How to Make Pine Gel at Home in Ghana
Pine gel is the green, fresh-smelling disinfectant people use for floors, toilets and drains. It is one of the easiest cleaning products to make at home, and it sells well in Ghanaian markets. Here is a simple method, with the ingredients you can buy in Accra.
What you need
These amounts make about 5 litres. Treat them as a starting point and test a small batch first.
Texapon (SLES): about 500 g. This is the foaming base.
Pine oil: about 150 to 250 ml, depending on how strong a smell you want.
Polysorbate 80: about 50 ml. It helps the oil mix into the water.
Common salt: a few tablespoons, to thicken the gel.
Green colour: a few drops.
Clean water: about 4 litres.
You also need a clean bucket, a wooden or plastic stirrer, gloves and a measuring jug.
How to make it
Pour the Texapon into the bucket. Add 2 litres of water slowly and stir gently. Stirring slowly keeps foam down.
In a separate cup, mix the pine oil with the polysorbate 80 until the two are well blended.
Pour the oil mixture into the bucket and stir until the liquid turns milky and even.
Add the colour, then the rest of the water, stirring gently.
Dissolve the salt in a little water and add it a little at a time. The mixture thickens as you stir. Stop when it reaches the thickness you want.
Leave it to rest for a few hours so the bubbles settle, then pour it into clean bottles.
Tips for a better pine gel
Too thin? Add a little more salt dissolved in water. Too thick? Add a little water.
Cloudy or separating? Add a little more polysorbate 80 and stir again.
Wear gloves and avoid contact with your eyes. Keep pine gel away from children. It is for cleaning use only, not for consumption.
Use clean bottles with tight caps, and label each one.
Where to buy the ingredients in Accra
Liquid Lye sells Texapon (SLES), pine oil, polysorbate 80, colours, bottles and caps. Visit any of our three branches in Adabraka, Kasoa or Avenor/Circle, or order online. For larger quantities, contact us for wholesale pricing.
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