The ingredients in your cleaning products fall into several different categories, added to provide different characteristics and cleaning functions. Each product formula is a careful balance of various ingredients that will work best for what you are trying to clean. Learn more!
Q. I’m motivated this year to do a massive spring cleaning but with little kids running around my home, I'm concerned about cleaning product safety. How should I be planning to clean safely?
A. We encourage parents to do spring cleaning in the absence of young children so that you can give it your full attention without distractions. Here are some additional safety tips —
Children are usually curious and explore all the new things…
The shelf life of disinfectants is approximately 1 year. The one year of effectiveness typically begins with the manufacture date. The expiration date is there because over time the active ingredient (the chemical doing the advertised action) may degrade. After the expiration date the product may no longer be doing the work you expect it to, so make sure to use the product prior to the expiration date. Anything you could want to know about a…
I’ve read some headlines that say laundry detergents are being banned because of an ingredient called 1,4-dioxane. What’s this all about?
There has been some misleading news coverage reporting on the potential impacts of a law that went into effect in New York State on detergents that consumers use safely and effectively every day.
What is this law about? New York State enacted a law in 2019 requiring extremely low levels of 1,4-dioxane in detergents,…
Practicing good hygiene is an important part of defending ourselves against the coronavirus. By and large, we have been cleaning and disinfecting more than usual during the pandemic, a habit which we will likely continue as we enter a “new normal” following the height of the pandemic. There may be different reasons why you worry about “cleaning too much.” It could be that you’re worried about cost, the amount of product you’re using in your…
Dishwashing is necessary to keep a kitchen clean and plates and silverware safe to use. While some pans and platters need to be washed by hand, the automatic dishwasher has made it much easier to complete this task. Whether it’s time to wash a sink full of dishes or just a few items, our fact sheet and expert advice will help you get the job done.
You will want to use a dishwashing detergent with effective cleaning performance regardless of the brand that you choose…
A STEM classroom activity with an online resource.
Have you ever thought about what soap is? This slippery, sudsy stuff we use every day does its job without us thinking much about it. We know it makes the world cleaner but do you know what makes soap soap? If you want to explore these questions, we invite you to check out "Exploration Clean". Exploration Clean is an Interactive Online Resource to help students (and adults)…
ACI has a variety of free educational materials available for consumers, teachers, health educators, community leaders and students. All are available in English, but we do have a few in Spanish. We have fact sheets, bookmarks, posters and booklets on a variety of topics including hand hygiene.
Publication Catalog
You can download publications from ACI's website. View the Publication Catalog for a complete list and links. Check our site frequently for new and updated publications.…
Always use the proper amount of detergent when washing. What's the right amount? Read the label and keep in mind that too much detergent or too little can leave your clothes less clean than using the optimal amount. Follow the fabric care instructions on your clothing.
Also, be sure to keep all laundry products up and out of reach of children and adults with dementia. Detergents on the market today have been formulated and tested to be safe and effective when used as directed, but need to…
While regular soaps remove germs, antibacterial soaps contain an antibacterial ingredient that kills germs. For some consumers and in many institutional settings, the bacteria killing abilities of these soaps are essential to help prevent the spread of disease. Antibacterial soaps have been used safely for decades in millions of homes, offices, schools, daycare centers and other commercial settings.
Vulnerable…
