American Cleaning Institute

Our ACI colleagues Marie Gargas and Dan Selechnik, PhD are soaking up the science and research on display at the 36th Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Europe conference in Maastricht, The Netherlands. They connected with a number of ACI member company experts and our colleagues at AISE International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products, engaging in conversations that reinforce the cleaning product supply chain's committment to sound science guiding regulatory and policy discussions. This commitment is more important than ever as we celebrate ACI's 100th anniversary and showcase the essential nature of cleaning in our next century. #SETACMaastricht

Are you going to the ACI Spark Summit? Among the impactful topics covered, you'll gain insight into how EPR is influencing decisions across the cleaning products value chain. Register today: https://lnkd.in/eWQcghPw

When Wartime Shortages Sparked a Cleaning Revolution 💯 The American Cleaning Institute is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year! As we mark this milestone, we’re reflecting on the important cleaning history and innovations that got us to where we are today.  🗺️ The outbreak of World War II brought about significant changes in many aspects of daily life in the United States and across the world, including the way people cleaned their clothes and homes. 🧺 Before the war, traditional soaps – produced mainly from natural fats and oils – were the primary choice for washing and cleaning. 📈 However, the war effort created a massive demand for these essential fats and oils, diverting them away from consumer goods to the production of explosives, lubricants and food. 🧼 As a result, soap became scarce and expensive, prompting scientists and manufacturers to search for alternatives. This challenge led to the development and popularization of detergents. 🏭 The cleaning product industry rose to the occasion, supporting drives to gather waste fats from homes for the war effort and boosting production of detergents that did not require this in-demand ingredient. 🫧 Detergent use spread rapidly during the 1940s. It offered several advantages over traditional soaps: detergents performed better in hard water, produced less soap scum and maintained effectiveness even in cold water. 💡 By the end of the war, detergents became a staple in many households, marking the beginning of a new era in cleaning technology. The transition from soaps to detergents during World War II not only addressed immediate wartime needs but also set the stage for the diverse range of cleaning products we rely on today. 🧪 Modern detergents continue to evolve, reflecting advances in chemistry and sustainability, and growing consumer demand for efficiency and convenience. ✔️ Check out ACI's Centennial Video for more highlights of our first century: https://lnkd.in/emQGT6dc [Originally showcased on ACI's Cleaning is Caring blog.]

Don’t miss the Futurescaping session at the upcoming Spark Summit in Cincinnati, June 11-12! Register today! https://lnkd.in/eWQcghPw This session, powered by research from the ACI Future Leaders, dives into how shifting consumer cleaning habits are shaping tomorrow’s market. Join us to gain actionable insights and strategic guidance that will help you uncover new opportunities, make smarter decisions, and stay aligned with what consumers truly value. Speakers are Kyle Erickson and Audrey Marie Keenan from the ACI Future Leaders.

🏥 In busy facilities – hospitals, schools, airports, offices – cleaning often happens in occupied spaces. That’s exactly why small habits matter. ➡️ In his new CleanLink byline, Dr. James Kim of the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) shares a simple, high-impact habit for commercial operations: put products away immediately after use – every time – to better protect cleaning professionals and building occupants. 🔑 Some of the key takeaways from Jim's article: 🦺 Safety is a year-round discipline – not a one-week reminder. 🛑 Preventing accidental exposures and injuries depends on consistent day-to-day practices, especially in busy commercial environments where work happens around the public. ⏱️ Most preventable incidents happen in the “in-between moments.” 🧴 Exposures often occur not during active use, but when products are left out during task changes, interruptions, or when carts/bottles are accessible in high-traffic, occupied spaces. 💡 “Put it away every time” is the simplest habit with outsized impact. 🧹 Securing unattended carts, returning chemicals to storage immediately, keeping products properly labeled, separating clean vs. soiled tools, and following dilution/PPE/ventilation guidance protect workers and building occupants—while reducing compliance and service-quality risks for facility leaders. 📖 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gJ5sfbet

Join us at ACI’s Spark Summit! At the EPA 101 session, you’ll not only gain practical insights on federal programs shaping the cleaning products industry, but you’ll also get an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of their Andrew W. Breidenbach Environmental Research Center. Learn directly from EPA experts about TSCA implementation and chemical reviews, get updates on antimicrobial product priorities, and gain perspective on water discharge compliance and enforcement. Small groups. Direct engagement. Register today: https://lnkd.in/eWQcghPw

Cleaning innovation doesn’t always mean reinventing the wheel — it can mean making familiar ingredients more sustainable. A surfactant called alpha olefin sulfonate (AOS) is widely used to help products lift and remove soils. New work shared by Matt Vanden Eynden of Pilot Chemical Company at #AOCS2026 highlights a biobased version of AOS made from a renewable starting material — while keeping the same chemical structure as traditional, petroleum-derived AOS. Why that matters: when an alternative is chemically the same, it can be easier for formulators to consider switching without sacrificing performance. In testing, the biobased AOS showed similar analytical, physical, and cleaning performance compared with synthetic versions — while AOS is also noted for being dioxane- and sulfate-free. The result is another promising option for formulators looking to increase renewable content while maintaining cleaning efficiency.

🌿 A cleaner way to clean — made from “waste” into a valuable ingredient. Water does most of the work in many liquid cleaning products, but sometimes it can’t fully tackle the toughest grime — especially oily soils — so formulators may need an added solvent to boost performance. One challenge: some commonly used high-performing solvents (like traditional glycol ethers) are typically made from fossil-based sources. At #AOCS2026 in New Orleans, Rafael Veroneze 🏳️🌈, Msc of Indorama Ventures: Indovinya highlighted a new “green” solvent pathway: taking byproducts from sugarcane fermentation (often treated as waste streams), refining them into isoamyl alcohol, and then converting that into a more usable cleaning solvent with strong performance and good water solubility. In testing, hard surface cleaner formulas using this new solvent showed strong results —especially for removing tough oily stains. ✅ Why it matters: This is a great example of upcycling—turning industrial byproducts into higher-value materials that can support innovation in household and industrial & institutional (I&I) cleaning.

A great ACI Member Connect this week with the team at Reckitt!

Today’s cleaning innovation isn’t just about “stronger” - it’s about being smarter and more sustainable. New research shared by Meris Milek of Evonik at #AOCS2026 explored an interesting one-two punch: gentler surfactants (the ingredients that lift and remove dirt) paired with beneficial microbes (in spore form) that can help break down leftover soils over time. Why does that matter? Many traditional cleaners rely on high pH + strong surfactants to cut through grime - but those approaches can raise concerns about surface damage and environmental impact. This research looked at milder alternatives, including surfactants like rhamnolipids, tested on everyday soils and greasy residues. The takeaway: the combo cleaned better than surfactants alone, and repeated use showed a cumulative “keeps getting cleaner” effect as microbes continued working after the initial wipe-down.