Automatic Front-Loading Washing Machines: Go for the best!

by admin | Mar 19, 2022 | washing machine

Automatic Front-Loading Washing Machines: Go for the best!

Washing machines are a big deal in most households, making it easy to wash everyone’s clothes. They’re used several times a week, so it’s important to have one that can handle all that use and won’t break down.
Nowadays, there are different varieties available in the market which gives everyone an opportunity to buy one within their price range. There are different semi-automatic and fully automatic varieties with a varied price range. The following article will guide you on the best automatic front-loading washing machine to buy, ticking off its pros and cons and other parameters that you may want to evaluate.

Before buying a washing machine, you must be sure about what specifications you are looking for – top-loading or front-loading, semi automatic or fully automatic, rated capacity, energy efficiency, features, and so on and so forth. Likewise, since washing machines can cost anywhere between Rs 8,000 and Rs 50,000, you will want to be sure that you are getting value for your money.

Here is a compilation of the things you should know before making the final purchase decision.

Automatic or semi-automatic?

Automatic machines do everything themselves: after you choose the wash programme, the machine will fill water itself, go through the wash cycle, rinse, drain the water, and then do the spin cycle to remove all the excess moisture all in the same drum.

The semi-automatic model needs to be manually filled with water before the wash begins (and then drained and filled with water again for the rinse cycle). You will also have to transfer your clothes from the wash drum to the spin compartment. In this way, you have more control over the washing process, but it is also more labour-intensive. These machines tend to have fewer special features and cycles than automatic washing machines, which is why they are also more affordable.

Front-loading washing machines work by gently turning your washing over and over in a tumbling action, picking it up and repeatedly dropping it into the wash water. While it sounds harsh, they are actually quite gentle on clothes. It also makes them better at handling unbalanced loads. Because they use less water, the wash cycle often takes longer than a top loader, though many front loaders have ‘fast wash’ cycles.

Top loading or front loading?

If you have continuous water supply (hot and normal), you may prefer going for one of the front-loading models as the wash quality is better and they are relatively more energy- and water-efficient. Although about 10 to 20 per cent costlier, they are worth considering. Avoid going for machines loaded with complex features and selections as these may only end up complicating the washing. Four to six selections are adequate for satisfactory washing. For better cleaning of heavily soiled clothes, prefer to use soak mode during prewash.

If you want to conserve water and electricity, you should know that front loaders use less water than traditional top loaders, which have to fill up entirely for the wash and rinse cycles. The best front loaders clean better and are gentler than the top-loading washing machines while using less water. Front loaders take longer than top loaders but spin faster, extracting more water and trimming dryer time.

Pros of a front-loading washing machine

• Gentler on clothes
• Generally use less water
• Generally more energy-efficient when washing in warm water
• Use less detergent
• More programmes and higher tempera- ture options
• Cheaper to run
• Higher spin speeds, which means fast- er drying
• Best for small spaces Cons
• Longer wash cycles
• Difficult to retrieve keys, phones or other items left in pockets mid-cycle
• Generally more expensive to buy
• You often can’t add to the wash load after the cycle has started
• Heavy to move
• Some need special brackets if placed on a wooden floor
• Tend to have louder spin cycles
• Some may rinse poorly due to their low water usage

Rated capacity

Home-use washing machines in India have a range of 5 kg to 10 kg. For a family of two or those living alone, a 5 kg machine is more than sufficient. A bigger family will need a higher-capacity machine. Even a family of four, especially with small children, will require a high-capacity washing machine.

Energy efficiency and consumption of wa- ter are important factors to consider when purchasing a washing machine. Washing machines can account for as much as 20 per cent of the electricity you use. Opt for a star- rated model (indicating energy-efficiency) – it will reduce electricity and water use by about 20 per cent and 35 per cent, respectively, over non-rated models.

Energy labelling

Washing machines may carry energy-efficiency star ratings based on key performance parameters covering washing efficiency, water consumption, energy consumption, etc. Participation in the energy-rating labelling programme is voluntary at present. Manufacturers declare motor rating in watts, although actual energy consumption will depend on wash load.

