2015 ACI Survey Finds Many Households Still Improperly Storing Laundry Packets

Exposure to liquid laundry packets among young children remains an issue. While ACI’s laundry safety campaign has been making strides to help educate parents and caregivers on how to prevent these accidents, we are still seeing exposures among young children. Proper storage of these liquid laundry packets is essential in preventing accidental exposures.

ACI recently conducted a national survey among 1,000 parents and caregivers, half with children under the age of 4, which revealed low consumer awareness of practicing safe laundry habits. Below are results from the survey:

• Sixty-one% of parents are storing laundry packets in-sight or in-reach of children
• 81% of them mistakenly think their children cannot reach the packets
• 1 in 4 parents place detergent packets on the washer or dryer while doing laundry, making them easily accessible to young children
• One third of parents who bring their children with them into the laundry room admit they can reach the laundry detergent
• Roughly 3 million American households with children under the age of 4 years of age are storing liquid laundry packets on the washing machine, an area that could easily be reached by children
• 69% of parents do not store laundry packets in a locked cabinet or closet

Locking detergent packets up in a cabinet is an effective way to keep these products out of reach of young children, especially when little ones begin exploring closets and cabinets at an early age.

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