Rooto drain cleaners

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. Seen by a doctor or nurse

   Made Sep 15, 2011 · , sent to the company Dec 9, 2011 · , published by CPSC Dec 23, 2011

   The product, in the report: Rooto Corp. Drain Cleaner 64 oz

   The consumer stated that the drain cleaner he was using has an insecure packaging. The consumer was hold the 64 oz. container trying to open it when the plastic film surrounding the top allowed the bottle to slip out of his grasp. The bottle fell vertically to the floor about 3 feet below breaking, resulting in the drain cleaner to spill on to the consumer’s legs and feet. The consumer suffered some burns and injuries.

   The consumer cannot fathom as to why the plastic bottle was not more durable to sustain that fall without breaking. The consumer called the company in March 7, 2011. The consumer was asked for an account of what happened. The consumer went to the doctor that he had first degree burns on his lower legs and feet with second degree on both of his calves. The consumer went to his physician and dressed his legs in medical gauze and left the same day. The consumer went to [redacted]. There was no follow up treatment. The consumer called the firm within the week (date unknown). The consumer mentioned the visit and the firm asked him to send the bottle of the product. The consumer sent the bottle in to the firm in May 2011 at his own expense.

   The consumer called back the firm a week or two later (date unknown). The firm concluded that their product was just fine and there was no issue. The consumer has yet to call the firm. The product has not caused damage to his house. The product did destroy his shorts and footwear.

   The Consumer Added: I purchased a bottle of Rooto Corp drain cleaner, named “Professional Drain Opener”, from Ace Hardware in Piedmont, CA on Feb 28, 2011. On March 6th, as I have done dozens of times, I was holding the bottle of drain cleaner, which has a plastic outer covering (picture attached), and opening the plastic packaging at the same time. I put a hole in the top of the outer plastic packaging to pull the bottle of drain cleaner out. When I put a hole in the outer plastic packaging the bottle of drain cleaner leaned on the outer plastic packaging and split the vertical seam and the bottle fell out ofthe packaging. The bottle fell to the floor and the safety cap popped off of the bottle and the contents of the bottle, acid, splashed onto my feet and legs. I have issue with the safety cap coming off of the bottle. Is the safety cap supposed to keep children safe from opening the bottle? If a child dropped the bottle on the floor the safety cap would prove to be useless against a child from opening the bottle and possibly getting burned or worse by the acid in the bottle. I strongly advise the safety caps be tested and evaluated to see if they are actually safe. I also advise the plastic packaging be tested for strength and that there be opening instructions on the packaging. If there had been instructions telling the consumer the safest way to open the packaging, I probably would not have sustained the 2nd degree burns on both of my legs. It has been over 7 months since the accident and I still have unhealed scars on both legs (pictures enclosed).

   Bought from

   Ace Hardware, California

   Bought

   Feb 20, 2011

   Where

   Oakland, California: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 45, Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand Rooto, made or sold by ROOTO CORPORATION

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, Seen by Medical Professional

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources