Think Twice Before Tossing Your Swiffer

We've all received them at one time or another, and I admit being "sucked in" by some real doozies in the past. Sometimes these email rumors have a slim grain of truth; other times they are made completely of whole cloth because of disgruntlement at the parent company; sometimes they are true. But the words, "Spread the word to as many people as possible" should always be a red flag that something might be amiss, especially when mentioned along with "lawsuit." The first thing I always do when I receive an email like this is to run it past the About.com Urban Legends site for the "stamp of approval," and David Emery, who is a living legend himself, was one step ahead, as usual.

This email is currently making the rounds:

Warning for your animal's health:

I recently had a neighbor who had to have their 5-year old German Shepherd dog put down due to liver failure. The dog was completely healthy until a few weeks ago, so they had a necropsy done to see what the cause was. The liver levels were unbelievable, as if the dog had ingested poison of some kind. The dog is kept inside, and when he's outside, someone's with him, so the idea of him getting into something unknown was hard to believe.

(The full text of the email may be read on the About Urban Legends page.)

Necropsies weren't done on the cats, so they couldn't file a lawsuit, but he asked that we spread the word to as many people as possible so they don't lose their animals.

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!

The "antifreeze" chemical used in Swiffer WetJet is Propylene Glycol n-Propyl Ether, which is commonly referred to as the "Safe Antifreeze." It is also considered a "safe food additive," and is used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, moisturizing lotions, and fat-free ice cream and sour cream products, according to Tom's of Maine. Ethylene glycol (the "unsafe" antifreeze) more typically causes kidney failure, rather than liver failure, as cited in the email.

Proctor and Gamble, manufacturer of the Swiffer line of products, is no stranger to email rumors. It has been targeted before with the Satanism rumor, and the long and ongoing controversy over animal testing for Iams. In the case of the Swiffer rumor, Proctor and Gamble has quickly posted its response on the company website. This latest rumor has been upgraded from "unsubstantiated" to "false" by David Emery, About Guide to Urban Legends, following an announcement by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.

It should be noted that all household chemicals and cleaners have the potential for toxicity to children and pets, if allowed to be ingested freely. That's the reason for the warning on the label, and that's where we, as parents and cat caregivers come into play: to see that these items are stored away when not in use.

I have been using the Swiffer WetJet for some time now, and have observed no adverse effects on my cats. (I have absolutely NO ties to Proctor and Gamble.) If you already use the Swiffer WetJet Cleaning System and are satisfied with its efficiency, there should be no need to toss it out. If you have any concerns about safety, I would recommend rinsing the floors with clear water after using it, and to keep the cats off the floor until it is dry - a practice I would recommend with ALL floor cleaning chemicals.