ACI Says Consumer Cleaning Products Can Be Used "Safely and Effectively"

Despite certain claims, consumers can continue to use cleaning products in their homes properly, safely and effectively, says the American Cleaning Institute (ACI; Washington). 

The comments came as the Environmental Working Group (EWG) released its online guide to "safe" cleaning products. Among its "key findings":

Air fresheners contain secret fragrance mixtures that can trigger allergies and asthma. Open windows or use fans. 

The ACI says this latest EWG effort "distorts the science and research about cleaning product and ingredient safety and defies a fundamental principle of science by ignoring that ingredients can be used safely at the levels present in cleaning products." 

“The cleaning products industry dedicates an enormous amount of resources to assuring the safety of products, including many millions of dollars in research, development and testing before products ever hit the shelves,” Brian Sansoni, ACI's vice president of communication, said in a written statement. “Additionally, products must meet all applicable federal and state quality, safety and labeling regulations. Nothing is more important than the safety of the families who use these products."

Sansoni added, “The disappointing scare campaign by Environmental Working Group promotes false fears about cleaning products, which play an essential role in our daily lives." 

Earlier this week, ACI launched a detailed online inventory of ingredients used in consumer cleaning products. 

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