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Contact: Brian Sansoni, 202-662-2517 / 202-680-9327 or bsansoni@cleaning101.com

"Grades" on Cleaning Product Companies Mislead Consumers About Safety

• Consumers Have Access to More Information Than Ever on Cleaning Products, Says SDA
• SDA Cautions Against Turning Labels Into Encyclopedias

WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 26, 2008 – An activist group's call for a one-size-fits-all labeling scheme on household cleaning products could obscure the most important information for consumers – product safety and usage information.

The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA – www.cleaning101.com) today expressed disappointment at a cleaning product "report card" issued by a group known as Women's Voices for the Earth (WVE) which could misguide consumers about the safety of cleaning products.

"Consumer safety and confidence in cleaning products is of highest concern to SDA and its member companies," said Nancy Bock, SDA Vice President of Education.

"An incredible amount of research and development goes on before these products ever hit the shelves, not to mention that the products must meet all applicable federal and state quality, safety and labeling regulations," said Bock.

"Responsible manufacturers ensure their products go through comprehensive, extensive risk assessments, and also review scientific developments and monitor product use data that may affect the safety assessment process."

The Most Important Label Information – Usage and Safety Instructions

SDA noted that, even with the breadth of information now available, the cleaning product industry is working to provide consumers with more information prior to and after purchase to ensure safe and proper use. SDA and its member companies look forward to continued, thoughtful dialogue on these issues with interested organizations in the months ahead.

"Companies are committed to providing meaningful information to consumers because they are asking more questions about product ingredients," added Bock. "The fact is, consumers have greater access to health and safety information than ever before about cleaning products – through information available via product labels, company websites and toll-free hotlines.

"We don't want to see label clutter that would obscure product safety and usage information. We are concerned about some proposals that would turn labels into encyclopedias."

Use Products Safely

"The proper and safe use of cleaning products is as important as their effectiveness. We strongly encourage consumers to read the cleaning product label, use it properly and safely, and to store it securely in its original packaging," said Bock.

SDA has made available science-based, factual information on cleaning product safety through a website, CleaningProductFacts.com.

Beware the Call for "Mix Your Own" Concoctions

SDA reminds consumers that safety should be the number one concern when it comes to "make your own" cleaning product recipes, which lack the safety assurances of commercially formulated cleaning products.

"These 'make your own' concoctions are not regulated by the government and often come without safety tips and directions for proper use, dosage and storage," said Bock "With these 'homemade' cleaners, consumers may miss some safety assurances, spend more, clean less effectively and even lose some important health and hygiene benefits of cleaning."

SDA Safety Tips

Besides directions on how to use and store the product, for products that pose a likelihood of injury, the label must identify the product's hazards, the ingredients contributing to those hazards and instructions on how to treat accidental exposures.

Precautions against mixing certain products together are also given when appropriate. Some labels carry instructions for the disposal of unused product. And website addresses and toll-free phone numbers enable the consumer to get additional information from the manufacturer.

SDA has also published an online guide to safe and effective use of cleaning products, "Clean and Safe in the 21st Century," which consumers can download at www.cleaning101.com/health.

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The Soap and Detergent Association (www.cleaning101.com), the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Product and Oleochemical Industries®, is the non-profit trade association representing manufacturers of household, industrial, and institutional cleaning products, their ingredients and finished packaging; oleochemical producers; and chemical distributors to the cleaning product industry. SDA members produce more than 90 percent of the cleaning products marketed in the U.S. The SDA is located at 1500 K Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005.