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Q. I love my dog, but don’t always love the smell that seems to take over my home. How can I ensure that it’s just my dog that greets guests at the door, and not an odor?
A. The dog days of summer, don't mean that your house has to smell like a dog - or a cat for that matter. You can take these steps to help minimize any smells:
Wash your pet food and water dishes daily
Protect the furniture with a towel or washable blanket or throw
Use a fabric refresher on upholstery…
March 11, 2019
The key to a clean house is finding a system that works for you and your schedule. What worked before you had kids may need some modifications. And empty nesters may have a busier schedule than before the days of carpools and kids sports.
Cluttered Kitchen? Just Say No
It’s tempting to let the dishes "soak" while you relax after dinner, but you have to do them anyway so why wait. Put the dishes in the…
February 8, 2019
ACI to Present the Chemistry of Clean "Live" at USA Science & Engineering Festival
Students Will Explore the Science of Product Formulation April 7-8 in DC
ACI Booth Supports New STEM Website, Exploration Clean
Washington, DC, April 2, 2018 – A simple activity will demonstrate how chemistry is essential for creating consumer products – specifically liquid hand soaps – at the American Cleaning Institute’s (ACI) booth during the USA Science &…
February 4, 2019
To remove most lipstick stains from napkins, put the napkin stain down on top of a couple layers of paper towel or absorbent towel. Dampen another towel with rubbing alcohol (70 or 90 percent), then dab, dab, dab the stained area. Look underneath and you should see lipstick on the paper towels. Keep at it until all of the stain is gone. Some long-lasting lipsticks may need more work to get off.
You also can spritz a prewash spray onto both sides of the fabric, let set for a few minutes to let…
February 8, 2019
Q. My New Year’s resolution is to stop smoking. But how can I make my rugs, furniture and draperies stop smelling like cigarettes?
A. Open up the windows and let the fresh air in. For items like throw blankets, pillow covers and curtains that can be laundered, wash them or take them to the drycleaners. Vacuum the floor and carpet, window treatments, upholstery and lamp shades. Then spray fabric refresher on all the fabric surfaces. Smooth surfaces, such as mirrors, floors and…
March 11, 2019
Treat and wash stains promptly!
Holiday entertaining is fraught with potential disasters. But a cool head and the right products will keep a mini-crisis from becoming a major problem. Here are some quick and easy remedies from the American Cleaning Institute:
Stains
Turkey, gravy, butter, and salad dressing (oil-based stains): Pretreat with a prewash stain remover. Launder in the hottest water that’s safe for the fabric.
Cranberry sauce, apple cider, and pumpkin pie (fruit-…
February 8, 2019
Thank you for volunteering to review the 2019 applications for the Healthy Schools, Healthy People Applications national awards. This program is a joint initiative of the American Cleaning Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and is designed to get the entire school community talking about clean hands. Click the video below to learn how you can help determine who will earn this year's national award!
If you have any questions, email SNAP@cleaninginstitute.org or…
March 9, 2019
Q: I've given up buying coffee in the morning in favor of bringing my own in a travel mug. However, the cup sits in my car all day and doesn't get washed until late at night. The inside is a little grungy. How do I get it really clean?
A: There are several ways to remove coffee stains. You may have to experiment to see which one works best on your particular travel mug. Since soaking is easier than scrubbing, try one of these methods first: using chlorine bleach, soak the mug…
March 11, 2019
ACI’s 2017 Mid-Year Meeting drew more than 100 attendees from 40 companies.
The meeting was held at ACI’s Washington, DC offices.
The 2017 Mid-Year Meeting opened with a speaker session that provided an overview of the impact of carbon emissions and climate change and how companies can and are addressing it. The session featured Sarah Law, of CDP who provided attendees insights on industry trends and examples of corporate approaches to climate change. Chris Sayer of…
February 4, 2019
Q. My child plays little league baseball, and his socks and uniform get so dirty. What’s the best way to clean them?
A. First, pretreat with a prewash stain remover. Look for a stain remover that contains enzymes to remove the grass stains. Then, launder in the hottest water that’s safe for the fabric, using a bleach that’s safe for the fabric. Repeat procedure if necessary.
For dirt stains, brush off as much residue as possible. (If the dirt is actually mud, let the mud dry completely before…
March 11, 2019