Pine-Sol Recall: What You Need to Know

Disclaimer: This resource is for informational purposes only. Morgan & Morgan is not currently accepting cases related to these products.

In 2022, certain Pine-Sol cleaners were recalled due to a potential health risk involving harmful bacteria. If you’ve got Pine-Sol products at home, it’s important to check if they’re part of the recall to protect yourself and those you love.

An Overview of the Pine-Sol Recall

Pine-Sol is arguably the most popular cleaning product in homes throughout America. Its smell alone portrays a feeling of cleanliness and freshness. That explains why it’s a common cleaning agent in both residential and commercial settings.

Unfortunately, it’s come to our attention that some Pine-Sol products aren’t safe. That’s actually an oxymoron—homes and businesses all over America use this product to protect themselves from germs and bacteria. 

In fact, in Pine-Sol’s own marketing terms, the product “kills 99.9 percent of germs.” The recalls, however, say the opposite. It’s believed that some Pine-Sol products might actually cause more harm than good. 

It’s worth mentioning, though, that the recall isn’t for every Pine-Sol product on the shelves or at home. Instead, it targets specific Pine-Sol scented cleaners that were manufactured between January 2021 and September 2022.  

These include the following series of Pine-Sol products from The Clorox Company: 

• Lavender Clean
• Sparkling Wave
• Lemon Fresh
• Lavender Clean All Purpose Cleaner
• Lemon Fresh All Purpose Cleaner
• Orange Energy All Purpose Cleaner
• Lemon Fresh Cleaner

If you have any of these products sitting at home, your business, or elsewhere, you’re better off not using them at all. 

Reasons for the Pine-Sol Recall 

The primary reason for the recall is the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacteria that’s usually found in soil and water. The bacteria typically don’t harm healthy individuals. However, they can pose severe risks to people with compromised immune systems or those using medical devices.

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Infection Sites and Symptoms 

The symptoms vary depending on how you were infected. Here’s a breakdown of the different infection sites and their symptoms:  

Skin

For skin and soft tissue infections, you might notice the following symptoms:

• Redness 
• Swelling
• Pain
• Greenish pus oozing from the infected area 

Respiratory  

Respiratory infections like pneumonia, might reveal symptoms like:

• Persistent cough
• Green or yellow sputum
• Shortness of breath
• Fever
• Chest pain 

Urinary Tract

Then there’s also the risk of developing urinary tract infections (UTIs). These infections usually lead to symptoms such as:

• Frequent urge to urinate
• Burning sensations
• Cloudy urine
• Abdominal pain 

Bloodstream 

Things can become pretty serious when the bacteria finds its way into the bloodstream. If that happens, you or an affected loved one might experience symptoms like:

• Fever
• Rapid heart rate
• Low blood pressure
• Skin lesions. 

Other common infections include swimmer’s ear (otitis externa), eye infections, and in some cases gastrointestinal infections, which can cause diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal cramping. The bottom line is that these bacteria can cause serious health issues. For this same reason, it’s important to know what to do if you or a loved one has been impacted. 

Here’s how to go about it. 

• Stop using the product immediately.
• Check the UPC and date codes. Products with codes starting with "A4" and the first five digits less than 22249 are affected.
• Take pictures of the UPC and date codes for documentation.
• Dump the product with household trash (make sure it stays in its original container).

Pine-Sol is also offering a refund if you own any of the recalled products mentioned above. That actually proves that the company is aware of the dangers these products pose to their users and the environment. 

However, a refund might not be enough if you or your beloved has suffered serious health damage from using the said products. In that case, you should consider consulting an experienced defective product attorney. 

The attorney will review your case and determine whether you have grounds for taking legal action against the manufacturer or any other potentially liable party. Speaking of liability, these companies can’t just use refunds to prevent being held accountable. 

They do this hoping that those who’ve been impacted will accept the refund and walk away. But that shouldn’t be the case, especially for those who’ve suffered serious health complications.

Individuals who’ve been harmed by these products may require medical attention. And that doesn’t come cheap, even with insurance. Medical expenses aside, there’s also the wages lost while seeking treatment or even recovering from diseases caused by the bacteria found in these products. That’s why you need an attorney who can look beyond the refund and ensure that you’re adequately compensated if you incur other losses from using the recalled products.