This week in the lab, Airable is working to develop a more environmentally friendly patio surface cleaner. Patio cleaning agents are widely used chemicals (with a U.S. market size of $8.4 billion) that are used to cleanse outdoor stone or concrete of built-up dirt, grime, algae, and mildew. These products come in all shapes and colors, ranging from alkaline and acidic cleaners to bacterial/enzymatic cleaners. Many commercial patio cleaners, however, contain harsh chemicals such as “QUATs,” or quaternary ammonium compounds. These QUATs present a range of acute and chronic health safety hazards, such as burning eyes and skin, respiratory inflammation, asthma onset, and developmental defects. By working to introduce soy into patio cleaners, we are helping protect people against these harmful effects.

In a world that is ever-pushing toward “green” solutions, patio cleaners have a long way to go before they are considered “safe”…and Airable is stepping up to the challenge.