Future trends: Why will home sterilization care become a health necessity?

With the awakening of global health awareness and the acceleration of technological innovation, home sterilization care is gradually changing from a "optional consumer product" to a "health necessity". Behind this trend are multiple social, technological and policy factors. Combining industry data and user needs, this article will deeply analyze the core reasons why home sterilization care has become a necessity and its future development direction.

1. Awakening of health awareness: the need for normalized protection in the post-epidemic era

The COVID-19 pandemic has completely changed the public's perception of health protection. Data shows that the global household sterilization equipment market is expected to exceed 50 billion yuan in 2025, of which the Asia-Pacific region accounts for more than 40%. Consumers are not only concerned about the disinfection of public spaces, but also extend their sterilization needs to home scenes - from tableware, clothing to air purification, household sterilization equipment (such as electrolytic sterilization cups, negative ion purifiers) have become the "first line of defense" against pathogens. For example, at the AWE2025 exhibition, home appliances such as air conditioners and refrigerators have become the benchmark for healthy home appliances by integrating sterilization functions (such as ion sterilization systems with a sterilization rate of 99.99%).

In addition, consumers have significantly increased their attention to "preventive health". Studies have shown that 92% of consumers give priority to health functions when purchasing home appliances, and air purifiers, sterilizing washing machines and other categories have become standard household equipment. This shift in demand has driven sterilization technology to penetrate from medical scenarios to home scenarios, forming a "home medicalization" trend.

2. Technological innovation drive: from "passive disinfection" to "active protection"

• (1) Popularization of electrolysis technology and green sterilization

  Traditional chemical disinfectants have been criticized for their residual risks and environmental pollution, but electrolysis technology has become a new favorite for household sterilization by converting tap water into sterilizing ingredients such as hypochlorous acid and hydrogen peroxide, achieving "ready-to-use" and "zero additives". For example, the electrolytic sterilization oral care cup can generate safe mouthwash within 30 seconds, meeting the dual needs of oral care and toothbrush disinfection.

• (2) Intelligent and automated upgrades

  Smart sterilization equipment uses IoT technology to achieve remote control and real-time monitoring. For example, some air conditioners have built-in air quality sensors that automatically turn on purification mode when pollutants exceed the standard. In the future, devices combined with AI algorithms will be able to predict the home sterilization cycle and achieve "active protection."

• (3) Environmental protection and energy-saving design

  The concept of green manufacturing promotes the iteration of sterilization equipment towards low energy consumption and sustainability. For example, energy-saving sterilizers can reduce household use costs and carbon emissions by optimizing energy utilization efficiency.

3. Double dividends from policies and market demand

• (1) Policies guide the upgrading of health consumption

  The revision of China’s “Regulations on the Administration of Disinfection in Medical Institutions” and other laws and regulations have strengthened the standards for sterilization equipment, indirectly driving the demand for compliant products in the household market1. In addition, the national “trade-in” policy of subsidizing green home appliances has accelerated the popularization of household sterilization equipment10.

• (2) The rigid demand for aging and chronic disease management

  The global aging population is accelerating, and the demand for home care is surging. The elderly and patients with chronic diseases are more susceptible to infection. Home sterilization equipment (such as self-cleaning toothbrush disinfection cups and air purifiers) can reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections and relieve pressure on the medical system612. Data shows that the market size of community and home care will grow by XX% in 2025, becoming an important application scenario for sterilization equipment12.

4. Future trends: from single function to full-scenario ecosystem

• (1) Whole-house sterilization system integration

  In the future, household sterilization will break through the limitations of a single product and form an ecosystem of coordinated protection of air, water, and object surfaces. For example, the smart home platform can link the fresh air system, water purifier, and sterilizing washing machine to achieve "one-click whole-house sterilization."

• (2) Personalized health management

  By analyzing user living habits through big data, the device can provide customized sterilization solutions. For example, it can automatically adjust the air purification intensity for families with allergies, or recommend a special sterilization mode for postoperative patients.

• (3) Internationalization and standardization development

  Chinese sterilization equipment companies are accelerating their expansion into overseas markets and promoting the formulation of international standards. For example, sterilization products that meet the EU CE certification have accounted for 40% of the global market share.

Conclusion
The rigid demand for home sterilization care is not only the product of technological progress, but also the inevitable result of the upgrading of social health awareness. With the maturity of intelligent and environmentally friendly technologies, as well as the continuous promotion of policies and markets, home sterilization equipment will evolve from "functional tools" to "infrastructure for healthy life". In the future, this field will not only give birth to more innovative products, but also reshape people's definition of healthy life - from "disease treatment" to "disease prevention", from "individual protection" to "whole family health".