Lysol class action alleges laundry sanitizer falsely advertises it kills 99.9% of bacteria

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Lysol laundry sanitizer class action overview: 

• Who: A Lysol laundry sanitizer customer is suing the manufacturer, Reckitt Benckiser LLC.
• Why: The plaintiff alleges the product has misleading marketing that claims it kills bacteria in washing. 
• Where: The Lysol class action was filed in a New York federal court.

Lysol laundry sanitizer claims it kills 99.9% of bacteria, however most bacteria is simply killed by being in a hot wash, a new class action lawsuit alleges. 

Plaintiff Nicholas Vaglica filed the class action complaint against Reckitt Benckiser LLC Sept. 25 in a New York federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws. 

According to the lawsuit, Reckitt Benckiser makes and sells Lysol-brand laundry sanitizer marketed as being able to kill “99.9% of bacteria.” 

However, the representation is misleading for several reasons, Vaglica says. 

“First, no credible and accepted studies on domestic laundry practices indicate that the spread of bacteria and/or infection from laundry is a potential risk of bacteria transmission,” he says. 

“Second, most Americans utilize hot water for washing clothes, with temperatures of 60 degrees Celsius or 140 degrees Fahrenheit.”

Washing clothes at this temperature will kill most bacteria, Vaglica says, with or without the use of sanitizer. 

“At hot and warm temperatures, the washing process inactivates microorganisms, accelerates the activation of detergents and facilitates the mechanical removal of soil and other particulates.”

Lysol label fails to inform customers, lawsuit alleges

Despite the scientific facts, the front label of the Lysol product fails to inform consumers that standard use of a washing machine at hot or warm temperatures is sufficient to achieve a reduction in 99.9% of bacteria, Vaglica says.

He adds that consumers who only see the front label will expect the product can provide a meaningful benefit to them, even though they may already only use hot or warm water for laundry.

Vaglica says the product is sold at a premium price, the value of which is significantly less than it is sold for.

He is looking to represent a class of New York residents who bought the product, plus a consumer fraud multi-state class from New Mexico, West Virginia, Iowa, Arkansas, Wyoming, Utah, Montana, Idaho and Alaska who purchased the product. 

Vaglica is suing under state consumer laws and for breach of warranty, fraud, and unjust enrichment. He’s seeking certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.

Meanwhile, Edgewell Personal Care has been hit with a class action lawsuit alleging it misleads and deceives consumers by falsely marketing and labeling that its Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand Wipes “Kills 99.99% of Germs.” 

Have you bought Lysol laundry sanitizer? Let us know your thoughts on the lawsuit in the comments! 

The plaintiff is represented by Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates, P.C. and Abraham Kleinman of Kleinman LLC 

The Lysol class action lawsuit is Nicholas Vaglica v. Reckitt Benckiser LLC, Case No. 2:22-cv-05730 in a U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. 

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