Utensil Bars

For Physicochemical Parameter

Active Matter

Active matter means cleansing agents/compounds and is the key ingredient of utensil bars. The minimum requirement of these in the bar is 8.0 per cent.

All the brands cleaned more than the minimum number of plates (5).

Vim, Odopic, Reliance Scrubz, Patanjali and Pitambari each cleaned the maximum number of plates (10).

Cleaning Efficiency (Per 5 Gram)

This was to test the efficiency of the bar to clean the utensil with a fixed amount of utensil bar. A fixed quantity of bar (five grams) was taken for each brand to check the cleaning efficiency. The test evaluated the efficiency of the product in removing grease and oil.

All the brands cleaned more than the minimum number of plates (5).

Vim, Odopic, Reliance Scrubz, Patanjali and Pitambari each cleaned the maximum number of plates (10).

Surface Damage

Surface Damage (scratches) (limit: a maximum of two scratches): Stainless steel plates were soiled by applying two grams of oil and then cleaned using the bars being tested. Scratches on plates were examined by visual inspection. As per the national standard, a maximum of two scratches are acceptable.

All the brands were observed to have two to three scratches and were given equal scores.

Mushiness

Mushiness is the property of a bar to absorb water and also get dissolved in it. The amount of mushy part was measured and reported.

Nip was found to have highest mushiness – it also showed the highest weight of soggy part. Vim showed the lowest mushiness.

Foam/Lather (requirement: minimum 70 ml)

Foam/Lather generated is the amount of foam generated after dissolving a fixed quantity of powered utensil bar in a specified quantity of water. This test indicates the foaming efficiency of the product.

Xpert (130.3 ml) generated the highest amount of foam, followed by Nip (112 ml) and Reliance Scrubz (110 ml).

Six brands – Exo, Pitambari, Pril, 555, Odopic and Patanjali – did not meet the requirement for minimum lather.

Matter Insoluble in Alcohol

Matter Insoluble in Alcohol (requirement: maximum 80 per cent):

Moisture and Volatile Matter Content 105°C

Moisture is the amount of water present in the bar. The requirement according to national standards is a maximum 10 per cent of weight.

All the brands were found well below the maximum limit of 10 per cent.

Tough Soil Cleaning (requirement: minimum 20 per c

Tough Soil Cleaning (requirement: minimum 20 per cent): To evaluate the tough-soil cleaning efficiency test, a soiling mixture consisting of wheat flour (16.5 per cent), besan flour (16.5 per cent), rice flour (17 per cent) and vegetable oil (50 per cent) was prepared and spread evenly on a stainless steel plate using a brush. The soiled plate was put on a hot plate with temperature maintained at 325 degrees C for about two minutes, and was subsequently cooled at room temperature. The plate was then cleaned thoroughly with the utensil bars being tested.

All the brands were able to clean the tough soil adequately, thus meeting the IS requirement.

Retention (on a 250-micron sieve)

To check solubility, the bar’s retention on a 250 microns sieve was tested. The composition of the utensil bar should be such that all its ingredients are soluble in water. The maximum limit of retention is 0.1 per cent.

Most of the brands were found well below the maximum limit (0.1 per cent). The exceptions were Patanjali and Odopic – this means that non-soluble matter was used in the preparation of these utensil bars.

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