High-End Cleaning Company the Laundress Tells Consumers to Stop Using Its Products
The Laundress says it is working with government regulators but has not yet issued a recall
Luxury laundry and home cleaning company the Laundress has advised consumers to stop using all Laundress products, including its laundry detergents for delicates and for baby clothes, as well as its surface cleaner, because of “the potential presence of elevated levels of bacteria.” The company does not recommend throwing its products away, because consumers looking for reimbursement or replacement may need proof of purchase first.
James E. Rogers, director of food safety research and testing at Consumer Reports, says Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a “very hardy bacteria,” which means it can grow in a lot of different conditions. Consumer Reports does not test Laundress products at this time.
The statement on the company’s website directs consumers to stop using all Laundress products immediately. In a statement to Consumer Reports, the company did not elaborate on how it discovered the contaminated products, which products or batches in particular are affected, or how products were contaminated in the first place.
The company says it’s working with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the agency with oversight over thousands of consumer products, and has told retailers and wholesalers to stop selling its products until further notice.
To avoid getting sick from Laundress products, wash everything that you’ve cleaned with Laundress products using another cleaning solution. Rogers recommends washing surfaces and dishes with hot, soapy water but says that folks who are especially worried can use a diluted bleach solution.
Reynolds says people with contaminated clothing and laundry machines that came into contact with Laundress detergents or fabric softeners should stop using the products immediately and switch to something else. They should also “sanitize their washing machines (this is easy to do by running an empty load with bleach) and rewash their clothes with a detergent not impacted by the bacteria,” she says. “Allow the clothes to dry fully before handling, either in a machine dryer, clothes line with sun exposure, or laying out to dry at room temperature (in order of preference for increased bacterial inactivation). For many bacteria, the drying step is highly effective at reducing the levels present.”
What if you’ve used Laundress products on delicates, such as a silk blouse or a wool dress that can’t go in the washer and dryer on high temperatures? Reynolds says that repeated washing and drying cycles, instead of high heat, may reduce the amount of bacteria so that it’s a minimal risk.
@consumerreports The Laundress says it is working with government regulators but has not yet issued a recall. Learn more at cr.org. #cleantok #cleantiktok #thelaundress ♬ original sound - Consumer Reports
