What's in my Quick n Brite? Quick n Brite Ingredients

In 2009, Seattle Times writer Erik Lacitis wrote a piece on Quick n Brite salespeople and the trade of being a "pitch man." (You can see the article here). In his article he called on professor Jeff Harwell, of the University of Oklahoma's School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering, and an expert on cleaning formulations, to dissect the list of ingredients on our Quick 'n Brite container and explain what they actually do. Mr. Harwell did a fantastic job of thoroughly explaining the ingredients in terms everyone can understand! Harwell says, "It's a good formulation, a state of the art formulation," and states the ingredients have been around for a long time. Quick n Brite is non-toxic, biodegradable and contains no know carcinogens or harmful chemicals. Here is Mr. Harwell's explanation:

Biodegradable nonionic nonyl-phenoxy-polyethoxy-ethanol: "Common chemical called surfactant. Used in everything from toothpaste to dish-washing liquid. This particular surfactant has been around for 50 years and is generally considered to be both harmless and biodegradable. There has been some controversy in Europe about some of its biodegradation by-products having estrogen-mimicking properties, but research has not generally borne out those concerns. Surfactants help the cleaning solution wet oily surfaces, reduce the amount of force that you have to apply to detach the dirt from the surface being cleaned, and help keep the dirt suspended until it can be rinsed away. Surfactants are the main active ingredient in most cleaners, whether you're talking about laundry detergent, toothpaste, shampoo, and hand soap."

Sodium EDTA: "We call this a sequestering agent. It is a water-soluble salt that makes hard water act like soft water by complexing with the water hardness ions. It's kind of like having a built-in water softener in the product. Very safe material that is found in products like cosmetics and soft drinks and is used in foods as a preservative. This makes the surfactants work better."

Sodium tripolyphosphate: "Same function as the sodium EDTA, but having both is generally synergistic. Again a very safe compound used with products like seafood to prevent them from drying during storage and shipping. But again, the main purpose is to make the surfactants work better."

Water: "No comment necessary, I assume."

Pure natural coconut oil surfactant: "Probably a surfactant like sodium lauryl sulfate, which is made from coconut alcohol. Very common in toothpaste, laxatives, pharmaceutical formulations, cosmetics, hand and body soaps, etc. This is one of the oldest surfactants known and is accepted as generally safe. Many studies of the toxicity have shown no ill effects. This type of surfactant is also a salt and is classified as an anionic surfactant. The first surfactant listed, the nonionic nonyl-phenoxy-polyethoxy-ethanol, is classified as a nonionic surfactant. We generally find that mixtures of anionic and nonionic surfactants, such as you have here, give better cleaning results. They also allow the same cleaning system to work in over a wider range of cleaning temperatures, from cold water to hot water."

Natural kelp alginate: "A natural biopolymer that is used just as a thickener. If you've ever had a milkshake from a fast-food restaurant you've probably had some of this. It also helps keep small particles from being redeposited on a surface. It would be classified as an anti-redeposition agent. Bottom line is that it keeps the surface from becoming recontaminated from the wash solution!"

Dye: "Primarily just for aesthetic purposes, but actually helpful in giving you visual clues about how much dilution has occurred and whether there is any of the cleaning compound left on a surface after rinsing. Provides a good visual clue for when you're done rinsing."

We love being able to offer a cleaning product to families that we know is safe and works well. Quick n Brite has been family owned and operated since 1952 with the same non-toxic and biodegradable ingredients. Quick n Brite has also been backed with a 100% money back guarantee for over 60 years! 

How to Clean a Retainer | Cleaning Tips to Prevent Bad Breath

Yes, you read that right, you can use Quick n Brite to clean your retainer! The formula is non-toxic and safe, and does a great job of removing tea and coffee stains or white deposits from retainers.

 Retainers are a word that instantly makes teens cringe and parents check their pocket books. However, for many people braces are a necessity and wearing a retainer afterwards is just a way of life. Retainers take on a lot of accidental abuse; everyone has fished at least one retainer out of the garbage can, and in worst case scenarios, even out of the toilet. If your retainer finds itself in a germy situation, disinfecting and cleaning your retainer is a must to keep a healthy, happy mouth. Your retainer should also be thoroughly cleaned weekly to prevent bad breath, gum disease and other negative side effects.

Regular Maintenance 

Your retainer can be cleaned with a soft bristled toothbrush and toothpaste and should ideally be cleaned every time you brush your teeth. Just put a dab of toothpaste on your retainer and use your toothbrush to scrub the retainer, then rinse with warm water. 

