5 Tips for Selecting Mist and Trigger Sprayers
Mist sprayers and trigger sprayers make life easier for consumers. They provide controlled and uniform product dosing, adding convenience and durability to applications ranging from personal care (skincare, hair care, perfume, etc.) and auto care to home care (surface cleaners, pest control, lawn/garden care, laundry care, air fresheners, etc.), industrial, and even food (fine-mist sprayers for cooking oils).
Finding the proper spray dispenser and spray bottle for your product and application lays the foundation for a positive brand experience and market success.
Here are five tips for selecting mist and trigger sprayers.
1. Product Compatibility
Some products contain chemicals that may corrode or damage the sprayer. If you’re working with harsh chemicals, choose a sprayer resistant to chemicals and solvents.
Most sprayers feature PP or rubber construction with good chemical and impact resistance. They also may include other plastics (e.g., HDPE, LDPE, PET), a metal spring, and other materials. Sprayers made of multiple materials are not suitable for recycling.
Other product considerations when selecting a sprayer include viscosity and fill temperature.
Sprayers come in different color schemes to support branding requirements and visually identify different SKUs in a product line.
Spray bottles are available in plastic, glass, and aluminum. Many spray bottles are refillable, which reduces their environmental footprint.
2. Product Dosage
The amount of dispensed product or product dosage should align with the application. For example, a large spray coverage area usually requires a higher dosage.
Sprayer dosages typically range from 0.16 ml (fine mist) to 1.5 ml per stroke. High-output sprayers can dispense products up to 4 ml in a single spray.
3. Spray Pattern
There are five common spray patterns: spray, stream/jet, mist, foam, and continuous spray. Many sprayers come with adjustable (rotating) nozzles that allow the user to switch between spray patterns. Some specially designed sprayers can dispense products while upside down.
The traditional “spray” pattern delivers a conical spray well-suited for cleaning hard surfaces, while the stream or jet pattern puts your product in a small coverage area. A mist spray produces a fine mist of tiny droplets, ideal for hair care, sunscreen, perfume, and other personal care applications.
A foam spray enables the product to remain on the surface for an extended time. Carpet and upholstery cleaners benefit from foam sprayers. A continuous spray delivers a fine mist and minimizes user fatigue.
4. Sprayer & Bottle Compatibility
The bottle's neck finish and the sprayer's cap size must match exactly. If these numbers are not identical, you are at risk of leaky containers and dissatisfied customers.
The bottle's neck finish (e.g., 28-400) comprises two numbers — the first number (28 mm) corresponds to the outside diameter of the thread, and the second number refers to the thread height and count (400 indicates one thread turn around the bottle's neck, which is the thread finish.). If your bottle features a 28-400 neck finish, your sprayer cap size also must be 28-400.
Dip tube length can affect the dispensing of your product. A short or too-long dip tube can result in poor spray performance, product waste, and customer dissatisfaction. For more details, read our companion article, “Measuring & Cutting Your Dip Tube for Optimal Dispensing.”
5. Sustainability
Many brands are moving toward more responsible packaging to meet their ESG goals and the demands of their consumers. Some all-plastic mister sprayers and trigger sprayers are recyclable. Sprayers can also incorporate post-consumer recycled (PCR) content.
Most spray bottles are recyclable and can include PCR, which reduces their carbon footprint. Refillable spray bottles contribute to sustainable packaging.
(Left) Turtle Wax trigger sprayer bottles incorporate 30% PCR PET.