The American Cleaning Institute (ACI)

Search

Results (1043)

Handwashing Q. How important, if at all, do you find frequent handwashing when it comes to preventing the spread of illness in your home? 66% said very important 27% said somewhat important 6% said not very important 1% said not at all important 93% Important (net) 7% Not important (net) Appliance Maintenance Q. How familiar, if at all, are you with the manufacturer recommendations for cleaning and maintaining your home…
Q. Several family members just took up biking. We love the health benefits, but not the bicycle grease on our clothes. What’s the best way to remove it? A. The easiest way is to pretreat the stain with a prewash stain remover and then launder, using the hottest water that’s safe for the fabric. Check to make sure the stain is gone before putting the clothing in the dryer. If the stain remains, apply a concentrated heavy-duty cleaner (one that’…
Q. Our whole family loves to color Easter eggs. Despite laminated aprons and a plastic tablecloth, the kids manage to get the dye on their clothes. How can I remove it? A. Pretreat stains with a pre-wash stain remover, and then launder. If the stain remains, mix a solution of 1/4 cup of oxygen bleach or 1/4 cup of chlorine bleach (if safe for the fabric) per gallon of cool water. Soak for 30 minutes. Rinse, and then launder.
We are delighted to announce that our team has moved to a our new location! 1401 H St. NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20005 Our phone numbers are the same. We look forward to hosting events in our new space.
Q. I have a really dirty carpet that I'm looking to get clean. What carpet cleaning can I try before calling in a professional? The easiest way to have a clean carpet is to keep it from getting dirty, by taking off shoes and limiting bringing food in carpeted areas. Once there is a stain, deal with it quickly, using a carpet cleaner, and always make sure to dab at the stain to lift it out…
Q. How do you clean safely if you or a loved one has cancer?A. If you are caring for a loved one with cancer, you’re dealing with a lot already. It can be easy to fall behind on some of the everyday tasks like cleaning. However, cleaning plays an important role in health. If a patient is undergoing chemotherapy, it can weaken the body’s immune system and make them more susceptible to other illnesses. A clean space can also provide a place of calm and control…
Q. Can you safely dilute hand soap?A. No. For optimal safety, you should not dilute hand soap, unless it is a concentrated product intended to have water added for use. We’ve all been there: you go to wash your hands and realize you’re down to the last dregs of your liquid hand soap. You may be tempted to add water to the soap dispenser. But there’s a good reason not to.Liquid soap is…
What is 1,4-dioxane?1,4-dioxane is a byproduct of manufacturing processes for some surfactants (the workhorse ingredients) contained in cleaning products and detergents. It is not an intentionally added ingredient, present at very low, trace levels.Why is 1,4-dioxane in cleaning products? 1,4-dioxane is an unintended byproduct of manufacturing. It is not an ingredient and not intentionally added.Is 1,4-dioxane in cleaning products harmful?No. According to…
Q. How full is too full when it comes to a load of laundry?A. You want to aim for full loads when you do your wash, which will save energy, water and your time. However, overloading your washer or dryer could damage these expensive appliances or keep your clothes from getting clean. How much you can put into your washer for one load of laundry is going to depend on your machine. Front Load Washer - Put your hand in vertically, like you…
ACI has been conducting surveys on cleaning habits for decades. Annual Cleaning Surveys 2026 Spring Cleaning Survey Findings2025 Fall Cleaning Survey Findings2025 Spring Cleaning Survey Findings2024 Fall Cleaning Survey Findings2024 Spring Cleaning Survey Findings2023 Spring Cleaning Survey Findings2022 Spring…