Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces can go a long way in preventing the spread of illnesses, like Coronavirus Disease 2019 (coronavirus, COVID-19). But how do you know which needs to be done and if you’re doing it correctly? The key is in knowing the difference between the two and what is...
How and When to Use Bleach
If you’ve never used bleach and have questions about it, we’ve got you covered. Bleach is great for disinfecting surfaces, clothes, and linens. Other types of soaps and detergents are better for routine cleaning. Bleach is for when you want to sanitize, as well as get your clothes nice and...
What exactly are antibacterial disinfectants, anyway?
In a nutshell, antibacterial disinfectants help kill germs on the surfaces in our homes. They’re pretty easy to recognize because their labels say they disinfect, kill bacteria or sanitize. Their active ingredients and formulations go beyond simple cleaning. They kill or control the growth of microorganisms, including food borne bacteria...
Cleaning Product Ingredient Info: Solvents
One of the many ingredients in cleaning products are solvents. Solvents are ingenious, actually. These amazing chemicals help give cleaning products the right thickness and help other ingredients stay mixed. They can also help prevent liquid products from freezing in cold climates. Want to learn more about solvents and the...
Fun and Games with Surfactants!
In cleaning, surfactants – short for surface active agents – are a group of chemicals that change how water behaves, so that we can clean more effectively and efficiently. Surfactants reduce water’s surface tension, meaning that droplets won’t simply bead up on countertops, clothes, and dishes, but will spread out...
Stop and Smell Your Foyers
Answer: They are the ingredients in cleaning products that make our homes smell fresh and pretty. Question: What are fragrances? While some products have no scent at all, others include a mix of flowers, fruit, trees or essential oils (among others). ACI’s kid-friendly narrated website – www.explorationclean.org – was created...
What’s that ingredient?
According to ACI’s most recent National Cleaning Survey, half of us have researched a cleaning product ingredient at one time or another. If you ever wanted to know more about ingredients beyond what’s on the label, there is an app for that (and website), called SmartLabel. SmartLabel, an initiative by...
What is an enzyme, anyway?
What are enzymes? Enzymes are ingredients that play a powerful role in removing stains and allow us to wash clothes in cold water. They work like the enzymes in our digestive system that help break down the food we eat. How can I tell if enzymes are in my products?...
Hand Sanitizer: When Should You Use It?
We’ve all been there. We’re on an airplane and want to eat a snack, yet not allowed to get up to wash our hands. Or we’re out running errands, like grocery shopping or the car wash, and we can just feel the germs on our hands. Or we’re at our...