‘Clean Means Business,’ ACI Updates Guidance

Contributed by BSM Staff

WASHINGTON -- The American Cleaning Institute has released its “Clean Means Business: A Guide for Healthy Workspaces,” a free toolkit providing updated cleaning guidance and resources for small businesses.

“During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, important improvements were made in cleanliness procedures, particularly by retailers,” said Melissa Hockstad, ACI President & CEO.

The Clean Means Business Toolkit marks the latest evolution in ACI’s business cleanliness resources, building on the success of its Healthy Returns toolkit, launched in 2021 when business were focused on safely reopening after COVID.

With the shopping season underway and a triple threat of flu, COVID-19, and RSV circulating, it’s more important than ever for retail stores and other businesses to put health and safety front and center once again. Consumers agree, with 81% of survey respondents noting they were somewhat or very concerned about the cleanliness in offices and retail businesses they visit.

Guidance in the toolkit is adapted from public health recommendations for businesses to ensure a safe and healthy environment through effective cleaning and disinfecting best practices.

Resources include the following:

  • Employer Checklist: This checklist has step-by-step guidance on optimizing a workplace cleaning routine.
  • “Dirty Dozen” Handout: Focus disinfecting efforts on these frequently touched surfaces.
  • Handwashing Poster: Everyone can use a reminder about hand hygiene best practices.
  • Disinfecting Guide: Make sure disinfectants are being used properly in order to effectively kill germs.

Focus is still needed and appreciated by consumers, “especially as we head into cold and flu season,” said Hockstad. “The hand sanitizer dispensers that now sit unrefilled at many store entrances are not going unnoticed.”

In addition, ACI offers tailored resources and recommendations for a variety of audiences, including parents, college students, childcare providers, and more as part of its Cleaning Is Caring initiative.

Learn more at https://cleaninginstitute.org/CleaningIsCaring.

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.

The ACI Holiday Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com) among 1,016 nationally representative adults ages 18+, between November 6th and November 12th, 2023, using an email invitation and an online survey.