Features you may consider

• Material of the drum/tub: The tub can be made of plastic, porcelain-enamel or stainless steel. The first two are cheaper. Plastic tubs are more durable than enamel ones, which can chip and rust. Stainless-steel tubs are the best as they are the most durable and can withstand high spin speeds.

• Wash settings: Most machines have preset wash programmes, such as ‘gentle wash’ for delicate clothes, and water-level options. You can customise and save favourite settings. These can be adjusted through rotary controls, a touchpad, or a touchscreen. The first type is the cheapest.

• Temperature control: If the washer has an inbuilt heater, this feature will help adjust the temperature of the water. This can prove useful in winter. Besides, hot water cleans clothes better. Some of the machines have steam setting, which helps fight dirt and stains well.

• Time delay and pre-soak: Time delay allows you to load the washing machine and start it later. This is useful if you want to avoid the noise at certain times.

Do you want your washing machine to have these?

Auto restart

It restarts the machine from the point where the cycle was interrupted.

Automatic drainage

This feature is quite common in automatic machines.

Child lock

A self-explanatory feature, this helps in keeping the washing machine safe from children’s activities.

Hot-water wash

High-end washing machines come with the hot-wash option.

Wash-load sensor

It enables the machine to detect load volume and fabric type, and adapt the washing process. The load sensor also controls the amount of water used to match the load size.

Enhance your energy quotient

• Use cold water – almost 90 per cent of the energy consumed by washing machines goes into heating the water. Set the washing machine temperature to cold or warm and the rinse tem- perature to cold as often as possible.
• Each wash cycle uses up to 60 to 90 litres of water. Use the washing machine on full load and plan washing periodically to save on water too.
• Adding too much detergent actually hampers effective washing action and may require more
energy in the form of extra rinses.
• Wash only full loads of clothing, but do not overload the machine. Sort laundry load and schedule washes so that a complete job can be done with a few cycles of the machine carrying its full capacity, rather than a greater number of cycles with light loads.
• Soak or pre-wash clothes for effective cleaning.

Handy tips

It is always better to use high-efficiency (HE) laundry detergent, and that too in the right Front-loading machines use less water than the top-loading ones. If you use more detergent, it can cause unnecessary build-up of the same and cause servicing problems. It also increases the odours and affects performance.
Leave the front door open when the machine is not in This way you avoid the formation of moulds and mildew and keep the machine smelling fresh all the time.
These machines have a rubber coating on the doors to ensure there is no water One should wash them at regular intervals to prevent mould formation.

Comparison at a Glance: Of Fully Automatic Front-Loading Washing Machines (6 kg–8 kg capacity)

S. No	Brand	Model	Price, Rs.	Ca- pacity (kg)	Net Weight (kg)	Warranty (year) compre hensive+ Motor	Annual Energy Consump- tion (KWH)	Energy Efficiency ( star rat- ing )	Number of Wash Program	Noise level, (Washing/ Spinning) dB
1	IFB	EVA ZXS	28290	6	70	4+10	200	5	10	54/68
2	Bosch	WLJ2016WIN,	23990	6	64	2+12	200	5	15	53/73
3	IFB	Diva Aqua SX,	23090	6	59.5	4+10	200	5	8	54/68
4	Samsung	WW60R20GLSS/TL	23990	6	54	3+10	200	5	10	49/61
5	Hisense	WFVB6010MS	19990	6	54	2+3			15
6	LG	FHM1006ADW	24990	6	60	2+10		5	10	54/74
7	LG	FHT1006ZNW	27100	6	60	2+10		5	14	54/74
8	IFB	Elena SX 6510	24990	6.5	65	4+10		5	8	48
10	LG	FHM1207SDL	30750	7	62	2+10		5	10
11	Bosch	WAJ2416SIN	30990	7	71	2+12	200	5	15	48
12	IFB	Diva Aqua SX,	28990	7	72	4+10	230	5	10	56/70
13	LG	FHT1207ZNL	32250	7	60	2+10		5		54
14	Lloyd	LWMF70WX3	25990	7	66	2+10			16	78
15	Motorola	70FLAM5W	22490	7	60	1+3		5	15	60/77
16	Bosch	WAJ2426MIN,	33490	8		2+12	200	5	15	48
17	IFB	Senator WSS Stea	38060	8	75	4+10		5	14	48
18	Samsung	WW80T504DAN/TL	43990	8	65	3+12			22	48
19	Bosch	WVG30460IN	56800	8	81	2+10	200		16	54/74
20	Toshiba	TW-BJ90M4-IND	36756	8	68	2+10	265
21	Panasonic	NA-148MF1L01	38490	8	68	2+10	200	5	16	48
22	Voltas Beko	WFL80SP	37890	8		3+12				54/73

