Aluminum chips are stabilizers that help control the reaction of the sodium hydroxide and water in a drain cleaner. They’re just what they sound like - small chips of the same aluminum that’s used in soda cans and aluminum foil, in a size and concentration that's safe for drains and septic systems. The aluminum chips work by affecting the rate of the chemical reaction that happens in the drain, to ensure that it produces the needed strength to clear a clog.

Sodium hydroxide is a builder that can also be found in detergents and degreasers. We use it to make a product formula clean better by affecting the molecules in the formula so they work together better. Sodium hydroxide can also be a pH adjuster that alters the pH of a product to improve stability. Every formula has an optimum pH to make it work best. For example, a formula that’s more acidic works better for soap scum removal. Its opposite, a formula that’s more alkaline, might be more effective at removing grease or greasy soils. We use pH adjusters to make sure we achieve the best pH for a particular job. Also, the pH of a formula can affect how long it lasts within a container – for example limiting its tendency to corrode a can, container or dispenser. In high concentrations (such as in drain cleaners), sodium hydroxide can also be used as a caustic that helps dissolve organic matter like drain clogs.

Paraffinum Liquidum is a moisturizer that also be found in a variety of cosmetics including body and face cleansers, facial creams, and lipsticks. As a moisturizer in our products, paraffinum liquidum helps prevent a product or surface, like leather, from drying out by helping it retain moisture. This makes it softer and more pliable.

Sodium chloride is a carrier that is most commonly known as table salt, and can also be found in many household products including shampoos, makeup and bath products. A carrier does just what it sounds like - it helps carry a product to a surface by thinning or thickening the formula or simply ensuring even distribution of the other ingredients in the formula. We use sodium chloride because without a carrier, the product would not work with the same consistency across a surface.

Sodium nitrate is a stabilizer that acts as an oxidizing agent and preservative in many products including meats and fish, and is naturally found in many vegetables. It can also be used as a corrosion inhibitor. We use it in our products to help prevent the corrosion or rusting of a can, container or dispenser, and also in air care products to maintain the stability of a product's fragrance over time.