Posted April 21, 2020

Washington D.C. – The Alliance for Consumer Education (ACE) released the following statement today, attributed to Steve Caldeira, Executive Director of ACE, in response to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that indicates there is a clear temporal association between cleaning for COVID-19 and the number of chemical exposures reported to the National Poison Data System (NPDS).

“It’s important to use cleaning and disinfecting products safely, especially as we place a greater emphasis on cleaning during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is particularly true while many families are working from home, and extra care should be taken to keep cleaning and disinfecting products secured when not in use.

ACE has some helpful tips to keep in mind while cleaning to avoid accidental chemical exposure:

• Read the directions on the label
• Wear protective gear, such as gloves or a mask, as specified by the label  
• Use products in a well-ventilated area
• Never mix chemicals unless directed to do so by the label
• Keep products safely secured and out of reach of children

Consumers can be confident that cleaning and disinfecting products are safe and effective when used according to the directions on the label.”

###

About ACE

The Alliance for Consumer Education (ACE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation founded in 2000. ACE works to educate consumers about the correct use, storage and disposal of household and commercial products. ACE’s core program areas are Consumer Care, Health & Wellbeing and Inhalant Abuse Prevention. ACE is affiliated with the Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA).