WeatherMate™ Exterior Wood Cleaner
CPSC Recall #99-160b — August 18, 1999
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 99-160b |
| Recall Date | August 18, 1999 |
| Remedy Type | Refund, Replace |
| Units Affected | About 2,500 |
Where It Was Sold
| Hardware stores |
| such as Scotty's |
| Hechingers and Lowe's |
| sold the wood cleaner nationwide from March 1999 through May 1999 for $10 to $12 |
| and for $27 to $30 when sold as part of the kit. |
Product
WeatherMate™ Exterior Wood Cleaner
Description
PRODUCT: WeatherMate™ Exterior Wood Cleaner - GE Silicones, of Waterford, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 2,500 units of WeatherMate™ wood cleaner. The product, used to clean exterior wood, is sold individually and in a kit with a wood protector. The 32-ounce bottle is gray and shows a photo of a wooden house deck on the label. A blue cap attaches the white spray apparatus on the bottle that is designed to be used with a garden hose. There is no handle on these bottles. They are designed to be held by the neck of the bottle. Hardware stores, such as Scotty's, Hechingers and Lowe's, sold the wood cleaner nationwide from March 1999 through May 1999 for $10 to $12, and for $27 to $30 when sold as part of the kit. PROBLEM: A supporting clip that affixes the spray nozzle to the bottle becomes brittle and could break off during use. The cleaning solution could spill onto consumers' hands or get in their eyes, causing irritation and burns to the skin or eyes. INCIDENTS/INJURIES: None. WHAT TO DO: Consumers should stop using this wood cleaner immediately, and return it to the store where purchased for replacement with a wood cleaner in a redesigned bottle, or a refund. The redesigned bottle supports the nozzle attachment with a handle. For more information, consumers should call GE at (800) 626-2000 anytime.
Hazard
A supporting clip that affixes the spray nozzle to the bottle becomes brittle and could break off during use. The cleaning solution could spill onto consumers' hands or get in their eyes, causing irritation and burns to the skin or eyes.
Incidents & Injuries
None reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using this wood cleaner immediately, and return it to the store where purchased for replacement with a wood cleaner in a redesigned bottle, or a refund. The redesigned bottle supports the nozzle attachment with a handle.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund, Replace at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Refund, Replace) at no cost to you.
If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.