Deep Cleaning & Disinfecting

Even with regular maintenance your retainer is constantly exposed to food particles, germs in your saliva and other airborne particulates that enter your mouth. Overtime, many retainers are stained from coffee, or get white deposits that are hard to get off. To prevent these things from building up and staining it is a good idea to deep clean your retainer when you start to notice even a build-up or "bad" taste. It is never a good idea to boil your retainer in water, although that will kill bacteria, it can also melt the plastic and cause your retainer to fit incorrectly. It is also not a good idea to soak your retainer in mouthwash, as the alcohol in mouthwashes can cause the retainer to crack or break, the same goes for using denture cleaner on a retainer, it is much too harsh for the brittle plastic. Instead, use Quick n Brite to deep clean your retainer, the formula is non-toxic and contains no harmful chemicals, yet will remove tea and coffee stains and other build-up from your retainers without having to worry about harming them or ingesting chemicals.

Start by mixing 1 teaspoon of Quick n Brite liquid to 1 cup of hot water. Let the retainer soak in the solution for 15 minutes, then use a toothbrush to quickly scrub the retainer. Rinse thoroughly with hot water and your retainer will be clean and rid of germs. This quick step can help prolong the life of your retainer and prevent any germ build-up which can cause illnesses. 

Cyber Monday Specials

www.quicknbrite.com   |   p: 425-778-8285   |   p: 800-223-9187    Take Advantage our Cyber Monday Sales!     Cyber Monday Special TODAY ONLY: Receive Free Shipping on ALL orders placed before midnight (CT)! SHOP NOW Use Coupon Code: MONDAY at check-out To place an order over the phone please call: 425-778-8285 and mention the Cyber Monday Special. Office hours are from 8 am- 4 pm PST, if after office hours order must be placed online to receive the discount.    Cyber Monday Special TODAY ONLY: Receive a FREE 12 oz paste with any order over $50.00 placed before midnight!  SHOP NOW  Use Coupon Code: CYBER at check-out (Discount will appear as $0.01 savings) To place an order over the phone please call: 425-778-8285 and mention the Cyber Monday Special. Office hours are from 8 am- 4 pm PST, if after office hours order must be placed online to receive the discount.  Check out our Quick n Brite Blog for Easy Cleaning Tips and Directions   How to Clean Your Oven the Natural Way Without Harsh Chemicals Even if you have a self cleaning oven, the self cleaning cycle can take hours and fill your home with a thick cloud of black, smelly smoke, not to mention the energy the cleaning cycle consumes. Whether you have a quick "spill-over" to clean up, or months of baked on food Quick n Brite can tackle any size job without using chemicals. READ MORE   How to Clean Fireplace Soot from Stone, Brick and Glass We received this great customer video showing how to clean your fireplace screen that has soot and creosote build up using Quick n Brite READ MORE     How to Clean a Fish Tank using Quick n Brite Cleaning a fish tank is an easy process if you have the right products and you know what to do. If you maintain your fish tank cleaning on a regular basis the process is much easier and is less upsetting to the fishes habitat; but if you need to do a deep clean or are starting fresh with a new fish tank Quick n Brite makes cleaning your fish tank much easier! READ MORE

How to Clean Your Oven the Natural Way Without Harsh Chemicals

With Thanksgiving and the holidays right around the corner, many of us are finding ourselves on a cleaning spree around the house to get ready for family, friends and entertaining this holiday season. I was recently helping a friend get her home ready for the holidays and after the kitchen was spotless, I reminded her that her 15 pound turkey she bought had to be cooked somewhere! Upon opening her oven, it appeared that one too many casseroles and cherry pies had overflowed onto the bottom of her oven with no regards to ever wiping them up. Needless to say, it was a perfect job for Quick n Brite and with that, I decided to share how easy cleaning your ovens without any harmful chemical sprays can be.  

Original Photo Source

Even if you have a self cleaning oven, the self cleaning cycle can take hours and fill your home with a thick cloud of black, smelly smoke, not to mention the energy the cleaning cycle consumes. Whether you have a quick "spill-over" to clean up, or months of baked on food Quick n Brite can tackle any size job without using chemicals. 

Original Photo Source

First, apply Quick n Brite full strength using a wet scrub sponge or brush. Much like cleaning your fireplace (see directions here), it is easiest if you split the oven into sections and clean small areas at a time. You do not have to scrub, here is the trick: After the Quick n Brite is applied onto your oven, shut the door and turn your oven on low for 10-15 minutes. Turn off the oven and allow time for it to cool, then using a damp terry cloth towel simply wipe out the remaining residue in your oven. You will not need any elbow grease or masks for the noxious fumes! With Quick n Brite, cleaning your oven is an easy and approachable job! 

Wishing you and your family a Happy Holiday Season, feel free to like us on Facebook for cleaning tips so you can spend more time with your family this winter, and less time cleaning the house!