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Restoration chemicals can make or break your restoration business, but many contractors aren’t aware of the most important chemicals in their arsenal.
This article explores six restoration supplies that every contractor should have on hand and know how to use and tips and tricks for using them correctly. So if you’re looking to save time and money and improve results, this guide will show you six powerful restoration chemicals to get the job done.
1) Ammonia
It’s one of your primary tools for getting rid of graffiti and tagging. Ammonia works great as a cleaning agent—it’s good at dissolving oils, fats, and greases, making it an effective degreaser.
While you can use it to cleanse surfaces before painting, ammonia is not a general-purpose cleaner because it’s highly alkaline (pH 11). According to Jon-Don, it is hazardous when mixed with other cleaning products like detergents and acids.
2) Hydrochloric Acid
Hydrochloric acid is a strong solution of hydrogen chloride in water. It is a strong corrosive acidic, used for etching, pickling, and etching concrete. Dilute hydrochloric acid may be used to descale appliances such as coffee makers and dishwashers. Never use hydrochloric acid on aluminum or iron. Use protective gear when handling hydrochloric acid.
3) Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye, is a corrosive chemical that dissolves many materials and can cause severe burns. When it reacts with moisture or other electrolytes in skin tissue, it produces heat.
Ingesting sodium hydroxide can cause vomiting and potentially lethal damage to your digestive tract and upper airway (esophagus). If a spill occurs on clothing, first remove contaminated clothing and rinse affected areas with copious amounts of water.
4) Hydrogen Peroxide
This is a colorless liquid that has been used as an antiseptic and disinfectant since French chemist Louis Jacques Thénard discovered it in 1818. It is considered an oxidizer (which also makes it a bleaching agent) and acts as a reducing agent, so acids and alkalines are necessary to complete its reactions.
5) Octanoic Acid and Coconut Oil
You may not be aware of it, but octanoic acid is one of nature’s most powerful disinfectants and fungicides. Used in combination with coconut oil, Octanoic Acid can be a highly effective way to disinfect your home, office, or workspace.
It is also extremely useful for a range of common household tasks, from cleaning kitchen equipment to eliminating mold from tiles.
6) Citric Acid
Citric acid can be used as a food additive and preservative in many foods and beverages. You may have read that citric acid can help descale a kettle, but that’s not entirely true.
While citric acid does indeed act as a descaling agent, it’s very weak compared to most other available products. It also doesn’t work effectively on iron deposits—the major cause of scaling in household kettles.
Restoring your home or business is an important step toward getting back to normal after a natural disaster. However, many different factors play into picking out quality restoration supplies for your project.
