Cleaning agents are substances or materials that are used to remove dirt, stains, or unwanted substances from surfaces. There are many synonyms that can be used to describe cleaning agents including detergents, soaps, solvents, abrasives, disinfectants, degreasers, cleaners, polishes, buffing agents, and sanitizers. Detergents and soaps are commonly used for cleaning surfaces while solvents are used for removing grease and stains. Abrasives are used for scrubbing surfaces while disinfectants are used to kill germs and bacteria. Degreasers are used for removing grease from surfaces and cleaners are used for general cleaning. Polishes and buffing agents are used for shining surfaces while sanitizers are used for disinfecting and reducing the number of bacteria.