Note: Price may vary from retailer to retailer. Before buying compare the models and price at amazon.in or flipkart.com

These Are Mistakes

Today’s washing machines are bigger than ever. Even large-capacity machines have their limits. When they’re too full, water and detergent won’t reach everything; dirt gets trapped; and clothes don’t get clean. Plus, overloading causes unnecessary wear on your washer, and excess fabric wrinkling.

Guessing how much detergent to use

To get the best clean, it’s important to follow your detergent’s usage directions and measure it. Forgo measuring and you decrease cleaning performance, whether you add too little or too much. That said, it is all right to use a bit more for very dirty loads, or if you’re washing in hard water.

Sticking to the same cycles and settings

One cycle just doesn’t fit all. You probably use the ‘regular’ or ‘delicate’ cycles most often, but other settings and options are worth exploring, too. They offer extra rinses for bulky items, hotter water for better stain removal and whitening, and even slower agitation for less wrinkling.

Forgetting to flush out the dispensers

Your machine probably has at least one dispenser for fabric softener, detergent, or both, and it needs cleaning. Remove and rinse them often, and at the end of the cycle, leave the detergent drawer open so any residual water evaporates (otherwise it could stink).

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World Consumer Rights Day: Do Consumer Courts treat consumers as kings?

by admin | Mar 19, 2022 | Guest Column

World Consumer Rights Day: Do Consumer Courts treat consumers as kings?

Since 1983, March 15th has been celebrated as World Consumer Rights Day. It is the day when the US President, John F Kennedy sent the message to the US Congress in 1962 outlining the four fundamental consumer rights – the right to safety, the right to be informed, the right to choose and the right to be heard. To promote these consumer rights and to resolve consumer disputes in a timely manner, the Indian Parliament adopted the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) in 1986.

Bhamy V. Shenoy

The theme of WCRD for this year is Fair Digital Finance. The vision of Fair Digital Finance is to build a marketplace that is inclusive, safe, data protected, and sustainable for everyone. These are laudable goals. However, for us in India, more pressing problem should be the way our consumer courts are functioning. The most important goal for a common consumer is simple and basic. It is to reinvent the consumer courts to fulfil the fundamental idea of helping the common man get speedy justice without the help of a lawyer.

Redefining Consumer Courts in India

Over the years, consumer courts have become veritable civil courts. They often recommend seeking legal help. Adjournments are given on the fly and that too without imposing penalty as required. Less than 25% of cases are resolved within the mandated period of 90 days. Still, while celebrating WCRDs or National Consumer Days, their presidents talk eloquently about how easy and quick it is to get judgements.

In fact during the celebration of WCRD last year at Vidyavardhaka Law College, Mysuru District Consumer Redressal Commission (Consumer Court) B Narayanappa stated that a consumer can simply submit the complaint on a white sheet of paper. When he was questioned why the commission cannot give judgment in one sitting without any adjournment, his answer clearly showed how the consumer court has become a civil court. He responded that the process involved getting evidence, framing charges, assessing credibility of evidence, etc. These are all the steps involved in civil and criminal courts when the CPA clearly states they should settle cases without applying a complex process and it should be a summary trial.

