WASHINGTON — Results of a recent survey conducted by the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) reveal low consumer awareness of both the risks involved with liquid laundry detergent packets and the preventive measures needed to be taken before, during and after the laundry process, ACI reports.
The survey, conducted as part of ACI’s KEY Pledge safety education campaign to help keep children safe from the accidental exposures to liquid laundry detergent packets, polled 1,000 parents and caregivers with young children (ages 0-4), all of whom use such packets.
ACI reports that amongst its findings, only 34% report properly storing their liquid laundry detergent packets in a cabinet or a cabinet with a lock. Moreover, one in six people surveyed admitted to taking no safety precautions at all with the packets.
The survey also found that while 60% say they immediately put the packets away once brought into the home, more than 50% aren’t taking safety precautions, storing the liquid laundry detergent packets on the washing machine, dryer counter and floor when not in use; 70% of those keep the product less than five feet from the ground, which ACI says is well within reach of young children.
During the first year liquid laundry packets were on the market, in 85% of the exposures reviewed, the packet was accessed from a visible location, ACI adds.
“As seen in the survey results, we still have work to do,” says Nancy Bock, ACI senior vice president of education. “ACI is committed to making the public aware of the importance of using and storing all laundry detergent packets (as well as other household cleaning products) up high and out of reach of children, preferably in a locked cabinet.”
An infographic containing additional statistics and safety information is available here.
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