An Abrasive cleaner is a cleaning product that contains abrasive materials and physical abraders designed to remove tough stains, dirt, grime, and residues from various surfaces. These cleaners are particularly effective for tackling stubborn and ingrained dirt that regular cleaners may struggle to remove. Abrasive cleaners are available in various forms, including powders, creams, gels, and even abrasive scrubbing pads or sponges.
An abrasive cleaner creates more friction between its surface and the surface being cleaned, and thus, it can even remove stubborn stains. Sandpapers, Steel Wool, and scrubbing pads are types of physical abraders.
Types of Abrasive Cleaners
Abrasive cleaners have abrasive substances such as silica, pumice, calcium carbonate, baking soda, or even finely ground metal particles like aluminum oxide. These abrasives help physically remove stains and grime.
Abrasive Cleaners can be categorized into three types based on their abrasive properties.
- Mild Abrasive
- Moderate Abrasive
- Strong Abrasive
Mild Abrasives Cleaners
Mild abrasives are abrasive materials or substances that are relatively gentle in their abrasive action. They are suitable for cleaning, polishing, or scrubbing surfaces without causing scratches to the surface being cleaned.
Baking soda, calcium carbonate, microfiber cloths, rubber erasers, polishing compounds, fine plastic mesh pads, soft brass wool, nylon-coated sponges, rotten stone, and whiting are examples of mild abrasive.
Moderate Abrasives
The abrasive materials that have a moderate level of abrasiveness are called moderate abrasive. The abrasiveness of these abrasive materials falls between mild and strong abrasive. They are used for cleaning and scrubbing surfaces that mild abrasives can not do effectively. They must be used with care to avoid excessive scratching or damage. Moderate abrasives can effectively root out stains, dirt, and grime from various surfaces.
Pumice Stone, Powdered Cleansers, Non-Scratch Scrubbing Pads, Abrasive Sponges, and Rubbing Compounds are examples of moderate abrasives.
Strong Abrasives
Strong abrasives are abrasive materials used to remove tough stains, dirt, grime, and residues from surfaces, but these abrasives can cause significant damage or scratches. They are suitable for cleaning and restoring hard, durable surfaces that sustain their abrasive action.
Strong abrasives include Silica sand, metallic mesh cloth and balls, metallic brushes, steel wool, aluminum oxide, abrasive Pads and discs, and abrasive blasting media.