No matter what your tidying schedule is, cleaning products are one of the few essentials that every home has in stock. And at a certain point, most people realize which brands they prefer to help keep their windows sparkling, floors shining, bathrooms beaming, and kitchens gleaming—or at the very least sanitized. In recent years, the only serious problem with most items was when supplies ran drastically short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But now, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning that certain popular Pine-Sol products could pose a serious health hazard. Read on to see which cleaning supplies you should stop using right away.
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Product safety recalls are not uncommon.
ShutterstockNo matter what their function may be, no consumer product should create a high risk of injury when they're used properly. But when certain items fall short of safety standards, it's not uncommon for the CPSC to alert the public and issue a recall.
In April, the agency announced that 635,000 Insignia-brand air fryers sold at Best Buy were being pulled from shelves after it was found that the products could overheat and cause severe burns or a fire hazard. There was also a major recall on six refrigerator models sold by GE Appliances that month after it was found that the products' freezer handles could easily break off and pose a serious fall hazard. And in June, the CPSC announced a recall on specific models of Electrolux and Frigidaire refrigerators after it was found that a defect with the units' ice level detector arm made it liable to break into pieces and create a choking hazard.
The agency also issued another major appliance recall earlier this month for certain Outdoor Series 24-inch Built-In Convertible Freezers produced by the U-Line Corporation. In this case, it was found that the appliances could potentially overheat and create a fire. Unfortunately, this was only discovered after customers reported three incidents of the freezers starting a blaze as of Oct. 13.
But not all recalls are focused on household appliances. The agency's latest warning is for products you might be using to tidy up around the house.
A recall has been issued for specific Pine-Sol cleaning products.
CPSCOn Oct. 25, the CPSC announced that Clorox had issued a recall on several of its Pine-Sol cleaning products. The affected items include Pine-Sol Scented Multi-Surface Cleaners in Lavender Clean, Sparkling Wave, and Lemon Fresh scents; CloroxPro Pine-Sol All Purpose Cleaners in Lavender Clean, Sparkling Wave, Lemon Fresh, and Orange Energy scents; and Clorox Professional Pine-Sol Lemon Fresh Cleaners. The agency specified that Original Pine-Sol is not included in the recall but that about 37 million bottles in total are affected.
According to the CPSC's notice, the products are sold in multiple-size format bottles of 28, 48, 60, 100, 144, and 175 fluid ounces. Customers can identify the recalled products by checking the date code on the label for the prefix "A4" followed by a five-digit number less than 22249.
The products were sold nationwide online by Amazon and other retailer websites. They were also sold in stores including but not limited to Walmart, Sam's Club, Dollar General, Target, Home Depot, BJ's, Kroger, Dollar Tree, Lowe's, and Publix for between $2.50 and $12.50.
The company pulled the products after discovering a potentially serious contamination issue.
Natali _ Mis / ShutterstockThe CPSC's notice states that Clorox issued the Pine-Sol recall out of "an abundance of caution" because they may contain Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. The company spokesperson said the Pine-Sol research and development made the discovery during a "routine product review," per The New York Times.
According to the agency, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is widely found in soil and water and doesn't typically affect people with healthy immune systems. But people who are immunocompromised or use external medical devices "face a risk of serious infection that may require medical treatment" if they are exposed to the microorganism. The agency says the bacteria can enter the body through a break in the skin, inhalation, or through the eyes.
Here's what you should do if you have the recalled Pine-Sol products.
iStockSo far, the agency notes that there have been no reports of adverse medical events related to the items. But if you have any Pine-Sol products that are part of the Clorox recall, the agency says you should immediately stop using them. You should then take a picture of the product's 12-digit UPC and date code before throwing it out in its original container along with other household trash.
Customers can then reach out to Clorox for a refund. The company says customers with a receipt can receive the full purchase price back, while those without a receipt will receive the manufacturer's suggested retail price. Consumers can contact the company at the website, email address, or hotline number posted on the CPSC's recall notice.
