brushing- it usually involves a simple mechanical method of removing the loose soil. Next is the process of soil suspension- getting the “stuck on” stuff to release from the surface. This is usually accomplished with a chemical reaction- either with water, detergents, or a dry solvent. Once the soil is suspended, it is then rinsed, using either water or more dry solvent. Grooming and drying the surface is the final step. Grooming simply refers to fixing the nap of a fabric textile. Hard surfaces don’t require that step, and can simply be dried.

Once we understand the basics of cleaning- the dry soil removal, soil suspension, rinsing, and finishing; everything can be cleaned with a minimum of chemicals and work.