During the pandemic, with many Americans wanting to beautify the homes they were spending so much time in, laundry room makeovers became a more popular trend – and there are no signs of it letting up. As National Safety Month gets underway, the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) is reminding everyone not to forget the common-sense steps we need to take to keep our children safe in the home.
Recent data from ACI shows a need for continued safety education and awareness when it comes to using and storing liquid laundry packets and other household cleaners. In fact, 32% of Americans admit keeping their packets in a place where a child could see them and 29% do not consistently store these products up and out of reach.
Store Not Décor
Popular storage trends are frequently seen on social media that prioritize style over safety, like storing products in clear or glass containers. To combat this, ACI launched the Store Not Décor Challenge to raise awareness of this unadvisable trend and educate on proper safe storage habits. The Challenge is driven by digital influencers across popular social channels like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
“Keeping the product in the package is a simple step to a safer home,” said Brian Sansoni, ACI Senior Vice President, Communications & Outreach. “ACI’s ‘Store Not Décor’ campaign reminds parents and caregivers to never sacrifice safety for style and keep liquid laundry packets out of sight and reach of children and in their original containers.
“Follow the hashtag #StoreNotDecor on your favorite social media platform and share your pictures of how you safely and securely store your laundry packets and other cleaning products.”
Safety Innovations
In the last decade, detergent manufacturers have integrated several innovations to ensure that laundry packets not only work but are also safe when used as directed. Safety advancements made to the packet, include:
- Increased packet burst strength
- Faster dissolution in less water and colder water
- Slower dissolution in saliva
- Added bittering agent
Liquid laundry packet packaging design and safety features were also implemented to help deter accidental exposures among young children, but only work if families use these features correctly.
ACI remains dedicated to providing crucial resources and guidance to help families and caregivers alike understand and integrate safe practices at home. This National Safety Month, check out our new laundry safety video to learn more about laundry packet innovation and important safety reminders or visit https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/liquidlaundrypacketsafety.
