Bleaches (noncosmetic)
Twenty years of CPSC NEISS emergency-room records for this consumer product category, combined with demographic breakdowns, multi-year injury trends, and matching recall notices.
Home Workshop Tools & Equipment · CPSC Code 956
Stable over 5 years
The verdict
Bleaches (noncosmetic) carry a danger score of 39/100 (low risk), driven by roughly 19,510 ER-treated injuries a year that are roughly flat over the last five years.
- 39/100
- danger score (low risk)
- 19,510
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 4.3%
- end in hospital admission
- 0-4
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 956 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 39/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for bleaches (noncosmetic) - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume19,510 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)4.3%
- Fatality rate0.00%
- 5-year trend-7%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Bleaches (noncosmetic) (CPSC product code 956, in the Home Workshop Tools & Equipment category) generate an estimated 19,510 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 390,193 ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 39/100 for this category (low risk), combining raw injury volume, demographic reach, severity of outcome, and multi-year trend. The five-year trajectory shows that injury counts are roughly flat over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2017 (23,628 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2007 (15,409 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for bleaches (noncosmetic) is poisoning to the all parts body, accounting for approximately 214,189 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by burn, chemical to the eyeball (38,569 cases). The 0-4 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 92,180 cases over the NEISS window, and males appear slightly more often than the opposite sex in that cohort. Severity outcomes from the NEISS disposition field show that 4.3% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 5 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how bleaches (noncosmetic) fail in real households. Every figure on this page comes from CPSC-published data: NEISS projects national estimates from a probability sample of about 100 U.S. hospital emergency departments, while SaferProducts.gov collects voluntary reports from consumers, manufacturers, and clinicians. The danger score, trend indicators, and demographic breakdowns update automatically when CPSC releases a new yearly NEISS file, which is why this page is dated 2024-12-31. For regulatory context, consult CPSC recall notices and the SaferProducts.gov public database linked below.
Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2024)
Source: CPSC NEISS national estimates CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only
Who Gets Injured?
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 55,671 | 36,509 | |
| 5-14 | 11,032 | 11,341 | |
| 15-24 | 15,804 | 30,046 | |
| 25-34 | 16,437 | 37,369 | |
| 35-44 | 17,421 | 36,952 | |
| 45-54 | 17,383 | 30,868 | |
| 55-64 | 15,235 | 24,248 | |
| 65-74 | 7,832 | 14,440 | |
| 75+ | 3,604 | 7,964 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| All Parts Body | Poisoning | |
| Eyeball | Burn, Chemical | |
| Eyeball | Derma/conjunct | |
| Eyeball | Other | |
| Eyeball | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Hand | Burn, Chemical | |
| Hand | Derma/conjunct | |
| Upper Trunk | Other | |
| Face | Burn, Chemical | |
| Face | Other | |
| Foot | Burn, Chemical | |
| Face | Derma/conjunct | |
| All Parts Body | Other | |
| All Parts Body | Anoxia | |
| Lower Arm | Burn, Chemical |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
10YOF TOOK A SIP OF BLEACH INTENTIONALLY SHE THOUGHT SHE COULD POSSIBLY DIE FROM DOING THIS. SHE RECENTLY WAS STARTED ON *** AND *** APPROX 6 WEEKS AGO AND HAS HAD IMPULSIVE ACTIONS SINCE THAT TIME. DX: SUICIDAL IDEATION, INTENTIONAL INGESTION
31YOF PRESENTS TO ED FOR COUGH. PT STATES SHE HAS HAD A COUGH FOR 2 WKS. PT CONCERNED SHE FOUND MOLD IN BEDROOM BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND INHALED IT. PT ALSO CONCERNED INHALED BLEACH WHICH SHE WAS TRYING TO CLEAN THE MOLD WITH. PT WORKS NIGHTS AT HOSPITAL AND UNABLE TO GET TIME OFF TO SEEK CARE. DX: URI
3YOM PUT IS HAND IN THE MOP BUCKET THAT HELD BLEACH AND ***, DX RASH TO FACE
72YOF PRESENTS TO THE ED WITH SLIGHT BLURRINESS TO LEFT EYE. REPORTS POURING BLEACH AND SPLASHING SOME INTO HER LEFT EYE. RINSED IMMEDIATELY. DX: NONE (AMA)
24 YOF C/O RASH ON RIGHT 5TH FINGER AFTER CLEANING SHEETS WITH BLEACH RECENTLY. DX: RASH, DRY SKIN
30 YOM ACCIDENTALLY SPLASHED BLEACH INTO HIS FACE AND EYES, DX; CORNEAL ABRASION
