hey guys. i recently posted asking what everyone thought of, or if they had used Kleen Em Away Naturally, a preformed enzyme cleaner in their beardies enclosure. Well nobody had really much to say about, in fact nobody really knew what it is. So i took the liberty to go out and research it a bit more extensively, and this is something that i found... what do you think? i read about it in the new Annual Reptiles Magazine, and it was recommened by the author of the Iguana Care article. He said this is all he uses to clean his Iggy's enclosures. No bleach, nothing else. Let me know your take on it...
UNDERSTANDING KLEEN 'EM AWAY NATURALLY PREFORMED ENZYMES
by Steven L. Tvedten
To understand how any cleaning product works, we must first understand what dirt is comprised of.
Dirt is actually layers of fine films made up of greases, oils, fats, bacteria, germs, dust mites, nonorganic material and organic micro-organisms. These films are bonded to each other and to the surface by amino and fatty acids.
Most cleaners emulsify some of these films but do not break down amino and fatty acids. Usually the top layers of the films are removed but some of the base layers are left to collect bacteria and, in turn, resoil much faster.
Enzymes attack or digest the amino and fatty acids that bond the films of dirt together and emulsifies them so they can be transferred completely off the surface, WHICH DETERGENT CANNOT DO.
In other words enzymes are catalysts that accelerate the natural biodegrading or breaking down of organic substrate which, as we said, comprises most soils.
Enzymes are derived from living organisms and are harmless to humans, animals and marine life, or most of our ecology. They perform their catalytic function on contact. Our enzymes are non-toxic, non- irritating, non-gaseous, non-flammable, non-pathogenic and completely safe to use.
To put it another way, enzymes are manufactured proteins that already exist in organisms such as plants, animals and bacteria and are used to digest waste.
When added to organic material, such as dirt, grease and oil, they immediately go to work breaking down the organic material. It's this natural "Dust to Dust" process that constantly occurs in our environment and keeps waste material from over running us.
There are thousands of different enzymes, each having specific, individual characteristics. For example, a protease enzyme that causes proteins to break down will not react on fats and/or oils. Therefore, an effective enzymatic cleaning system must contain enough different kinds, classes and types of enzymes to assure proper catalytic reaction, which in concentrated form greatly speeds up the natural "Dust to Dust" process.
There are FOUR BASIC ENZYMATIC SYSTEMS at work in Kleen 'em Away Naturally:
THOSE THAT BREAK DOWN FATS AND GREASES (LIPASE).
THOSE THAT BREAK DOWN PROTEINS (PROTEASE).
THOSE THAT BREAK DOWN CELLULOSE, SUCH AS WOOD, COTTON, PAPER (CELLULASE).
THOSE THAT BREAK DOWN CARBOHYDRATES AND STARCHES (AMYLASE).
These four types must be incorporated into any good, complete and efficient Kleen 'em Away Naturally.
There are two types of enzyme products: One is PRE-FORMED ENZYMES which already contain enzymes and emulsifiers. The other is ENZYME-PRODUCING BACTERIA which add strains of bacteria that will eventually produce enzymes when added to organic material.
Pre-formed Enzymes work best in health care and food handling areas where pure enzymes should be used, rather than bacteria-generated enzymes.
Enzymes actually OUT PERFORM GERMICIDAL CLEANERS because they digest the host material where germs and odor causing bacteria live and reproduce, thus eliminating the source and the bacteria. GERMICIDAL CLEANERS KILL BACTERIA BUT because they don't eliminate the host material, NEW BACTERIA CAN REPRODUCE VERY SOON after the germicidal cleaner has been applied.
Enzymes are effective in cleaning and deodorizing bathrooms, kitchens, floors, walls, furniture, carpet just about any type of surface.
General Cleaning: for counter tops, furniture, hard floors, spot cleaning for walls and tile, cleaning bathrooms: 2 ounces of Kleen 'em Away Naturally to 1 gallon of water, 2 ounces to 15-ounce sprayer (heavy degreaser) for spotting.
