To achieve the same result without putting cleaning products in the water, you would have to:
- increase the mechanical action (more abrasive pad, greater pressure), which would increase surface wear and possibly damage or destroy surface structures,
- use hotter water, which would increase the amount of energy used
- or increase the time taken, which would lower productivity and raise costs.
Conclusion: Sustainable cleaning therefore requires a minimum amount of chemicals to achieve the vitally important optimum sustainability balance.
