Zep Commercial cleaners: Acidic Toilet Bowl Cleaner; Calcium Lime & Rust Stain Remover; Grout Cle...
CPSC Recall #01-102 — March 8, 2001
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 01-102 |
| Recall Date | March 8, 2001 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | About 1.4 million |
Where It Was Sold
| The Home Depot stores nationwide exclusively sold these cleaners from January 1998 through February 2001 for between $3 and $4. |
Product
Zep Commercial cleaners: Acidic Toilet Bowl Cleaner; Calcium Lime & Rust Stain Remover; Grout Cleaner & Whitener; and Driveway, Concrete & Masonry Cleaner
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), National Service Industries Inc. (NSI), of Atlanta, Ga., is voluntarily recalling about 1.4 million bottles of Zep Commercial cleaner sold in 32 oz. bottles. Some of these bottles can leak through the cap when turned on their side, allowing the contents of the cleaner to come into contact with consumers. These cleaners can cause irritation and burns to the skin and eyes.NSI has received 10 reports from consumers of the bottles of these cleaners leaking, including three injuries consisting of one report of a chemical burn to a consumer's forearm and two reports of the cleaner getting into consumers' eyes.Only the 32-ounce bottles of four types of Zep Commercial cleaners are part of this recall. They are the Acidic Toilet Bowl Cleaner; Calcium Lime & Rust Stain Remover; Grout Cleaner & Whitener; and Driveway, Concrete & Masonry Cleaner. The word "COMMERCIAL" is written before "ZEP" on the top of the labels on the white, plastic bottles, and the product names are written below the brand name.The Home Depot stores nationwide exclusively sold these cleaners from January 1998 through February 2001 for between $3 and $4.Consumers should stop using the recalled cleaners immediately since the bottles can leak, and call the Zep Commercial hotline. The hotline will help consumers determine if their cleaner bottle is leaking, and provide instructions on how to dispose of leaking bottles and get a refund. For more information, call Zep Commercial toll-free at (888) 805-HELP between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.zepcommercial.com, or e-mail the firm at [email protected] should not return recalled cleaner to The Home Depot, but should call the hotline for instructions.
Hazard
Some of these bottles can leak through the cap when turned on their side, allowing the contents of the cleaner to come into contact with consumers. These cleaners can cause irritation and burns to the skin and eyes.
Incidents & Injuries
NSI has received 10 reports from consumers of the bottles of these cleaners leaking, including three injuries consisting of one report of a chemical burn to a consumer's forearm and two reports of the cleaner getting into consumers' eyes.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using the recalled cleaners immediately since the bottles can leak, and call the Zep Commercial hotline. The hotline will help consumers determine if their cleaner bottle is leaking, and provide instructions on how to dispose of leaking bottles and get a refund.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund 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) 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.