This study aims to investigate the impacts of factors,
including
textural properties, surface roughness, and contact angle, on the
cleaning performance of food soils and develop a preliminary mathematical
model to predict the cleaning score, depending on the soil-surface
properties. The force required to remove soil from the surface was
determined by a texture analyzer equipped with a newly designed probe.
Potato puree and egg yolk soils showed high adhesive forces compared
to other deposits. Margarine required the lowest force to detach from
the surfaces. A soil-surface characteristic number (SSCN) was constructed
from the results of contact angle, roughness, and textural analysis
to predict the cleaning score depending on the soil-surface properties.
The experimental work presented indicates that a higher SSCN was associated
with lower cleaning scores for soil-surface combinations. Furthermore,
a predictive model was developed to define the relationship between
cleaning scores and SSCN. The applicability of the model was validated
by measuring the cleaning performance of caramel and pudding soils
on glass, porcelain, and stainless-steel household surfaces by using
an automatic method. Therefore, it can be concluded that the SSCN
approach can be improved in further studies to predict cleaning scores
of soil-surface combinations in the experimental rig or automatic
dishwasher.