The American Cleaning Institute (ACI)

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Grout is generally porous and white or light colored and can get dirty or discolored quickly. Get it clean with a little chemistry and a bit of elbow grease. First off, you'll want to use an alkaline cleaner. Grout is primarily cement and can be dissolved by acids. Over time, an acidic cleaner may require you to re-grout sooner than intended. How do you know if your cleaner will do the trick? Typically the product label will tell you the surfaces it works on. Or, if it's says it…
No matter the type of product you are using (soap or detergent), good cleaning takes a lot of energy. Three different kinds to be exact: Chemical energy, provided by the soap or detergent Mechanical energy, provided by a machine or by hand Thermal energy, provided by heating water Let’s look at how all these elements work together. Assume we have a great, big, oily, greasy stain on one of our favorite shirts. Water alone is not enough to remove the…
Cleaning quickly is all about having a plan. Go from the ceiling down to the floor in each room and focus where your cleaning has outsized effect in terms of looking good and keeping you and your family safe.Get ReadyPrepare to clean so you don’t waste time or resources by accident. Gather your cleaning products. Read the directions so you know you are using them safely and effectively. The label contains important information about how much…
Follow These Rules for Keeping Uniforms Spotless Keeping school, work and sports uniforms looking their best starts in the laundry room! By following these basic guidelines, you can help a uniform to last the entire season – and even beyond. 1. Start with the "right fit." A too-tight uniform can cause excess perspiration (and resulting stains), and one that drags in the sleeves or hem can pick up extra soil. So when possible, try for a uniform that fits well. 2.…
You’ve invested in the clothing that will protect you from the harmful rays of the sun. But are you taking care of those rash guard shirts as well as you are caring for your skin? If you don’t launder them properly, they can lose their effectiveness. So read up! Rinse it out with fresh water immediately after wearing Never use hot water, only cool or lukewarm Turn the garment inside out and hand wash, using a biodegradable soap Hang dry away from direct sun or heat Don’t fold or ball up…
If you’re cleaning and still seeing cloudy spots on your glassware, you probably have hard water. As with most stains, the longer it sits, the more difficult it is to remove. There are cleaning products that can help remove the mineral buildup from surfaces or run dishes through the dishwasher again, this time using a rinsing agent. It can also help to increase the amount of detergent used a bit. On surfaces, look for a cleaning product…
Think about all the "public" surfaces you touch on your way to work – railings, door handles, coins and tokens, cash machines, elevator buttons and more. Then, when you get to your destination, washing your hands probably isn't the first thing you do. Instead, you probably grab a cup of coffee and turn on your computer. If you power up before you clean up, all the germs and bacteria that commuted with you are transferred from your hands to your workstation. Ugh! And then, if…
One of the main uses for cleaning products is washing clothes and dishes. Each load of clothes and dishes requires water, and energy is often used to heat that water. While one load of laundry or dishes may seem like a small task, when you consider all the times we run the washing machine or dishwasher in a week and multiply that by all the households doing the same thing, it adds up!The good news is that our washing machines and dishwashers…
How to keep your favorite sweaters in tip-top shapeWhen it's time to put away sweaters for the season, say goodbye to losing a favorite sweater before its prime with these tips from the American Cleaning Institute:Shop TalkWhen choosing a sweater, price is just one consideration.Construction. Harder, tighter yarns are more durable than soft, loose ones, which tend to stretch easily. That's why a fisherman's sweater is more suited to…