The American Cleaning Institute (ACI)

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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…
Living/Dining Rooms and Bedrooms serve up different types of challenges. Dust and dirt tracked in on shoes ... spill and stains on carpets and upholstery ... rings on wood surfaces. But here again, there are products that meet the challenges. Use rugs or mats at all entrances to catch dirt and grit that can build up on floors and carpets. Choose a soft cotton cloth or paper towel for cleaning glass surfaces. Fabric softener on cleaned cloths can leave a residue; extra absorbent paper towels…
In our "oh-so-busy" world, holiday entertaining is often a communal affair, with friends and relatives contributing to the feast. But bringing a dish to share can be an unintentional invitation to unwanted guests – bacteria that can cause foodborne illnesses. To be sure these party crashers don't make it through the door, here are some tips for traveling safely with prepared foods. Prepare with Care Safe food travel starts with safe food preparation. That means clean…
Clean-up doesn't have to be a chore! Fireplaces crackling, wine glasses tinkling, guests chuckling … don’t miss out on the sounds of the holidays because you’re stuck scrubbing the dishes in the kitchen. Here are some dishwashing tips so you can enjoy entertaining your guests without facing an enormous clean up job at the end of the night. Wash dishes as you use them during the preparation phase Get the kids to help Serve from the pan instead of using (and then…
Forget about the good old days, when Monday was Laundry Day, ironing was an art form, and Grandma starched the sheets. Today, we're lucky to find time to fit meals in, let alone dedicating hours to caring for our clothes.If you're like most people, your fabric care is done on an "as needed" basis — battling spills, smells, and wrinkles as you prepare to face tomorrow. Thankfully, innovations in fabric care products are keeping pace with our hectic lives.…
There's lots to teach about cleaning! The origins of personal cleanliness date back to prehistoric times. Since water is essential for life, the earliest people lived near water and knew something about its cleansing properties - at least that it rinsed mud off their hands. And clean hands keep you from sharing germs. Browse ACI's publications for teacher resources. STEM Education The…
We love fresh fall breezes, but not when it blows dust and grime into our home. Here are some tips for cleaning the entire window, coverings, sills and glass: Window Sills and Frames: Remove dirt and debris. Use a small broom or vacuum window frames and sills to get rid of dust, soot, cobwebs, and dead insects. Wipe plastic or vinyl frames and sills with cleaning wipes. If you use a spray product, be sure to spray the product on cloth, and then use the cloth to only clean the sills and frame…
You can keep your home clean despite your pets and for your pets with these tips. Cleaning For Pet Health Sometimes our pets get sick. A fur-baby can catch a virus, pick up bacteria, or become host to parasites. Prevention is key. Pets should receive regular vaccinations. See your veterinarian for the best guide in determining the timing of vaccinations for dogs, cats and other pets. There are also things you can do around the house to help keep your animal pals healthy and…
It may be the holiday season, but it’s also cold and flu season. Keep illnesses from spreading through holidays into the New Year with these tips, for a cleaner and healthier for you and everyone around you. Get a Flu Shot. While flu season starts to peak in November, the heaviest months for flu are December through March. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for the antibodies that provide protection against influenza infection to develop in the body. The Centers for Disease Control…
Surfactants (yellow) cause water to lose surface tension, which is what keeps water separate from other materials Have you ever seen a bead of water sitting on a surface? This is because water has a property called surface tension. This tension causes water to form a bead on the surface of things like glass or fabric. You can see surface tension at work by placing a drop of water onto a counter top. The drop will hold its shape and will not spread. In order to clean the dirt…