Why Dawn and Water Works Cleaning Lead-Safe

I’m often asked the question… When cleaning Lead-Safe, what would I use? 

Passing dust wipe lab tests have continually shown that cleaning Lead-Safe with Dawn and Water in a spray bottle with paper towels cleans Lead-Safe.

And never forget when you're cleaning Lead-Safe… you’re cleaning up lead… It’s an invisible neurotoxin. 

ALWAYS WEAR GLOVES!!! ALWAYS!!!... And when you're done cleaning Lead-Safe? Wash your hands with Dawn and water.

Now… Why do Dawn and water work so well? Let’s ask Tom Neltner as to what the soap is and what it is doing. 

Tom Neltner is a chemical engineer and attorney dedicated to chemical safety issues. He is using his quarter-century of experience in government, industry, academia, and non-profit advocacy to protect kids from harmful exposure to lead.

Tom Neltner: 

Dawn is an ionic surfactant, so it’s going to much better at remove… taking care of greases, than a regular detergent.

Anthony:

So it’s an ionic surfactant attacking the dirt and the grease. So, what’s an ionic surfactant? 

Here’s some science for you. 

An ionic surfactant is a surface-active agent that carries a net electrical charge on its water-loving (hydrophilic) "head." When these molecules are dissolved in water, they dissociate into ions.

Surfactants are unique because they have a dual nature: a hydrophobic (water-fearing) tail that avoids water and a hydrophilic (water-loving) head that seeks it. In ionic surfactants, the head group is electronically charged, which dictates how the surfactant interacts with surfaces, dirt, and other chemicals.

Tom Neltner: It sounds like you’re going after the… it helps you on the accumulated greases that you may encounter. 

Anthony:

Exactly. You can see in this graphic how an ionic surfactant works. 

• Water alone can’t easily lift non-polar grime.

• When the Ionic Surfactant meets dirt and grease, the tails attach to the grease, and the heads stick to water.

• The surfactants surrounding the grease and dirt create a shell and lift it.

• The grease is fully encapsulated in a Micelle, making the entire exterior water-soluble. 

• Micelles, now water-friendly, are rinsed away, leaving a clean surface.

What does all this mean? Dawn and water takes dirt and grease out of your way, and in the process of attacking and removing the dirt and grease, you’re also picking up the invisible lead dust.

How much Dawn in water am I using in a large spray bottle that carries 30 ounces of water? 

I usually say a good few squirts, and you’ll be all set.

However, how much is a few good squirts?

1,2,3…

That’s a full 2 ounces!

2 ounces of Dawn go into 30 ounces in that spray bottle.

Remember, always wear gloves when cleaning Lead-Safe. 

Paper towels, a mixture of Dawn and water, and a quality spray bottle. Time and time again, lab tests have proven… keeping it simple cleans Lead-Safe.

By the way, I’m not sponsored by Dawn. I just know after lab tests, this really works well cleaning Lead-Safe.