- 74% of Americans rinse their dishes all or most of the time before loading the dishwasher unnecessarily
- Only 46% of U.S. households wash laundry in cold water most of the time, even though it saves energy and money
- Sustainable cleaning tips are available at https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/sustainable-cleaning
Newly released survey data from the American Cleaning Institute shows that Americans have more to learn when it comes to sustainable cleaning. The holiday season brings increased cleaning needs and is the perfect time to save time and money by implementing sustainable laundry and dishwashing habits.
The American Cleaning Institute provides the following tips to help households clean more sustainably during the holiday season:
- Wash in Cold Water: Using cold water for laundry helps to preserve fabrics and prevent common holiday stains from setting (like wine, berries, and tree sap). It also significantly reduces energy consumption, which saves money. Plus, if you wash in cold water, there’s less need to sort your clothes. Despite the time, environmental, and economic benefits, only 46% of U.S. households wash their laundry in cold water most of the time.
- Skip the Pre-Rinse: Spend time with family instead of at the sink. Many Americans still rinse their dishes before placing them in the dishwasher, with 74% reporting this habit. However, modern dish detergents, like dishwasher pods, are designed to work with today’s dishwashers to handle food residue, making pre-rinsing unnecessary and wasteful. Simply scrape off food scraps before loading your dishwasher to save water and time.
- Handle Decorations with Care: Take care with your holiday clean-up. Properly storing holiday decorations can extend their lifespan, reducing the need to purchase new items each year. By taking care to pack decorations carefully, you contribute to less waste and more sustainable celebrations in the future.
“With the holidays approaching, it's the perfect time to embrace sustainable practices in your cleaning routines,” said Nathan Sell, ACI’s Senior Director of Sustainability. “Not only can you create a cleaner and healthier home for your festivities, but you can do it in a way that contributes to a more sustainable future.”
The American Cleaning Institute® (ACI – www.cleaninginstitute.org) is the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Products Industry® and represents the $60 billion U.S. cleaning product supply chain. ACI members include the manufacturers and formulators of soaps, detergents, and general cleaning products used in household, commercial, industrial and institutional settings; companies that supply ingredients and finished packaging for these products; and chemical distributors. ACI serves the growth and innovation of the U.S. cleaning products industry by advancing the health and quality of life of people and protecting our planet. ACI achieves this through a continuous commitment to sound science and being a credible voice for the cleaning products industry.
About the Survey
The American Cleaning Institute Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com) among 1,000 nationally representative US adults ages 18+, between February 12th and February 19th, 2024, using an email invitation and an online survey. Data has been weighted to ensure an accurate representation of US adults ages 18+.
Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.