Effectiveness of Common Surface Cleaning Products to Remove Peanut Residue

Overview

The purpose of this project was to determine what cleaning product would most effectively remove peanut residue, and to determine if different surface materials have an effect on retaining peanut residue. This was a relevant topic because there are many people with peanut allergies. This project is beneficial for schools, restaurants, day care centers, and homes that have children with peanut allergies to know what product to use when cleaning an area that has peanut oil or residue, to prevent allergic reactions. Seven different cleaning products were used; Clorox Wipes®, Baby Wipes®, Clorox Spray®, water, a dry paper towel, dish soap, and a vinegar and water mix. The hypothesis was that Clorox Wipes® would leave behind the least amount of peanut residue because that product is designed specifically to clean surfaces, and that Formica would be the most effective surface among textured hardwood, smooth hardwood, vinyl, and Formica® because it was believed to be the smoothest of the four surfaces. To test this, the Hygiena company provided 50 ProClean™ swabs and test kits to measure in micrograms peanut residue remaining after cleaning a teaspoon of peanut butter off the test surfaces with the cleaning product. One trial for each cleaning product was used on each surface. There were fewer than 20 micrograms of peanut residue remaining on the surfaces when Clorox Wipes® were used. Other products left more than this amount. Clorox Wipes® were the most effective cleaning product. Moreover, there was also no peanut residue remaining on any of the smooth hardwood surfaces.

Competition history

• AJAS 2019 Category not listed

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