Judges who are used to the elaborate process cannot change overnight unless they are given special training on the basic philosophy of CPA. They are all experienced judges. Still they need to learn about the history of consumer movement, and make them familiar with several consumer related laws. Above all, they should imbibe the basic principle of consumer to be treated as a king while purchasing goods and services. Moreover, at government offices, officials should treat people as their “masters and not as servants”. The colonial mentality prevailing in government offices and consumer courts needs to go.

Unfriendly Conduct of Consumer Courts

A recent example of a complainant seeking help in the Mysuru Consumer Court vividly proves how they are consumer-unfriendly and go against the spirit of the CPA. A consumer had purchased a tour package from a travel agency and the travel agency failed to comply with the contractual terms. For example, the quality of hotels were less than promised with poor quality food (the consumer had to seek medical help), sightseeing sites were cancelled at the last minute, etc. The consumer finally had to curtail the trip and return home.

When he went to the consumer court to submit the complaint, he was first asked to contact a lawyer. The complainant told the staff that he has been advised by a consumer activist that there is no need of a lawyer. He was then asked to bring five copies of the complaint and two stamped envelopes which can be sent by registered post. The next day, when the complainant went to submit the complaint, he was advised again that he should make use of free legal help so that the complaint is filed properly as per some set format. Once more when the staff was reminded of the public statement by her president that a complaint filed on plain sheet of paper will be acknowledged, the complaint was accepted.

Scope of Consumer Protection Act

It is useful to quote a recent judgment to show how India’s Supreme Court has concern and interest in assisting the consumers while our own consumer court upholds “formality” reflecting colonial mentality. Just last month, the SC imposed a fine on states which have failed to fill vacancies in consumer courts and also failed to provide needed infrastructure. While passing judgement, it observed that the “scope of the Consumer Protection Act is to redress the small aspect of daily lives of the consumers”. Unfortunately, such sentiments of SC are not shown by consumer courts. Mysuru’s (it is no different at other places also) court refused to meet the consumer activist who sought a meeting to discuss the consumer unfriendly behaviour of his staff.

Let me end by giving my own example of seeking redressal against an electrical contractor and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) in 1990. In the former case, the contractor had failed to provide the promised services and in the latter, KSRTC had failed to take me to my destination by giving a lame excuse. In both the cases, I filed the case on a plain paper just giving the deficiency in service and did not have to follow any set rules and formalities. Also, there was no adjournment though the respondent was not present in the case of KSRTC. It is rather sad that when Consumer Courts came into existence, getting redressal as implied by SC to help the common man was indeed simple, and today they have become veritable civil courts. Part of the blame has to be accepted by us, the people.

To enjoy the fruits of democracy we need to be ever vigilant. We need to get involved to put pressure by taking appropriate steps like filing PILs if needed, complaining to the ministry of consumer affairs and National redressal Commission, etc. When all else fails, we should be ready to undertake even Satyagraha. Only when we are mistreated at consumer courts, we get agitated. But we are never ready to join a movement to bring reform. Shall we on this WCRD resolve to fight for our consumer rights?

Also read

World Consumers Rights Day – 2022 “Fair Digital Finance”

All Editorials

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World Consumers Rights Day – 2022 “Fair Digital Finance”

by admin | Mar 14, 2022 | coo-desk

World Consumers Rights Day – 2022 “Fair Digital Finance”

BY ASHIM SANYAL, COO CONSUMER VOICE

World Consumer Rights Day was inspired by US President John F Kennedy, who sent a special message to the US Congress on 15th March 1962, in which he formally addressed the issue of consumer rights. The consumer movement globally now marks 15th March as World Consumer Rights Day every year, as a means of raising global awareness about consumer rights and needs. This year, the Members of Consumers International which consists of around 200 consumer groups in over 100 countries have chosen Fair Digital Finance as our global theme looking at the digital transformation of businesses and therefore consumers foray into the digital buying patterns.

