It’s National Technology Day and a great day to celebrate the innovations that make our lives easier. Cleaning is a common target of such innovations.

Over the years, American homes have relied more and more on cleaning technology as a way to cut down on time spent on chores.

• By 1940, 60% of American homes had an electric washing machine. (Wikipedia)
• After the Second World War, vacuum cleaners became common among the middle classes. (Wikipedia)
• In 2012, over 75% of homes in the United States had dishwashers. (Wikipedia)

That advancement of technology hasn’t stopped.

• The first Roomba was introduced in 2002. (Wikipedia)
• In 2015, the first laundry-folding robot was unveiled.

In addition to robots, appliances have gotten smarter. Washing machines can sense the size of a load of laundry and wash it accordingly. Dryers have sensors to stop when the clothes are dry. Cleaning appliances can be scheduled to run when electricity use in the area is at its lowest. These advances allow us to clean more sustainably.

What’s next in cleaning technology? We think there will be continued focus on disinfecting technologies as well as enhancing the cleaning power of washing in cold since much of the energy used in the laundry goes toward heating the water. Sustainability is an imperative in the cleaning products industry because #OurFutureIsClean.