Tel: +86 13962653966 | Email： sales@szeasychem.com
Tel: +86 13962653966 | Email： sales@szeasychem.com
“I’m currently working on developing a line of powder-based household cleaners and am searching for a suitable preservative solution. Since these products are in powder form and intended to be dissolved in water by the end user, I’m specifically looking for preservatives that meet the following criteria:
Effective in pH 7 and above
Available in powder form
Water-soluble
As mild and safe as possible – ideally similar in profile to Sodium Benzoate or Potassium Sorbate, but with better efficacy at higher pH
Would you be able to recommend any solutions or ingredients that could fit these requirements? I’d be truly grateful for your insight and any suggestions you might have.”
This is a question we hear more and more often as brands move toward eco-friendly powder household cleaners. Most conventional preservatives like Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate lose their effectiveness above pH 6.5, making them unsuitable for alkaline cleaning products.
In this article, we’ll share the most effective preservative for powder household cleaners, with options that are:
✅ Stable and effective at pH 7 and above
✅ Supplied in powder form
✅ Water-soluble after reconstitution
✅ As mild and safe as possible — ideal for consumer-friendly household applications
We’ll explore both single-preservative solutions and synergistic blends, so you can confidently formulate a long-lasting, microbially safe powder cleaner.
The most promising standalone solution is PHMB (Polyhexamethylene Biguanide) in powder form.
Effective at pH 4–10
Broad-spectrum antimicrobial against bacteria, fungi, and yeasts
Stable in powder form and easily soluble in water
Safe and mild, used in wound care, contact lenses, and sanitizers
Low usage concentration (0.05–0.1% after dilution)
For enhanced stability and performance, pair PHMB with a chelating agent like Sodium Gluconate (see below), especially in hard water environments.
Laundry powders
Surface and floor cleaners
General-purpose alkaline cleaning powders
For tougher microbial challenges, or to target mold and fungi more aggressively, a combination system is ideal.
Core antimicrobial agent (0.05–0.1%)
Food-grade chelator, improves preservative stability
Enhances performance in metal-ion-rich environments
Typical use level: 0.5–1%
Strong antifungal/antimold agent
Effective at pH 3–10
Use at 0.05–0.1%
Use with caution in regions with regulatory restrictions (e.g., EU)
✅ Broader spectrum protection
✅ More robust against fungal and mold contamination
✅ More stable in complex powder formulations
✅ Still 100% water-soluble and powder-compatible
| Feature | PHMB Only | PHMB + Sodium Gluconate | PHMB + Gluconate + Pyrithione |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH Compatibility | 4–10 | 4–10 | 3–10 |
| Antibacterial | ✔ | ✔✔ | ✔✔✔ |
| Antifungal | ⚠ Moderate | ✔ Good | ✔✔ Excellent |
| Powder Stability | ✔ | ✔✔ | ✔✔ |
| Regulatory Simplicity | ✔ | ✔✔ | ⚠ Under Regulatory Review |
| Best For | General Cleaning Use | High Hardness Water Formulations | High Humidity / Fungal-Prone Environments |
Example 1: Basic Alkaline Powder Cleaner
PHMB 0.08%
Sodium Gluconate 0.5%
→ Stable, effective, safe for general household use
Example 2: Mold-Prone Bathroom Cleaner Powder
PHMB 0.05%
Sodium Gluconate 1%
Sodium Pyrithione 0.05%
→ Maximum antimicrobial spectrum with long-term protection
For basic, cost-effective protection → Use PHMB alone
For higher microbial challenge or better long-term stability → Use PHMB + Sodium Gluconate
For anti-mold and anti-fungal assurance → Add Sodium Pyrithione to the blend
All three ingredients are available in powder form, are water-soluble, and can be pre-mixed in your dry cleaning formulas.
At EasyChem, we supply these ingredients with full technical support, SDS/TDS, and global shipping.:
PHMB Powder
Sodium Gluconate
Sodium Pyrithione
[Request Samples] [Get a Quote] [Download TDS]
Let us help you build a safe, effective, and stable powder cleaner formulation.
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We will contact you within 2 hours, please pay attention to the email with the suffix “joyceyu@szeasychem.com”.