December 2020 Spray 15
Cleaning & COVID-19
A new national survey of 4,000 U.S. adults conducted in
September revealed that 86% of U.S. consumers are confident
in their cleaning products to help protect against
COVID-19. The new consumer cleaning and hygiene
research was presented as part of the American Cleaning
Institute (ACI) and Good Housekeeping’s first-ever joint
virtual summit, Discover Cleaning—Inside & Out.
Forty-six percent of survey respondents said they will
clean and disinfect more this flu season because of the
cleaning and hygiene information put into practice during
the pandemic.
“Consumers are confirming their trust in our products
to meet their daily needs during the pandemic,” said
Melissa Hockstad, ACI President & CEO.
“Throughout the past several months, the manufacturers
of cleaning products and the chemistries that make
them effective have worked around the clock to meet the
unprecedented demand for these products.”
Key research noted that 92% of consumers use disinfectants
on home surfaces and post-pandemic, 56% plan
to continue wiping down surfaces more often and use
disinfecting products such as sprays. Additionally, 96%
plan to continue some, if not all, cleaning habits adopted
during the pandemic into the future and 63% are cleaning
more extensively each week now that they are working
from home.
According to Mintel, short-term cleaning habits during
the initial lockdown phase of the COVID-19 pandemic increased
as the importance of disinfection and safety across
categories became a top priority.
In the medium term (end of 2020), the importance of
hygiene and health continues to be important to consumers,
yet ingredient concerns are driving “natural” and
science-backed ingredient interests, as long as efficacy is
proven.
In the long term (1–2 years), Mintel indicated that consumers
will remain diligent cleaners, although the desire
for convenience and simplification will
return. Normalcy will also return, yet the
residual impact of the economic downturn
could impact product and channel choice.
Clean in all corners
Newly launched cleaners leave no part of the
house untouched, with products designed
for the entire home—including the home
office—hitting shelves. One such product is
Three Main Hydrogen Peroxide Multi-
Surface Cleaner spray with organic, natural
and disinfecting ingredients. It is powerful
enough to clean floors, countertops, walls
and fixtures but gentle enough for sensitive
skin, babies and pets. The lemon-scented,
biodegradable cleaner is formulated with
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
(CDC)-recommended amounts of hydrogen
peroxide to be tough on bacteria and viruses on hard,
non-porous surfaces. It is formulated to be free of
parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, gluten and
cruelty. It comes in a 16-oz. refillable, reusable aluminum
bottle from Trivium Packaging that ships empty
with an accompanying refill pouch.
Bosque Verde, a new, scented disinfectant from
Francisco Aragon has 70% alcohol in a spray format.
The product is formulated for the general cleaning of
most surfaces—kitchens, bathrooms, floors, shopping
bags, containers, doorknobs, shoe soles, keys, bikes,
cars, textiles and cell phones. Colep manufactures the
400mL tinplate steel cans for the surface sanitizer.
Spray and aerosol firm Anyway Spray has launched
a range of household products under its own Deft
brand, combining a PET bottle with its proprietary
dip-tube system, which allows product to be sprayed,
no matter at what angle
the container is being held.
The cleaners use non-toxic,
biodegradable, plant-based
formulas with “smart-botanics”
and 0% volatile organic
compound (VOC) ingredients.
The fine mist means less
product is used over a larger
area in a faster time as the
easy-squeeze trigger delivers
even coverage. Products in
the line include Advanced
Bathroom in Aspen Breeze
scent, Advanced Daily
Shower in Savannah Rain
scent, Advanced Kitchen in
Tangerine Dream scent and Advanced Window & Glass
in Tuscan Sunlight scent. Plastipak Packaging supplies the
PET bottle.
Falcon Safety Products—the manufacturer of Dust-
Off brand compressed gas dusters and screen cleaners—
launched HYPERCLN, a line of screen cleaners
and machine-washable cloths. The screen cleaner is
formulated using plant-based, non-toxic ingredients,
making it safe for all screen types, users and the
environment. Free of alcohol, ammonia, phosphates
and odors, HYPERCLN allows consumers to easily
rid their screens of dirt, dust and fingerprints with a
streak-free formula. The product is suitable for OLED
TVs, LED TVs, laptops, smartphones, tablets and
smartwatches. HYPERCLN is available in three different
resealable kits: 2-oz. spray and cloth, 8-oz. spray
and cloth and a 3-cloth kit. Silgan supplies the bottle,
spray pump and cap.
Febreze Heavy Traffic Foaming Carpet Cleaner
contains an effective formula that removes more
dirt than just vacuuming alone. Foam gets deep into
the carpet fibers to remove trapped odors caused by
smoke, pets, food and moisture. It also protects the