Ingredients
Provides a liquid base for a product.
Sodium hypochlorite is the basic ingredient in laundry bleach and in mould and mildew stain removers. It is also a bleach that helps to break down drain clogs.
Alkyl dimethyl amine oxide is an ingredient that can be found in shampoos and body washes. It is a cleaning agent that works with the other formula ingredients to break up and remove the soil. In conjunction with other formula ingredients, it can also be a thickener that allows the product to cling to the surface or soil longer to work more effectively.
Sodium hydroxide is a builder that can also be found in detergents and degreasers. We use it to make a product formula clean better by affecting the molecules in the formula so that they work together better. Sodium hydroxide can also be a pH adjuster that alters the pH of a product to improve stability. Every formula has an optimum pH to make it work best. For example, a formula that’s more acidic works better for soap scum removal. Its opposite, a formula that’s more alkaline, might be more effective at removing grease or greasy soils. We use pH adjusters to make sure we achieve the best pH for a particular job. Also, the pH of a formula can affect how long it lasts within a container – for example limiting its tendency to corrode a can, container, or dispenser. In high concentrations (such as in drain cleaners), sodium hydroxide can also be used as a caustic that helps dissolve organic matter, like drain clogs.
Sodium octyl sulfate is a cleaning agent, or "surfactant," that can be found in household cleaners and detergents. It can also be used as a solubilizer, to help mix the ingredients in a product, or as a thickener, to improve a product's texture. We use sodium octyl sulfate in certain products because it's particularly effective in formulas that are highly alkaline, like drain cleaners.