Formulation Card
FC-9.1-E
Economical bathroom cleaner
economicalSource: Chapter 9 §9.1.1
Ingredients
| Ingredient | % w/w | Function |
|---|---|---|
| SLES (28% active) | 5.0–7.0 | Primary surfactant, foaming |
| Citric acid (anhydrous) | 3.0–4.0 | Acid source, chelation, limescale prevention |
| Deionized water | to 100 | Carrier |
| Fragrance | 0.1–0.3 | Sensory marker |
| Colorant | 0.001–0.005 | Aesthetic |
| Preservative (sodium benzoate) | 0.3–0.5 | Microbial stability |
Addition Order & Process
Procedure: Dissolve citric acid in 70% of the batch water at 30–35 °C. Add SLES slowly with moderate agitation (300–500 rpm) to avoid aeration. Once homogeneous, add fragrance predissolved in a nonionic solubilizer if needed. Tint with dilute colorant solution. Adjust final pH with dilute sodium hydroxide or additional citric acid. The formulation yields a clear, water-thin liquid suitable for trigger-spray or pour-cap bottles .
Formulation Notes
Target parameters: pH 4.0–5.0 (10% dilution, potentiometric); viscosity 2–10 cP (Newtonian, Brookfield LV, 25 °C).
The citric acid concentration of 3.5% provides hydrogen ion activity sufficient to dissolve approximately 0.8–1.2 g per 100 mL (stoichiometric calculation based on ), adequate for light water spotting but not for encrusted scale. Performance testing should benchmark lime soap removal with a 12.5-minute contact time against a standard soil panel .