Eco-Friendly Floor Wax: Natural Alternatives

Introduction to Alternative Floor Wax

• Commercial floor waxes maintain shine and durability, enhancing aesthetics
• Traditional waxes contain VOCs, potentially harming health and the environment
• Petroleum-based waxes lead to negative environmental impacts, including fossil fuel depletion
• Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) from chemicals in waxes can cause allergies, asthma, and respiratory issues
• Improper disposal of wax containers contributes to environmental degradation due to non-biodegradability
• Natural alternatives, like banana (Musa acuminata) and orange (Citrus sinensis) peels, offer a solution
• These peels contain organic compounds with natural polishing and protective properties
• Banana and citrus peels contain natural waxes, oils, and antioxidants that can be used in floor wax

Research Aim

• To explore the potential of natural peels for eco-friendly floor wax
• To evaluate durability, longevity, shine, and ease of application compared to traditional waxes

Related Research

• Natural solutions offer safer, more sustainable floor care options, minimizing environmental impact
• Chemicals such as cresol, formaldehyde, nitrobenzene, perchloroethylene, toluene, phenol, and xylene are present in commercial floor wax
• These harmful chemicals can damage kidneys, livers, and harm animal health
• Banana and orange peels in floor wax promote sustainability by repurposing waste from food industries, that can reduce waste and provide cost-effective raw materials

Additional Findings

• Agricultural by-products reduce chemical production impact, lower costs, and decrease demand for non-renewable resources
• Banana peels offer natural emulsifiers and conditioning agents due to their high potassium content
• Banana peels have a wax content of about 2.5%
• Banana peel extract contains phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidants, useful for antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties
• Starch in banana peels can act as a binding agent, making them viable for floor wax
• Banana peel-based wax can provide sheen without harmful chemicals
• Banana peel wax offers water resistance, protecting floors from moisture damage
• Citrus sinensis possess cleaning and antimicrobial properties due to essential oils like limonene and citric acid
• Orange peel waste (OPW) from juice extraction can be used in industrial applications, reducing environmental impact

Conceptual Framework

• Input: Banana (Musa acuminata) and orange (Citrus sinensis) peels
• Process: Boiling, cutting, blending, and preserving the peels
• Output: Banana and orange alternative floor wax

Problem Statement

• Investigates effectiveness of natural compounds from banana and orange peels for eco-friendly floor wax
• Specific questions include effects on the floor, durability, and significant effects compared to commercial wax

Hypothesis

• Banana and citrus sinensis peels can be as effective as regular floor waxes in durability, shine, and safety, as well as being better for the environment
• Null hypothesis (H0): No significant effect of the alternative floor wax
• Alternative hypothesis (H1): Significant effect of the alternative floor wax

Study Significance

• Aims to find a cheaper alternative floor wax made from recycled waste
• Benefits include cleaner floors, greater durability, recycling of banana and orange peels, and lessened disposal of peels

Scope and Limitations

• Focuses on paste floor wax from Musa acuminata and Citrus sinensis peels for household use
• Evaluates effectiveness in durability, longevity, ease of use, and overall performance
• Tests longevity and effectiveness in a typical household environment
• Does not focus on the appearance and odor of the product
• Includes tests for product durability, ease of use, and maintenance of floor quality over time
• Explores the potential for sufficient polish and protection from natural ingredients

Definitions

• Biodegradable: Capable of being broken down by natural processes into non-toxic components, decomposing safely without harming the environment
• Citrus sinensis (Orange) Peels: The skin of oranges, rich in essential oils like limonene and citric acid
• Durability: Ability to withstand physical wear, maintain protective qualities, and resist environmental factors
• Environmental Impact: The effect of human activities or products on the natural world, including potential harm to ecosystems, air and water quality
• Eco-Friendly Floor Wax: Sustainable, natural ingredients, minimizing pollutants and harmful chemicals
• Floor Wax: Coating applied to floor surfaces to enhance appearance, add shine, protect from damage, spills, scratches, wear, and facilitate easier cleaning and maintenance
• Indoor Air Quality (IAQ): Condition of air inside buildings and its impact on human health; poor IAQ leads to health issues due to emissions from chemicals and materials
• Musa acuminata (Banana) Peels: The outer layer of bananas, which contains beneficial compounds such as natural waxes, oils, and potassium
• Petroleum-Based Products: Derived from petroleum (non-renewable fossil fuel)
• Renewable Resources: Natural resources that can be replenished overtime through natural processes or sustainable practices

Research Design

• Qualitative research design using a quasi-experimental method
• Evaluates effectiveness of banana and orange peels for floor wax
• One group uses traditional commercial floor wax, and the other uses homemade wax
• Aims include determination of efficacy of the natural floor wax in terms of durability, shine, and overall cleaning performance

Research Environment

• This study was conducted on houses with concrete floors throughout the Barangays in Loreto, Dinagat Islands

Methodology Raw Materials

• Fresh banana peels (Musa acuminata)
• Fresh orange peels (Citrus sinensis)
• Coconut oil
• White vinegar
• Water

Methodology Equipment

• Knife
• Chopping block
• Pot for boiling
• Mixing bowl
• Strainer
• Blender
• Storage container
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Heat source (stove)

Methodology Procedures

• Gather fresh banana and orange peels
• Wash the peels under running water to remove any dirt, chemicals, or pesticides
• Use a knife to cut the peels
• Add the banana and orange peels and coconut oil (500ml) in a pot
• Boil the peels for 20 minutes
• Strain both mixtures using a fine mesh strainer to separate the liquid extract from the solid peels
• Separate the liquid extracts in a mixing bowl and collect the solid residues
• Transfer the peels into the blender
• Blend the peels
• Add approximately 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil or olive oil to the combined extracts to enhance the polish effect and provide a moisture barrier
• Blend the mixture until it reaches a smooth, paste-like consistency; to thicken it, add a little more grated peel or oil
• Add (1-2) tablespoons of white vinegar to the mixture to improve cleaning properties and blend again until well incorporated

Explore eco-friendly floor wax using natural banana and orange peels as alternatives to commercial waxes. Evaluate their durability, longevity, shine, and ease of application. Reduce health and environmental impacts.