Most of us will have nearly all of the following products available in our cupboards to help clean our homes. But do you know what will do what job without damaging the surface?

All cleaning products have a level on the pH scale from 0-14 with pH7 being thought to be neutral. Anything below 7 is considered acidic – these products are better at removing calcium, rust and other mineral non-organic items. Those products above 7 are considered alkaline – great for cleaning dirt, grease, oils and other organic items.

So which ones do you use?

_ Chlorine Bleach (pH 11-13): One of the top alkaline level products, so very corrosive and to be used carefully as not all surfaces will fare well when you use this neat.

_ Oven Cleaner (pH 11-13): The same level as bleach so you will need to protect floors and surfaces when allowing this product to cut through baked on grease and food deposits.

_ Baking Soda (pH 8-9): Not as corrosive as the first two but it’s alkaline enough to tackle grease and dirt around the home and less damaging to surfaces.

_ Washing up Liquid (pH 7-8): Being relatively neutral, this product is ideal for all your daily cleaning jobs. Most surfaces will not be damaged so it can be used almost anywhere around the home, not just in the sink.

_ Vinegar (pH 3): You would think this is safe to use anywhere in the home, but not so! Vinegar is quite acidic so can damage delicate surfaces like wood and limestone. What it is great for is lime scale deposits and cleaning your windows (1 part water to 1 part white vinegar).

_ Lemon (pH 3): Like vinegar, lemons are very acidic and will damage delicate surfaces. You can use it to scrub up drains and if you pop half of one in your microwave for 3 minutes on full power, not only will it smell lovely but cleaning the inside will be easier too.

_ Toilet bowl cleaner (pH 1-3): This very acidic product is ideal for removing lime scale and other non-organic substances. As it’s at the lowest end of the pH scale you will need to be careful when using it.

It is always advisable to read labels carefully and wear rubber gloves when using these products as your skin is a surface too.