.png?width=517&height=128&name=Group%20(2).png "Group (2)")
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 cleaning performance through multiple mechanisms. Its dispersing action keeps dirt particles suspended, preventing them from re-attaching to surfaces. By modifying surfaces to become more hydrophilic, LignoBrite promotes faster water drainage, which reduces residues and creates an “anti-rain” effect. In addition, it provides a soil-release benefit, making next-time cleaning easier.
- 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 with LignoBrite
Surface testing shows improved soil removal (reduction in visible residue) and better next-time cleanability in hard surface spray cleaners formulated with LignoBrite.
Anti-rain effect with LignoBrite
Enhance surface cleanliness and durability, even under rainy conditions.
LignoBrite prevents water from forming droplets or streaks on cleaned surfaces. By modifying surface tension, it makes surfaces more hydrophilic, allowing water to spread evenly and rinse away without leaving marks. This effect ensures rainwater doesn’t bead up or trap dirt – keeping surfaces cleaner for longer and simplifying maintenance:
- Automotive care
- Industrial cleaning
- Glass and solar panel maintenance
- Outdoor signage and facades
Increased active retention with Exilva
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))