Redefining digital payments

Digital technologies are reshaping payments, lending, insurance, and wealth management everywhere becoming a key enabler for consumers of financial services. There is strong evidence to suggest these risks have increased in recent years and crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic have enhanced these risks, where vulnerable consumers are more fragile due to economic hardship. Achieving fair digital finance for all requires a global, collaborative, and coordinated approach. Digital Financial Services can empower consumers, everywhere. To achieve this, digital financial services must be inclusive, safe, data protected and private, and sustainable. By 2024, digital banking consumers are expected to exceed 3.6 billion. In the developing world, the proportion of account owners sending and receiving payments digitally has grown from 57% in 2014 to 70% in 2017. Digital finance brings new opportunities – but also new risks that can lead to unfair outcomes for consumers. Digital finance can increase the likelihood that the most vulnerable are left behind.

Also Read: Consumers – Know your Rights

2022 will be a crucial moment for change with upcoming international policy moments such as the G20 and OECD review of High-level Principles on Financial Consumer Protection. Consumers International will be hosting a week-long event starting on 14 March 2022, the Fair Digital Finance Summit. The Summit will spark the first-ever global conversation around consumer-centred solutions in digital financial services by bringing together diverse voices of consumer advocates and key marketplace actors in digital financial services to accelerate change.  This global summit will showcase the work, perspectives, and ideas from consumer advocates around the world. Eight Major Consumer Rights in India So we are basically talking about the 8 major Consumer Rights in India and around the globe. (1) Right to Safety (2) Right to be Informed/Right to Representation: (3) Right to Choose (4) Right to be Heard (5) Right to Seek Redressal (6) Right to Consumer Education: (7) Right to Basic Needs: (8) Right to Healthy Environment India has already amended the Consumer Protection Act 2019 incorporating changes in the marketplace so as to safeguard the consumer’s interests. On this World Consumer Rights Day, Department of Consumer Affairs is organizing a multi stakeholder dialogue and discussion in New Delhi as the way forward for consumer protection, awareness and empowerment. We wish all consumers, a Happy Consumers Rights Day 2022.

Surface and Kitchen Cleaners

by admin | Mar 5, 2022 | kitchen-and-toiletries

Surface and Kitchen Cleaners Leave the dirt and dust to surface and kitchen cleaners!

Indians in general are very particular when it comes to cleaning their homes or keeping their kitchens clean. A lot of time and research is invested by the homemakers to think which dish wash gel or surface cleaner to use to make their homes and kitchens sparkle. Consumer VOICE experts compare various surface cleaning products from time to time to help you choose the best for your home and kitchen.

Reviews

Surface Cleaners – Checking out their cleaning and disinfecting claims – February 2019

Dishwash Liquid Gel – September 2020

Articles

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Surface Cleaners – Checking out their cleaning and disinfecting claims

by admin | Mar 5, 2022 | Surface and Kitchen cleaners

Surface Cleaners – Checking out their cleaning and disinfecting claims

We use these for cleaning hard surfaces such as floors, laminated table tops, kitchen table tops and cabinets. While removal of dirt and stain is what is expected of these products, today we have various brands claiming to contain antibacterial/disinfecting agents, otherwise known as quaternary ammonium compounds. Apparently, these improvised products not only clean the surface superficially but also reduce the bio-burden (harmful bacteria) and help to keep the environment clean due to the effect of the antibacterial agents. Without getting caught up in the technicalities, let’s just find out some important things about the brands that claim to do the job more effectively. We tested eight brands on attributes that determine their efficacy. Do these fulfil the basic requirements specified in the national standard?

A Consumer Voice Report

We tested the brands on quality and acceptability parameters. These included quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) content, cleaning properties, pH level, stability, non-volatile matter, odour and colour. Of the eight brands, six are QAC-based.

The samples were tested as per specifications in Indian Standard 14364: 1996 (reaffirmed in 2013) related to quaternary ammonium compound-based surface cleaners. We followed the standard test methods at an NABL- accredited laboratory.