Odor Control: Preformed enzymes are an extremely effective deodorizers. Note: There is no artificial scent. Strong urine odors might also require 1/2 cup borax per gallon of water. Use 2 ounces of Kleen 'em Away Naturally to 1 gallon of water. Pour into trigger sprayer and mist into air. Use 2 - 4 ounces of Kleen 'em Away Naturally in a humidifier in areas of high odor.
Carpet Cleaning: Helps control dust mite allergens. A. BONNET CLEANING: Use 2 ounces per gallon of water. B. SHAMPOO AND WATER EXTRACTION: Use 2 ounces per gallon for light to medium soil. Use 3 ounces per gallon for heavy soil. Pre-spray all traffic areas.
Drain and Septic Cleaner: Routinely add 2 ounces of Kleen 'em Away Naturally concentrate per drain to keep them open and flowing. To help digest septic tanks, grease pits and drain fields and keep them open and working, add 5 - 25 gallons of Kleen 'em Away Naturally to start the process and then add 1 gallon every 6 months.
Water treated with preformed enzymes is harmless to fish life or animals and pets. It is non-irritant to the most sensitive skin tissue and, if accidentally taken internally, would produce only a mild laxative effect comparable to bland soaps.
Usually preformed enzymes contain no known allergens contributory to skin, respiration or other allergies and normally may be used in poorly ventilated areas. The product contains no combustible materials, is non-explosive, and may be used near open flame. Preformed enzymes have an indefinite shelf life and will not evaporate, deteriorate or otherwise loose effectiveness when stored in a closed container.
Safe Pest Control with Preformed Kleen 'em Away Naturally
Preformed Kleen 'em Away Naturally are also extremely useful in safely controlling fungus, mold, mildew and insects. Simply spray a mix of 4 oz. per quart and control any insect, fungus, mold and/or mildew problems you have. While preformed Kleen 'em Away Naturally are not EPA registered poisons, these non-toxic cleaners (to humans and pets) work better, quicker and safer than dangerous, synthetic pesticide poisons.
You can pour preformed Kleen 'em Away Naturally concentrate into a hose-end sprayer and spray your yard to safely control earwigs, crickets, mosquitoes, grubs, ants and other pest problems.
If you spray all visible pests, cracks and crevices and other hiding places with 4 oz. of enzymes per quart of water you will control all roaches, ants, spiders, crickets and silverfish in your home.
Spray yellow jacket, hornet and wasp nests at night with 4 oz. of enzyme and 1 oz. of liquid soap per quart of water to safely control these pests - if nests are in the ground - soak them with 3-5 gallons of water with 4 oz. per gallon of enzyme.
Mold, mildew and fungus can also be sprayed (and brushed if necessary) with 4 oz. of Kleen 'em Away Naturally per quart of water to control these problems without using dangerous fungicides.
Garden pests can be safely controlled with 2 oz. of preformed Kleen 'em Away Naturally per quart.
Ant nests in the ground can be soaked with 3-4 oz. of Kleen 'em Away Naturally per gallon (you may need to use 3-4 gallons of water on large nests) put a hole in the nest to receive the mix.
Mosquitoes can also be controlled after dusk by misting your area with 5 oz. of enzyme and 2 oz. of liquid soap per gallon - an average yard needs about 1 gallon - larger yards require more.
Flies can be controlled by rinsing garbage cans and dumpsters with water when empty and then spraying them with 4 oz. of enzyme with or without 3 oz. of 20-Mule Team Borax per quart of water.
Keep a quart sprayer with 4 oz. of preformed enzymes handy to spray flies, odors, ants, stains, mold, mildew, stinging insects, roaches and fungus.
NOTE: Preformed Kleen 'em Away Naturally are field tested, but not EPA approved or registered as pesticides. While we (and many others) have field tested several preformed Kleen 'em Away Naturally (including Kleen 'em Away Naturally) for use as a non-toxic pest control product and found they all perform better, safer and quicker than dangerous, volatile, synthetic pesticide poisons, we must also point out none of them are EPA registered or approved as pesticides. They are only approved as cleaners that "inadvertently" also destroy/digest fungus, mold, mildew and insects.
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