All-purpose cleaners: As the name suggests, these substances are rated to keep all surfaces as clean as possible and get rid of various stains, which is why billions of bottles are sold in Australia annually.

In the hospitality, automotive, industrial, government, mining, and construction industries, these formulas are vital and in-demand because they’re capable of easily handling cleaning matters on an industrial level. All-purpose cleaners are built to take on many jobs, such as keeping floors clean and removing stains on clothes to sanitising work surfaces and making everything look presentable during a launch. However, they’re not made to take on EVERYTHING.

What shouldn’t you do with your all-purpose cleaner?

Although not everyone wants to acknowledge it, all-purpose cleaners aren’t as “all-purpose” as people may expect. Although we’d all like to take care of cleaning matters in the workplace by whipping a bottle out and spraying away, the truth is that it shouldn’t be used on everything in sight. 

Let’s look at some of the different things you shouldn’t do with your all-purpose cleaner so that you don’t end up doing more harm than good when you go through a general cleaning: 

No-no #1: Using it to clean wood furniture

If you’ve thought about giving your select wood pieces a quick spray-down of all-purpose cleaner and a wipe so that they can stay nice and attractive, take it from us: keep the bottle away!

Wood furniture is a no-spray zone for all-purpose cleaners because they’re formulated in a way that can harm the condition of any piece. In fact, spraying even a few squirts can compromise your furniture’s overall quality and cause some unsightly and irreversible stains. However, you can avoid disaster when you clean your pieces by swapping over to an oil soap or polish wax instead!

No-no #2: Spraying it on your window

Another thing you shouldn’t do when you have a spray bottle of all-purpose cleaner in hand is spraying your establishment’s windows with it! 

Although it may not necessarily melt the glass itself or warp the material, an all-purpose cleaner can leave stains and streaks on a window because it’s a thick solution that doesn’t dissipate quickly. If you want to keep these fixtures squeaky-clean, then you’ll need to get a specific window cleaner instead that is formulated to evaporate quickly and leave no residue! 

No-no #3: Using it to disinfect surfaces 

In today’s age, where COVID-19 is more prevalent and dangerous than ever, disinfecting is now a necessity that every workplace must follow, but this isn’t a job for your all-purpose cleaner.

You see, all-purpose solutions are formulated, mixed, and manufactured to perform the sole purpose of general cleaning by removing dirt and sediment from any surface. While it will leave a shiny surface on anything that you suspect to have had exposure to the Coronavirus (or any virus), it won’t penetrate deep enough to kill spores or harmful particles! 

Conclusion

While using an all-purpose cleaner on any type of surface in your establishment makes sense because of its name, the truth is that there are some ways it doesn’t work as well as it should. Fortunately, you can prevent various surface-level (or even deeper) mistakes when keeping your workplace as clean as possible by keeping this guide in mind! 

Reliance Chemicals is the top supplier of commercial-grade all-purpose cleaner in Australia for businesses in the hospitality, automotive, industrial, government, mining, and construction industries. Be sure to check out our online store and place your order today so that you can keep everything spotless and never worry about running out of dependable solutions for your regular cleaning!