- Key Information for Caregivers: As With Any Household Cleaning Product, Safe Use and Storage of Laundry Packets is Essential
- Safety Tips Available on ACI Website: www.cleaninginstitute.org/caregiver-tips/
- Detergent Manufacturers Are Fully Committed to Reducing Incidents Related to Laundry Packets
- Companies Have Made Significant Changes to the Products and Packaging
- More than 99% of Liquid Laundry Packets Being Shipped in Compliance With New ASTM Safety Standard
- Video Available to Showcase Products With Updated Packaging, Labels
Washington, DC – June 15, 2017 – The American Cleaning Institute® (ACI) issued the following statement in response to a Consumer Reports article on accidents related to the use of liquid laundry packets:
Manufacturers of liquid laundry detergent packets are fully committed to reducing accidental access to these products, which are used safely by millions of consumers every day.
The Consumer Reports coverage serves to remind all of us to keep liquid laundry packets – and all household cleaning products – out of sight and reach of young children, as well as locked away for those adults living with Alzheimer’s disease and/or other forms of dementia.
Key Information for Caregivers
If you are caring for an individual who shows the signs or symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, all cleaning products, including laundry detergents, should be stored in a locked cabinet or a closet. For more information, visit the Caregivers Action Network or view safety tips for caregivers on the ACI website: www.cleaninginstitute.org/caregiver-tips/
ACI is also partnering with the Caregiver Action Network to share educational materials for their upcoming caregiver training conferences.
Additional resources are available on the website of the Alzheimer’s Association: https://www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-dementia-home-safety.asp
Background on ASTM Liquid Laundry Packet Safety Standard
ACI joined consumer advocates and manufacturers in developing a voluntary safety standard for liquid laundry packets, which was published in December 2015 by the standards-setting body ASTM International. The standard contains a strong set of label, package and product design interventions supported by science and research that are intended to reduce accidental exposure to liquid laundry packets.
It is important to note that, by the end of 2016, more than 99 percent of all liquid laundry packets shipped to retailers were in compliance with the ASTM standard. The organizations that joined together to create the standard (detergent manufacturers, CPSC, consumer advocates, medical professionals, and other stakeholders) have put in place a plan to collect and analyze incident data to determine the standard’s impact.
Companies following the standard must include standardized warnings, precautionary statements and safety icons on the labels of these products; utilize opaque packaging to prevent visibility of the packets from the outside; and utilize package closure designs that challenge the typical strength, mental acuity or dexterity of a young child.
The laundry packet designs in the standard intended to deter access to the detergent include:
- ensure packets withstand the squeezing pressure of a child;
- include a soluble film containing a bitter substance;
- use a film that delays the release of liquid contents so the bittering substance takes effect.
VIDEO PRODUCERS: If you are interested in the latest broadcast resolution b-roll showcasing liquid laundry detergent packets with updated packaging and labeling, contact Brian Sansoni at bsansoni@cleaninginstitute.org
Contact: Brian Sansoni, American Cleaning Institute, 202.662.2517 or bsansoni@cleaninginstitute.org