How did you get started in the cleaning industry?
My first introduction to the cleaning industry happened soon after college when I got a scientist role working on laundry innovations. When my first cleaning product came out, I was instantly hooked. Seeing consumers interact and enjoy that product was very rewarding.
Was that the first product you ever developed?
The first product I ever helped develop was a skin care lotion that would be produced in many countries around the world. It was very different from cleaning products, but it helped me appreciate the challenges of creating something truly innovative as well as safe for the skin.
What inspired the creation of Ultrawash Plus?
Dropps has been pioneering a cleaner clean for over 30 years, and invented the very first cleaning pods. That’s a fun fact that some people don’t know because today pods are fairly commonplace. But we’re always looking for ways to innovate and push the boundaries. For the dish category specifically, we wanted to create a USDA certified biobased, multi-chamber, autodish detergent pod. There are conventional multi-chamber autodish pods out there, but those weren’t necessarily made with both efficacy and the environment in mind.
Can you describe some of the key scientific breakthroughs that make Ultrawash Plus stand out from similar traditional dish detergents on the market?
Our UltraWash Plus dish pod has three distinct chambers that allow us to really boost the level of clean you get in each pod. Each chamber is designed to deliver a unique cleaning benefit. The powder chamber has deep cleaning ingredients to help scrub away stuck-on food and stains. A liquid chamber with a built-in rinse aid and degreasing action cuts tough grease and removes spots, streaks, and film from glassware. Finally, a second liquid chamber with specialized enzymes is designed to clean the toughest starch-based messes, like stuck-on rice!
What environmental or sustainability factors were considered in the formulation?
UltraWash Plus was specifically designed to be powerful, yet USDA Biobased certified and free from ingredients such as parabens, phosphate, bleach and phthalates.
What future trends in cleaning products, ingredient sourcing, or green chemistry influenced this detergent’s design?
The whole world is becoming more environmentally conscious, and that is something we love and celebrate here at Dropps! People are increasingly paying attention to what they are buying online and at the store shelf, and thinking about how their purchase is affecting the planet. Here at Dropps, we are focused on ensuring that our ingredients are both powerful and environmentally conscious—a rare combination. When selecting ingredients we take into account the entire product lifecycle, using plant-based ingredients as much as possible. High levels of efficacy with USDA Biobased certification should be the goal of all cleaning products. It’s certainly a key focus for us at Dropps!