Why are some cleansers marked "For Industrial or Commercial Use Only"? How are they different from household cleansers?

Zbeckabee

They are stronger than "normal" household cleaners. Main Entry: in·dus·tri·al–strength Pronunciation: in-ˈdəs-trē-əl-ˈstreŋ(k)th, -ˈstren(t)th Function: adjective Date: 1976 1 : suitable for industrial use 2 : marked by more than usual power, durability, or intensity http://www.merriam-webster.com/netdict/industrial-strength Jul 12 10, 7:38 AM

star_gazer

Untill the 1950s, most cleaning was done with soaps (fatty acids and lye) rather than detergents (made from alkaline substances). Unlike detergents, soap didn't need much water to add to its cleaning effectiveness. When using soap, consumers rarely added water. When synthetic detergents were introduced in the 1950s, most home consumers didn't adjust properly. Manufacturers were forced to add water to detergents designed for home use because consumers wouldn't add enough water to the products to make them work effectively. When you buy a cleanser in a big plastic bottle at the supermarket, you are carrying mostly a big container of water, the equivalent of buying a bottle of ready-to-drink ice tea rather than a jar of ice tea mix. Industrial users have totally different priorities. They are quite willing to sacrifice a little convenience to save money; by buying a concentrated "industrial strength" product, companies can save on unnecessary packaging. Professional cleaners also realize that detergents must be diluted to work effectively. In almost all cases, cleansers that are "industrial strength" can be used at the home if diluted properly. There is one other major difference in the ingrediants in these two types of cleaning products. Home consumers care very much about how their cleansers smell (Lemon scent, Mountain Breeze, Spring rain). In most cases, corporations do not; as a result, many household cleaners contain perfume to mask the smell of unpleasant chemical orders. Perfume jacks up the price of the product without adding anything to its cleaning ability. http://www.cleaningproductsworld.com/ Jul 12 10, 4:57 PM