Innovation Where It's Least Expected: Insights from ISSA 2025

When you think about innovation in professional cleaning, where do you look first? For many, it’s the Innovation Showcase at ISSA, and that’s for good reason. This year, CloroxPro proudly earned an Honorable Mention for our new Screen+™ Wipes, designed to meet the growing need for safe, effective cleaning of shared screens and devices.

But here’s the truth: innovation isn’t confined to the spotlight. It’s often found in unexpected places. In trends, technologies, and ideas that quietly reshape how we clean, train, and maintain healthy environments. With over 600 exhibitors and nearly 30% new faces on the show floor, ISSA 2025 was a perfect opportunity to uncover what’s next for our industry.¹

Here are three key insights that stood out to me, and why they matter for cleaning professionals and decision-makers.

Restroom hygiene & sustainability: a dual priority

Restrooms remain one of the toughest challenges for hygiene and sustainability, and ISSA showcased exciting progress on both fronts.

Sofidel, for example, is pushing boundaries with its HyTech Seas line, transitioning dispensers to plastic recovered from ocean waste. For every 484 paper towel dispensers, Sofidel uses one ton of reclaimed fishing nets, a powerful example of circular innovation. Their Dissolve Tech towels, which dissolve in under three minutes, help reduce plumbing issues and maintenance costs, while all Papernet products now carry FSC^® certification, reinforcing their commitment to responsible sourcing.

On the hygiene side, Tork’s Inclusive Hygiene initiative caught my attention. It highlights a critical truth: not everyone experiences restrooms the same way. A child who can’t reach the sink or a person sensitive to loud dryers faces barriers to proper hand hygiene. By designing for inclusivity, Tork is elevating occupant experience, a trend we see gaining traction across the industry. For cleaning managers, this signals a shift: hygiene solutions must go beyond compliance to consider accessibility and user experience, and it’s a good business practice too.

CloroxPro's Restroom Care Toolkit helps custodial directors, cleaning supervisors and cleaning staff keep restrooms clean and healthy.

Off-the-wall dilution systems: convenience meets risk

Dilution control has long been a cornerstone of low-cost cleaning. Traditionally, systems were mounted on walls, but ISSA revealed a clear trend toward portable, off-the-wall solutions. From ready-to-dilute sprayers that connect to any water source to dual-chamber trigger sprayers that eliminate the need for separate bottle refills, convenience is driving innovation.

However, this evolution raises an important question: How accurate are these systems? Recent research reviewed by my colleague, Dr. Erin McLean, shows that dilution devices can be surprisingly inaccurate, leading to over-dilution (ineffective cleaning and infection risk) or under-dilution (increased toxicity and PPE concerns). In healthcare settings, where proper disinfection is critical to prevent HAIs, this is more than a technical issue; it’s a safety imperative.

At Clorox Professional, we believe innovation must be paired with rigorous validation. As portable systems gain popularity, cleaning managers should ask vendors about accuracy testing and compliance with EPA label requirements. Convenience should never compromise efficacy or safety.

Mobile-first training: empowering the frontline

Training has always been essential for quality and compliance but staffing challenges and high turnover demand new approaches. ISSA showcased solutions that meet workers where they are, on their phones and mobile devices, not at a desktop.

Programs like Clean Train U, a mobile-first platform for BSC cleaners, and Optisolve’s Savi360, which uses AI to deliver customized solutions after identifying cleaning gaps, represent a shift toward real-time, tech-enabled education. These tools empower frontline staff to perform at their best, improving outcomes for both management and building occupants.

At Clorox Professional, we recognized this need early with our HealthyClean^® Certificate Program, designed to provide science-based training that’s accessible and practical. Seeing the industry embrace mobile-first learning reinforces what we’ve long believed: education is the foundation of effective cleaning, and technology is making it more scalable than ever.

In conclusion, my experience at ISSA 2025 proved that true innovation isn’t limited to the Innovation Showcase, it’s woven throughout the show floor, in trends and technologies that quietly redefine how we clean, train, and maintain healthy spaces. From sustainable restroom solutions to portable dilution systems and mobile-first training, these discoveries highlight where our industry is headed: toward smarter, more inclusive, and more convenient solutions, and I’m glad to be part of it.