The selection and properties of the detergent to be used in cleaning is of course important, but nothing can be done without water. Water is already a cleaning agent in its own right, but it also ensures the solubility of detergents. Therefore, water should be used for cleaning.

The hardness of the water decreases the performance of the detergents used and causes more detergent to be consumed. At the same time, it deteriorates the appearance of the cleaned surface, shortens its life and prevents it from performing its expected function. Water is transparent, colorless and odorless. The calcium and magnesium ions in it combine with carbonate, sulfate and chloride ions to form mineral salts, which gives water hardness.

However, water alone cannot remove impurities. Under normal conditions, water is collected in small drops, for example on an oil layer, but not in full contact with dirt. Detergents are needed to combine water with dirt. Detergents allow water to combine with dirt in the form of suspensions or emulsions.

Detergents may be in the form of powders, tablets, films or liquids of natural or artificial nature. Detergents are cleaning agents with high surface activity. Detergents break the bond between water molecules and reduce surface tension. That is, the surface of the water expands and the water spreads over the surface of the soil. In this way, the water and detergent mixture, which increases its contact with dirt, breaks down the protein and carbohydrates, and the dirt on the surfaces is transferred to the mixture of water and detergent and removed.

The density of the detergent is very important during the cleaning process. Detergent concentration does not mean a better cleaning process. On the contrary, excessive detergent increases the foaming and has an adverse effect. In the meantime, the detergent effect increases with the increase of the temperature. The temperature of the cleaning water should therefore not be cold enough to cause the soil to solidify, nor should it be hot enough to cause the protein in the soil to stick to the surface. The average water temperature should be around 50 degrees.

In the meantime, the variety and quality of the detergent used are of course very important for the efficiency of the cleaning process. There are many detergents with different properties and formulas on the market. For this reason, when choosing detergents, it should pay attention to features such as easy dissolution in water, improving water quality, removing organic elements on surfaces, completely covering the surface to be cleaned and penetrating deep, breaking down dirt quickly. In addition, detergents should not destroy surfaces, cause corrosion, be easily rinsed, moderate foaming and should be easily applied.

Detergent analyzes are mainly grouped under three main headings, each with a large number of tests and analyzes:

• Physical and chemical analyzes
• Determination of anionic active substance
• Determination of cationic active substance
• Determination of nonionic active substance
• Determination of total active substance
• Soap analysis
• Determination of sodium carbonate
• Determination of sodium tripolyphosphate
• Determination of zeolite
• Determination of EDTA
• Determination of sodium sulfate
• Determination of silicate
• Determination of sodium perborate
• Determination of sodium percarbonate
• Determination of active oxygen
• Determination of TAED
• Determination of active chlorine
• Determination of hydroxide
• Determination of sodium hypochlorite
• Determination of optical bleach
• Physical examination
• Determination of pH
• Determination of density
• Determination of viscosity
• Determination of total acidity
• Determination of total alkalinity
• Determination of free acidity and alkalinity
• Determination of water insoluble matter
• Determination of moisture
• Microbiological analyzes
• Total aerobic mesophilic bacteria count
• Total coliform count
• Total yeast and mold count
• Bactericidal activity tests
• Bactericidal activity tests of hygienic hand rub and hand washing agents

All these tests and analyzes are carried out in accredited laboratories in accordance with the current regulations and standards published by local and foreign organizations.