ABSTRACT
I. INTRODUCTION Household hard surface cleaners are defined in this discussion as formulations, powder or liquid, used to clean hard surfaces in the home, excluding dishes. Therefore, cleaners used on “soft” surfaces in the home — upholstery and carpet cleaners, fabric stain cleaners, etc. — are not discussed here. Also excluded from this discussion are household products that are used primarily as treatments rather than cleaners per se — polishes, floor waxes, tarnish removers, and drain cleaners (decloggers). Also not included are air fresheners, which are not
cleaners but are often included in market analysis as part of the household cleaning market. Metal cleaners, surface descalers, and other such industrial liquid cleaners will not be discussed. The formulation of liquid bleach products is an art in itself so bleach will be discussed here briefly as an adjunct to all-purpose cleaning.
