This article was taken from the July 2013 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by <span class="s1">subscribing online.
Buffs up faces and furniture. The ingredients that give this polish its shine also help to smooth your skin
Wired's chemist Dr John Emsley is the author of 110 research papers and 12 books, including <span class="s2">his latest, <span class="s1">Nature's Building Blocks, 2nd edition (OUP).
Ingredients
C10-12 alkane/cycloalkane
Butane
Isobutane
Propane
Dimethicone
Sorbitan oleate
Parfum
Hexyl cinnamal
Butylphenyl methylpropional
Benzyl salicylate
Microcrystalline wax
Paraffin
Sodium benzoate
Methylisothiazolinone
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Cleaning solvents
C10-12 alkane/cycloalkane and paraffin (AKA kerosene) are mixed hydrocarbons that remove greasy marks and polish residues.
Propellant gases Butane, propane and isobutane propel the Mr Sheen from its container. They are also used as bottled fuels for patio heaters and barbecues.
Dimethicone
This is a colourless oil which leaves behind a water-repelling silicone layer on the surface that has been polished. It is also used in cosmetics to make skin feel smooth.
Sorbitan oleate
An emulsifier, this acts to ensure all the ingredients form a homogenous mixture. It also acts as a mild surfactant in its own right and is added to moisturisers.
Hexyl cinnamal
A widely used camomile fragrance.
Butylphenyl methylpropional
This adds a floral-bouquet smell and can be found in perfumes.
Benzyl salicylate
A fixative, it is there to help the fragrance molecules to blend in with the other ingredients. Of itself, it has almost no odour.
Microcrystalline wax
This consists of tiny hydrocarbon crystals which have 35 or more carbon atoms in their molecular structure. It creates a shiny surface.
Sodium benzoate
This powerful germicide (AKA E211) is particularly effective under acid conditions. It occurs naturally in cranberries.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