Brands tested

Rank	Total Score out of 100 (rounded off)	Brand	Description	Fragrance	MRP (Rs)	Net Quantity (ml)	Price (Rs) per 100 ml	Best before (years)	Manufactured/ Marketed by
Quaternary ammonium compound-based
1	91	Lizol	Disinfectant surface cleaner	Pine	89	500	17.8	2	Reckitt Benckiser Ltd
1	91	Clean Mate	Disinfectant floor cleaner	Pine	69	500	13.8	2	Future Consumer Ltd
2	90	Vow	Disinfectant surface cleaner	Floral	89	500	17.8	2	Aditya Birla Retail Ltd
2	90	Patanjali	Disinfectant floor cleaner	Refreshing	125	1,000	12.50	Not marked	Patanjali Ayurved Ltd
3	88	Presto	Disinfectant surface cleaner	Citrus	164	975	16.82	2	Cloudtail India Pvt. Ltd
4	84	Mopz	Disinfectant surface cleaner	Lime	87	500+500 Buy 1 get 1free	17.4/ 8.70	2	Reliance Ltd
Other types of surface cleaners
	See note*	Mr Muscle	Disinfectant floor cleaner	Floral	142	1,000	14.2	2	S.C. Johnson Products Pvt. Ltd
	See note*	CIF	Disinfectant surface cleaner	Lemon	99	250	39.6	3	Hindustan Unilever Ltd

Note: Mr Muscle has non-ionic surfactant and benzalkonium chloride (0.2000%) as active ingredients. In CIF, the active ingredient is sodium salt of benzene sulphonic acid. Therefore, these two brands have not been compared with the other QAC-based brands.
Score Rating: >90: excellent*****, 71–90: very good****, 51–70: good***, 31–50: average**, up to 30: poor*

CV Recommendations

Top Performers

Lizol | Clean Mate

Value for Money

Patanjali

Key findings

• Based on the overall test findings, Lizol and Clean Mate are the top performers and are followed by
Vow and Patanjali.
• The value-for-money brand is Patanjali.
• All brands passed in tests for cleaning properties and stability.
• QAC content in all the QAC-based brands met the minimum requirement specified in the Indian
Standard.
• All QAC-based brands met all requirements specified in the standard except in the case of pH.
• Mr Muscle met the specified limit for pH.

WHAT THEY CLAIM

Brand	Claims	Uses
Lizol	Removes 100 types of stains and germ strains, kills 99.9% germs	Floor, kitchen and bathroom surfaces
Clean Mate	Kills up to 99.9% germs, effective stain cleaner, safe on hands	Kitchen and bathroom surfaces
Vow	Kills 99.9% germs, cleans tough stains	Floor, kitchen and bathroom surfaces
Patanjali	Kills germs, hypochlorite-free disinfectant	Floor, kitchen and bathroom
Presto	Kills 99.9% germs, safe on hands, removes stains	Floor, kitchen and bathroom
Mopz	Effective germ kill, long-lasting shine	Floor, kitchen and bathroom surfaces
CIF	Tough cleaning, minimum effort	Kitchen, bathroom and around the house
Mr Muscle	Kills 99.9% germs	Floor tiles, kitchen sink

TEST RESULTS

FOR PHYSICOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS
QAC Content | Cleaning Properties | Non-Volatile Matter | Stability | pH | Odour | Colour

QAC content

QAC content in surface cleaner shall be a minimum 0.40 per cent.
• All QAC-based brands had more than the minimum required amount of the compound.
• As for the other types of surface cleaners, Mr Muscle was found to have 0.16 per cent QAC. CIF did not claim to have QAC.

Disinfectant products using quaternary ammonium compounds as the active ingredient are most extensively used. The advantages of QACs are good stability and toxicology, surface activity and compatibility with cleaner formulation ingredients, and lack of odour. These properties make it well suited for consumer products that combine cleaning with disinfection.

Cleaning properties

The material, when applied either neat or diluted with water by means of a clean lint-free cloth or a cotton mop, will clean as described in the Indian Standard.
• All brands were found to clean the surface effectively.

