Hard surface cleaners:
Soil release & next-time cleanability
Cleaning Performance Challenges
Creating effective surface cleaners requires a careful balance of cleaning performance, residue-free shine, and sustainability. Surfaces like tiles, countertops, and stainless steel demand streak-free results and compatibility with eco-labels – all while maintaining performance across a range of conditions.
To enhance wetting, soil removal, and vertical cling, most current formulations rely on petroleum-based polymers. However, these materials often lack compatibility under varying pH conditions and offer limited environmental benefits. Achieving high cleaning performance with more sustainable ingredients remains a key industry challenge.
Bio-Based Cleaning Boosters
Borregaard’s bio-based ingredients, LignoBrite and Exilva, provide a sustainable, high-performing alternative to traditional polymers.
- LignoBrite, an upcycled1 biopolymer, improves soil dispersion and reduces streaking and filming. It enhances surface feel and contributes to “next-time cleanability” by minimizing residue build-up.
- Exilva, based on microfibrillated cellulose, delivers natural thickening, rheology control, and vertical cling – helping products stay in place and cover surfaces more effectively.
Together, these ingredients replace synthetic polymers while offering greater stability and compatibility under harsh formulation conditions – including both high and low pH. The result: cleaner surfaces today, and easier cleaning tomorrow.
Next-time cleanability results
Surface testing shows improved soil removal (reduction in visible residue) and better next-time cleanability in hard surface spray cleaners formulated with LignoBrite. A cleaner formulated with Exilva improves the vertical cling, covers a larger area, and improves dwell-time for the active – giving a cleaner result.
Ready to start formulating?
We’re ready to help you develop more effective, label-friendly hard surface cleaners.
FOOTNOTES:
1 Following European Investment Bank (EIB) definition (The European Investment Bank (EIB) Circular Economy Guide (https://www.eib.org/files/publications/thematic/circular_economy_guide_en.pdf))