HARD SURFACE CLEANING PERFORMANCE OF 6 ALTERNATIVE HOUSEHOLD CLEANERSUNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS

In this laboratory study, several commercially available household bat hroom and kitchen cleaning products, with and without EPA registered d isinfectant properties, were compared to several 'alternative '' produ cts (lemon juice, vinegar, ammonia, baking soda and borax). High press ure decorative laminate tiles were cleaned mechanically using a Gardne r Abrasion Tester. Test criteria included microbial reduction, based o n remaining colony forming units of a tracer organism (Serratia marces cens), and soil reduction (of simulated bathroom and kitchen soil form ulations) based on subjective grading by a panel of individuals. Among bathroom cleaners, the commercial cleaners and vinegar gave the most effective microbial reduction while a commercial cleaner without disin fectant was most effective at soil removal. Among kitchen cleaners, ag ain the commercial products and vinegar were most effective at microbi al reduction while the commercial cleaners and ammonia were most effec tive at soil removal.