[Development anecdote] The story of Nekodamari Kobo's liquid cleaner
This is a short story about the development of a liquid cleaner released by Nekodamari Kobo.
Please check here for product information.
The background to the development is here
Sales Information
・Nekodamari Kobo Online Store
Amazon store and others
What is Nekodamari Kobo's liquid cleaner?
First of all, what is a liquid cleaner?
You can think of it as a guitar and bass cleaner. It is not manufactured as a guitar cleaner, but as it is manufactured primarily as a liquid soap, and its use is not limited to guitars, it is simply called a liquid cleaner.
One of its unique features is that it is made in Nekodamari Kobo using a blend of raw materials, and the recipe has been developed to contain absolutely no solvents or abrasives that could damage the paint.
Based on the concept of producing products from natural ingredients, the formula is gentle on the skin and has excellent cleansing properties, and is sold in three different scents to make skincare a fun experience.
Also, if you don't put in any effort, you'll end up covered in foam and feeling sticky after cleaning, so we developed a recipe that reduces foaming and leaves a smooth texture after cleaning, with the cloth in mind when wiping a guitar or other items.
Development Aims
The background to the development of this product was to address the weaknesses of Nekodamari Kobo's main item, Clear Beeswax Wax.
Nekodamari Kobo's clear beeswax wax is intended solely for the purpose of moisturizing and protecting wooden parts such as fingerboards, and does not have the ability to remove dirt.
Strictly speaking, it does have the simple effect of lifting and removing dirt from surfaces, but since dedicated products such as cleaners are more effective, we have actually recommended using it in combination with other companies' products.
However, there are countless options available, including some commercially available cleaners that do not list their ingredients, some that have a distinctive solvent smell, and some that contain abrasives and can only be used on certain types of paint.
Therefore, Nekodamari Kobo decided to develop a cleaner based on the same concept as clear beeswax wax, which is gentle on the user's hands, highly versatile, and makes maintenance fun.
Material Selection
Making something from scratch starts with choosing the materials. We excluded materials that are necessary for general use but are not necessary for guitars and basses.
A typical example is alcohol. It is a common ingredient or material that is often included in products to promote chemical reactions and improve shelf life, but because it can dissolve delicate lacquer coatings, Nekodamari Kobo's liquid cleaner is alcohol-free.
In addition, the foaming, cleaning power, effect on the skin, and finish mentioned above can all vary depending on the ingredients, so we carefully select the vegetable oils we use as raw materials.
It also contains the herbs lavender and rosemary, and we have chosen a time-consuming manufacturing method in which they are mixed as extracted oils and liquid.
The method of production is similar to that of "Marseille soap", which is sometimes called the "king of soaps", and is adapted to Nekodamari Kobo's style.
Original fragrance blend
The finished liquid cleaner contains three original blends of scents from Nekodamari Kobo. The liquid cleaner as is is nearly odorless, but since it contains herbal extracts, it has a unique plant-like scent, so we decided to make the scented version the default, since it cannot be said to be odorless as a plain product.
Each of the three fragrances has its own concept and theme. Please check them out on the product page.
The concept is to have a soft fragrance, so the scent won't linger for long, but it will spread softly the moment you apply the product.
I would be happy if this product makes everyday care more enjoyable and gives you the enjoyment to want to care for your skin more often than usual.
Distribution support leading to quality maintenance
Since our products are manufactured without using synthetic preservatives or additives, the recommended expiration date is set to six months from the date of purchase.
We believe that if the storage environment is normal, the product can be used without any problems even after the expiration date, but we have set a shorter expiration date based on the assumption that storage environments are not uniform.
We limit sales methods in order to maximize the period during which products can be used after they reach the user, and we maintain quality by managing the effective inventory period.
Nekodamari Kobo's liquid cleaner is sold exclusively by Nekodamari Kobo or its designated dealers at the Nekodamari Kobo online store, Amazon store, and other locations.
Summary of Liquid Cleaners
The packaging design has been given a cosmetic feel with less of a guitar and bass cleaner feel so that it can be placed in your everyday interior decor.
It has a storage-friendly acrylic bottle that can be used in small quantities and a packaging with a Japanese paper feel. Although it is just one of many cleaners on the market, we believe that we have created an item that is full of the values of Nekodamari Kobo.
With the theme of "items that support harmony," we will continue to work hard on product development, aiming to help add color to your everyday life.