OBLATES OF ST.

JOSEPH SCHOOL
Don Antonio De Zuzuarregui, Sr. Memorial Academy, Incorporated.
St. Anthony, Brgy Inarawan, Antipolo City, Rizal 1870
CATHOLIC SCHOOL
[Link].: 8452-3166

Evaluating the effectiveness of Homemade cleaning solutions on cleaning off dirt on table
surfaces

Presented by:

Aguirre, Justine Rueben J.

Canelas, Renzo Miguel

Galicia, Maria Isabel C.

Kalaw, Exequiel Jasper B.

Tanaliga, Julia Marie L.

Mrs. Cris Bettinah N. De Guzman

August 15, 2025
Introduction

Cleaning maintains the decency of our homes, workplaces, and other areas, creating a
pleasant and a beautiful sense of relief among people. We often used known brands of cleaning
appliances to clear debris, dust, dirt, and other impurities from our homes, especially table
surfaces. “The growing concern over the environmental and health impacts of chemical-based
cleaning products has encouraged households to seek safer alternatives. Commercial cleaners,
while effective, often contain harmful chemicals that may cause skin irritation, respiratory issues,
or eyesight issues” (Maitreyi Kathari et al., 2022). However, people have improvised a more
cost-effective, eco-friendly solution for cleaning dirt on table surfaces. These homemade
cleaning solutions are budget-friendly and have many variations according to their compositions.
This has led to increasing interest in natural and homemade cleaning solutions as potentially
safer, eco-friendly, and cost-effective options.

Background of the Study

In recent years, there has been an increase in people using cheap and cost-effective
cleaning solutions rather than buying commercial cleaning products. ‘Cleaning supplies are
essential for a clean & healthy living environment. However, with numerous options available on
the market, it is challenging to decide between store-bought and homemade products.’ (Knutson,
2023). “Eco-friendly” certified cleaning products are increasingly attracting the interest of
consumers, manufacturers, and distributors.
Tables, a place where common occurrences like dining, studying, and cooking take place,
are easily exposed to contaminants such as stains, dirt, food particles. The main issue is about
what is the most effective homemade solution for cleaning table surfaces. Table Salt, Baking
Soda, Lemon, and Vinegar are the most common household products people combine to create a
solution that eliminates dirt on table surfaces (Mcgee, 2019). “It is essential to understand the
key ingredients used in homemade cleaning solutions. These ingredients are often readily
available in your home and are known for their natural cleaning properties.” (Hayes, 2024)
This study aims to explore the effectiveness of homemade cleaning solutions in cleaning
off dirt on table surfaces by testing them out to determine their differences with the objective of
finding the most effective of the chosen common household products. This can bridge the gap for
the lack of understanding about their effectiveness when applied to table surfaces.
Table salt is essential for cooking, but it can also have other uses. “Salt is a mild
abrasive. The crystalline structure provides a gentle scouring action, helping to dislodge dirt,
grime, and stains from various surfaces.” (Robinson, 2025). Salt also has antiseptic and
antibacterial properties and is a natural absorbent for spilled liquids like oil and grease. Vinegar
is also useful and popular as an alternative for cleaning off germs on table surfaces. “Vinegar-
based solutions work well on glass and ceramic surfaces, removing about 80% of bacteria.”
(Staff, 2025c). Lemons are a natural and eco-friendly alternative to harsh cleansers. Plus, lemons
will leave a refreshing and citrusy aroma. You can squeeze lemon juice directly onto the
countertop and then wipe it clean. Because the citric acid is quite potent, you do not want the
juice to sit for too long. (David, 2021). Baking Soda is one of the most well-known household
products as a multi-purpose cleaner. “Sodium bicarbonate is a common ingredient in cleaning,
detergent, and degreasing products. In cleaning products, sodium bicarbonate can react with
vinegar to create a solution that helps unclog drains or remove grime in ovens. Its slight
abrasiveness is extremely efficient for eliminating burnt residues or grease.” (Sodium
Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) - Chemical Safety Facts, 2022)
With the information gathered, Homemade cleaning solutions are widely accepted as a
safe way on maintaining the cleanliness of the environment as it guarantees that stains and
mineral deposits tightly compacted in the utensils will loosen by the acidity of citrus or ethanoic
acids like vinegar compared to Traditional cleaning or harmful chemicals at cleaning solutions
(via... bleach, ammonia, volatile organic compounds etc...)
Homemade solutions also provide cost-effective alternatives that will lessen the burden
of high expenditures on modern cleaning solutions that could potentially be harmful if inhaled
and have chemical properties. It also includes promotion of locally made solutions instead of
reliance on named companies for a healthy environment
Statement of the Problem
The purpose of this experimental study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Home-based
cleaning solutions in cleaning table surfaces. This research aims to answer the following
questions:
1. What Home-based solution is used based on its composition?
2. How much of this solution was used to clean off dirt on the table surface?
3. How much dirt was left on the table surface after using the Home-based cleaning solution on
it?
Scopes and Limitations

The general scope of this study is to evaluate and explore the common products you can
use, when these homemade solutions can become handy as an alternative to commercial
products, why choosing homemade cleaning products is more cost-effective, and how much is
required to clean table surfaces. The focus is on determining what product that can be found in
our homes is the most effective to create a solution that gets rid of dirt.

