UTILIZATION OF LIME (Citrus aurantifolia (CHRISTM.)SWINGLE) SOLUTION FOR CLEANING FLOOR TILES BY HOUSEHOLDS IN IKWUANO LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF ABIA STATE

Abstract

This paper examined the ways households in Abia State utilize lime solution in cleaning tiles, the advantages and the challenges of using lime solution in cleaning tiles. Using survey methodology, the study adopted multistage sampling technique. The study used a 16-item questionnaire to gather information from 135 respondents drawn from two major clans in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia state. Findings indicated that lime solution is not only effective in cleaning tiles but also other household equipment, thereby making it a multipurpose cleanser. Again, lime solution is homemade and inexpensive, but more importantly, the study found that lime solution is environmentally safe as it contains non-toxic chemicals and also leaves tiles feeling refreshed and scented. The challenges however demonstrated that the preparation of lime solution is time consuming (81%) and it could be problematic to those who are allergic to citrus fruits (50%). The paper therefore concluded that in view of the efforts by governments, manufacturers, and relevant stakeholders to rid the environment of biochemical waste, lime solution is a viable alternative for cleaning tiles as it contains essential oil which makes it a potential cleaning composition for tiles, and further presents a better option for households who are in need of an efficient multipurpose cleaning agent. Hence, further investigation on ways to improve the solution such that it can be used on other floor types is recommended