Non-volatile matter

Determination of non-volatile matter or residue is an important qualitative test for products in which the presence of any residue may affect product quality and performance, or process efficiency. Non-volatile matter is the soluble, suspended, or particulate material remaining following evaporation of the volatile solvent that contains the material. For surface cleaners, this shall be a minimum four per cent as per Indian Standard.
• Clean Mate and Lizol scored highest among the QAC-based surface cleaners.
• Non-volatile matter in all the QAC-based brands was above the minimum requirement. As for the non-QAC brands, it was 1.51 per cent in Mr Muscle and 45.32 per cent in CIF.

Stability

his is to know if the product will remain effective during its life period.
• All brands cleared the test.

pH

pH value of surface cleaners shall be in the 5–7 range. This is considered to be neutral value since it will not adversely affect either the surface or the person who is using the cleaner.
• All brands except Mr Muscle were above the specified limit (5–7).

When chemicals are dissolved in water, the mixture’s pH level can become either acidic or alkaline. pH indicates the concentration of acidity or alkalinity in the same way temperature tells how hot or cold something is. Alkaline solutions are better at cutting through dirt, grease, proteins, oils and other organic items. Acids are better for removing calcium, rust and other minerals.
The pH scale goes from 0 to 14, 7 being considered neutral. Anything below 7 is considered acidic and anything above 7 is considered alkaline.

Odours and Colours

◆ Odour
The material shall be odourless or with a pleasant fragrance.
• All tested brands had acceptable odour and pleasant fragrance.

◆ Colour
The material shall be colourless or with a suitable colour. The product, when applied for cleaning and subsequent wiping out with wet mop, should not leave any coloration or stain on the floor or any other surface. On dilution with water as recommended, the colour shall be faint to colourless.
• All the brands were light-coloured.

PHYSICOCHEMICAL SCORES

		Quaternary ammonium compound-based						Other types of surface cleaners
Parameter ¯	Weightage (%)	Lizol	Clean Mate	Vow	Patanjali	Presto	Mopz	CIF	Mr Muscle
QAC content	40	35.52	35.52	36.56	40.00	33.68	31.92	Not claimed	0.16% (test result)
Cleaning properties	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18
Non-volatile matter	15	14.28	14.41	12.36	9.57	13.28	11.50	45.32% (test result)	1.51% (test result)
Stability	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8
pH	5	1.19	1.00	1.23	0.75	0.97	1.00	10.77 (test result)	5.89 (test result)
Odour	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3
Colour	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2

Packing and Marking

Packing should be proper because it protects the product from deterioration and increases its shelf life. The material should be packed in glass bottles or suitable plastic containers, provided with a pilfer-proof cap made of either metal or plastic. The size of the container should be 200 ml, 500 ml or 1 litre.
Each pack should feature the following details about the product:
a) Indication of the source of manufacture
b) Net content of the material
c) Name of the material
d) Month and year of manufacture, and Batch No. and Code No.
e) Direction for use
f) Cautionary label stating ‘do not mix with household soap & detergents’
g) MRP
h) Customer-care details

• All the brands were packed in plastic bottles.
• Patanjali did not feature both cautionary label and the ‘best before’ date.

In order for surfaces to be effectively disinfected, the instructions on product labels need to be followed carefully.

QAC-based surface cleaners versus phenolic compound-based floor cleaners

	QAC-based surface cleaners	Phenolic compound-based floor cleaners
Active ingredient	Cetylpyridinium chloride, cetalkonium chloride, benzalkonium chloride, or any proven quaternary ammonium compound, suitable for the purpose	Emulsions consisting of coal-tar acids or similar acids derived from petroleum with or without hydrocarbons, or other phenol compounds including substituted phenolic compounds or a mixture of these
Uses	Floor, kitchen and bathroom surfaces	Floor/bathroom
Environment effect	None or very less	Yes, high
Odour	Acceptable	Not acceptable
Price	Rs 120–Rs 170 per litre	Rs 40–Rs 60 per litre
Germicidal effect	High	High
Hygiene	High	Low
Cleaning and disinfectant	Both	Both
Stability	High	Low

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