This experimental research mainly assesses and determines the various homemade
cleaning products to identify their cleanliness performance and how much amount is appropriate
for use to avoid any negative factors that can affect both the table surface and the people who use
these homemade cleaning solutions.
 This study is based primarily on sufficient information, references, and data collection.

This study has several limitations. The study will not discuss potential side effects or
information unrelated to evaluating the cleaning effectiveness of the selected products. Since the
research is still in its early stages, it is focused on developing an understanding of how
homemade solutions can serve as improvised alternatives to commercial cleaning products. The
study will not examine antimicrobial effectiveness, shelf life, or multi-purpose functionality.
These limitations help narrow the scope of the research, allowing for a more focused assessment
of whether the selected solutions are more effective at cleaning off dirt on table surfaces.

Significance of the Study

This study seeks to provide information about the alternatives for using cleaning products
that can be created using common household essentials in our homes. The significance of the
study may benefit the following:

PARENTS
Parents are the ones who clean our home daily. With the improvisation of these over-the-
counter homemade products to use as a cleaning agent, this can give a wider knowledge about
how parents can use these cleaning solutions that are meant to be used properly.

CHILDREN
The significance of this study to children is that kids are very curious and quite playful,
and the contents of commercial products may impose a health risk among them. Therefore, the
usage of these alternative homemade products is much safer and less hazardous, which can help
to protect the well-being of children.

HOME-BASED FOOD BUSINESSES

Small business owners like eateries always have to deal with stains and other
contaminants on their countertops, at their service counter, where people eat and leave behind
leftovers or mess. This can help home-based food business owners lower their operational costs
for cleaning procedures using homemade cleaning solutions.

HOME-BASED WORKERS
The significance of the study to home-based workers is that they no longer have to
commute to buy cleaning agents from stores, and also buy from nearby stalls for commercial
products for cleaning. With the increase in prices, they can create these solutions at their homes.
It is more cost-effective and helps with everyday cleaning if you work at home full-time.
THE RESEARCHERS
The researchers are novices and new to this type of research, and this will greatly help
them expand their understanding of the application of homemade cleaning products, specifically
those used for cleaning table surfaces.
Definition of Terms

Homemade Cleaning Solutions – Cleaning mixtures prepared using ingredients commonly

found in households, such as vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, or dish soap. In this study, these
serve as budget-friendly improvised alternatives to commercial cleaning products. They are
tested for how well they remove dirt from table surfaces.

Table Surface – The flat, upper part of a table where cleaning is performed. In this study, it
serves as the testing area to evaluate the cleaning performance of the homemade cleaning
solutions.

Commercial Cleaners – Store-bought cleaning products, often made with chemicals to remove
dirt, stains, and bacteria. In this study, they will serve as the standard for comparing our
homemade cleaning solutions.

Dirt – Any unwanted particle, such as dust, food residue, or mud, that accumulates on a surface
and makes it dirty. In this study, it refers to what will be cleaned from the table surface during
the testing of the homemade cleaning solutions.

Evaluation – The process of assessing and measuring the cleaning performance of the selected
solutions. In this study, it will be evaluated by observing how clean the table appears to be after
using the homemade cleaning solutions.

Effectiveness – How well the cleaning solution did its job, specifically on how much dirt it is
able to remove and how clean it leaves the table surface. This will be based on the results
observed during the evaluation.
References

Knutson, S. (2023, October 30). Commercial vs Homemade: Which Cleaning

Supplies Are Worth the Investment. Lifeguard LI.
[Link]
worth-the-investment
Beard, T., & Beard, T. (2023, December 4). Homemade cleaning solutions for every
surface [Link]://[Link]/homemade-cleaning-solutions-
for-every-surface/
Hayes, E. (2024, October 28). Homemade Cleaning Solutions: Effective And Non-
Toxic Options – . Storables. [Link]
solutions-effective-and-non-toxic-options/
Robinson, K. (2025, April 17). Can table salt really be used for cleaning? The
surprising Truth – My Kitchen Gallery. [Link]
used-for-cleaning/
David, L. (2021, April 1). 10 ways you can use lemons as a natural cleanser in the
kitchen. Allrecipes.
[Link]
%20to%20wipe,area%2C%20just%20to%20be%20certain.