Dish Detergent from Calamansi (Citrofortunella microcarpa), Orange Fruit (Citrus reticulata), and Tangerine (Citrus tangerina) Extracts

Abstract

Nowadays, people are becoming conscious about the food they eat and the kitchen utensils that they use, especially those people who have an allergy and sensitive immune system. Given that health is extremely important, we need to assure that the food and kitchen utensils are safe and clean. Considering that some of us cannot afford expensive detergent, the researchers decided to make an alternative cheaper product but more effective than any other dishwashing liquid we used every day. Calamansi is loaded with essential vitamins and minerals. Orange is high in vitamin C and prevents skin damage. Lastly, tangerine acts as an antifungal and antiseptic ingredient and improves the appearance of the skin. About the safety of products, the researchers use organic ingredients, such as calamansi, orange, and tangerine extracts, virgin coconut oil, fragrance oil, and castor oil. We ensure that it goes through the right and proper process and procedure and it has no chemical contents. Thus, the customer is assured about the safeness of this product. The effectiveness of this dish detergent made of calamansi, orange, and tangerine extracts is crucial in so many ways. Moreover, its price is remarkably low. An efficient and much cheaper product is the most reliable answer for the problems that people encounter. The researchers also aimed to create a unique and quality product that serves as our trademark by removing the waxes in the fruits and regenerating and reconstructing the damaged tissue of the vegetable to ensure their freshness. Quantitative research was used as the research design for the study, and purposive sampling was used to select dishwashers and STEM Science teachers of Bestlink College of the Philippines as respondents who assessed the level of acceptability of this dish detergent. Using a questionnaire, the researchers surveyed the respondents to determine whether the proposed product is acceptable in terms of usability, safety, marketability, and timeliness. The dish detergent was highly acceptable in terms of usability, safety, marketability, and timeliness. This result indicated that the difference between the assessments of the two groups of respondents in terms of the cited variables was significant. Dishwashers obtained an overall weighted mean of 4.6, which was interpreted as very strongly agree with the variance of 0.0326, while the STEM Science teachers in Bestlink College of the Philippines obtained an overall weighted mean of 4.1, which was interpreted as strongly agree with a variance of 0.0403. Both groups of respondents obtained a t-computed value of 3.70 and a degree of freedom of 18 with the value of 2.101. The t-computed value was greater than the t-critical one. Hence, the assessments of the two groups of respondents are accepted. The respondents recommended the following: to improve the project in terms of usability, some respondents suggested making the color more attractive and unique and has not been used by other companies. The cleansing ability of the product should be improved. In terms of safety, the acidic content of the product should be minimized. In terms of marketability, if you pursue your product to the market, then you need to assure that it goes through the right and proper process, and it should be approved by the DTI and FDA. Lastly, in terms of timeliness, always check the availability of the ingredients that you will use to produce your product.