The American Cleaning Institute (ACI)

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Cleaning technology has come a long way from the ancient Babylonian way of soap-making. Today’s cleaning products are the result of thoughtful design, experimentation, and safety testing.  The machines we use to clean have also improved, becoming more sustainable and friendly for our environment. So far we have been able to make new cleaning products that allow us to wash in cold water (saving energy from water heating), wash with less water, and make packaging smaller (to…
December 5, 2018
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 stain and…
December 6, 2018
"Grandma's recipes" for home cleaning have been a part of household lore for years. Lately, these recipes have been promoted as a "safer" alternative to commercially formulated cleaning products. While we may feel comfortable using these ingredients in cleaning applications, perhaps because some are edible, there are important facts about these recipes to consider. Ignoring these considerations may mean missing some safety assurances, spending more, getting less…
February 8, 2019
ACI supports policy and innovation initiatives that create packaging and products consistent with our principles: Sustainability: ACI’s advocacy will reflect ACI’s Principles of Sustainability via the promotion and support of the sustainability goals recognized by the ACI Board of Directors.   Human Health and Quality of Life: ACI expects cleaning product packaging to protect the health and safety of consumers and to allow for the safe transport, storage, and use of the products they contain…
February 8, 2019
*/ American Cleaning Institute Development of Exposure Assessments Glossary of Functional Classes Abrasive: Abrasive ingredients are materials that are used to polish, buff, or scour away soils such as dirt and dust. Abrasives can be found in many cleaning products including, but not limited to, pot and pan cleaners, hand wash dish detergents, machine dish detergents, and powder laundry detergents. Absorbent: Material used to retain other substances by assimilation.Adhesion promoter: An…
January 29, 2019
If you or your child have allergies or asthma, you already know that many things can bring on, or "trigger," an asthma flare or episode. Some things that trigger asthma attacks are called allergens. Some people get symptoms from only one allergen -  like dust mites. For other people, more than one kind of allergen can trigger an episode. Tobacco smoke is an asthma trigger. Avoid smoking in a home where a person with asthma lives. The most common allergens are…
December 5, 2018
The Ingredient Naming Translator was generated in order to clarify the various naming conventions that can apply to a single cleaning product ingredient, so that any user of a cleaning product can access information about the ingredient they are interested in.  Please note that the Translator was developed as a comprehensive cross reference of ingredient names encountered during the Cleaning Product Ingredient Safety Initiative. As such, the same ingredient name may appear multiple times in…
January 29, 2019
What is soap and how does it work? The sudsy stuff we use every day of our lives is a mystery to most of us. But behind our cleaning products is an array of scientific data and information. This science and chemistry helps to ensure our products work and are safe for you and your family to use. The resources below will walk through what it means to be clean and how the cleaning process works. For more information and activities, we encourage you to check out ExplorationClean.…
December 6, 2018
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is a widely used surfactant in cleaning products, cosmetic, and personal care products. SLS's uses in these products have been thoroughly evaluated and determined to be safe for consumers and the environment. What Is SLS? Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), also known as Sodium dodecyl sulfate, is a…
December 6, 2018
The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) is active in states that have a legislative, regulatory or executive mandate on cleaning product procurement in a given jurisdiction. ACI has been substantially engaged in environmentally preferable procurement issues. ACI is recognized for its contributions in many areas including standards development, and work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on developing its environmentally preferable purchasing guidance. ACI encourages market-based…
February 8, 2019