52YOM WITH PARANOIA AND THOUGHT THERE WERE BUGS ON SKIN AND BLOOD AND HAS ABRASIONS ON FOREARM FROM CUTTING HIMSELF TO GET THE BUGS OUT . PT ALSO POURED BLEACH ON THE SKIN AS WELL . UNKNOWN WHICH OBJECT PT USED TO CUT HIMSELF . PT DID NOT CUT HIMSELF TO HURT HIMSELF DX: DX: SEPSIS
23YOF ACCIDENTALLY DRANK BLEACH INSTEAD OF WATER AT WARMING SHELTER, REPORTS BLEACH WAS IN WATER BOTTLE DX: BLEACH INGESTION
50YOF, DROPPED A GALLON OF BLEACH ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR THEN WAS CLEANING IT UP, EXPOSED TO THE FUMES AND DEVELOPED SHORTNESS OF BREATH, HISTORY OF ASTHMA, DX: EXPOSURE TO CHEMICAL INHALATION; MODERATE PERSISTENT ASTHMA
33YOF WAS CLEANING THE BATHROOM AT HOME WITH BLEACH AND DEVELOPED COUGHING AND WHEEZING AFTER INHALING THE FUMES DX: WEEZES
42YOM, CLEANING THE FLOOR WITH BLEACH AND SUDDENLY FELT LIGHTHEADED, WHILE WAITING TO BE SEEN HIS SYMPOTOMS RESOLVED, DX: EXPOSURE TO CHEMICAL INHALATION
37YOM WAS CLEANING HIS TOILET WITH SOME BLEACH CONTAINING TOILET CLEANER WHEN HE INHALED THE FUMES AND DEVELOPED SHORTNESS OF BREATH DX: INHALATION OF NOXIOUS FUMES
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
I cleaned my shower and the product burnt my eyes and skin.The area is very well-ventilated, and I've never had a problem with fumes before this. The bleach concentration seems much too high. This is a dangerous product.
Ultra Concentrated Bleach tablets. Appearance imitates the size and shape of a candy. No child proof cap or other safety measures on packaging. Product sold by national retailer dollar general, so likely is nationwide. Increased potential for child ingestion due to unsafe packaging
I bought a bathroom cleaner that supposedly contained bleach, but was almost pure ammonia.
(11/27/2015) The consumer stated that he poured about 1/3 cup or less in the water to wash dishes. He did not use gloves. The consumer stated that he always use bleach in his dishwasher and had used this brand before. While he was washing dishes, he noticed that his hands were getting red and swollen. The consumer put [REDACTED] on his hands. (11/28/2015) The consumer stated on the next day his hands were painful, swollen and raw. He went to [REDACTED]General Hospital ER. The doctor diagnosed second degree chemical burns. (11/30/2015) The consumer contacted Walmart to advise them of what happened. He spoke with [RFDACTED] who took the information and gave the consumer a case number [REDACTED]. (12/2015) The consumer received a message from Walmart advising him that his claim had been referred to the manufacturer. (12/7/2015) The consumer was contacted by [REDACTED] from Kik Custom Products. He was advised that the batch was tested and it was fine. She advised the consumer that the manufacturer would not pay the claim because he did not wear gloves.
(11/10/2012) The consumer stated that she sprayed the cleaner on the shower wall and in the tub of the bathroom. The consumer stated that her eyes started watering and her nose started running profusely. She stated that she wiped down and rinsed the walls and tub with clear water. She stated that this took about 15 minutes. The consumer stated that afterward she could not breath. She stated that she was wheezing and coughing. The consumer stated that the vent fan was on and the bathroom door was open. The consumer stated that she was coughing and had shortness of breath all night. She stated that she went to Associates in Family Medicine Urgent Care on !0/11/2012. The address is [REDACTED] The telephone number is[REDACTED]. She stated that she was seen by Dr. [REDACTED], Urgent care doctor on duty. She stated that she was given an albuterol sulfate nebulizer treatment because she could not breath. The he did an xray. The xray indicated reactive airway dysfunction symptom (RADS). She stated that it was caused from inhaling one of the chemicals in the product. She is being treated for inhaled irritant induced asthma. She was prescribed prednisone and albuterol nebulizer treatments at home. (11/15/2012)The consumer stated that she followed up with her health care provider, [REDACTED]. PA at[REDACTED][REDACTED] She was given an albuterol nebulizer treatment in her office.
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to bleaches (noncosmetic) on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are bleaches (noncosmetic)?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, bleaches (noncosmetic) have a danger score of 39/100 (low risk). An estimated 19,510 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from bleaches (noncosmetic)?
The most common injury is poisoning to the all parts body, accounting for approximately 214,189 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from bleaches (noncosmetic) increasing or decreasing?
Stable over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for bleaches (noncosmetic) injuries?
The 0-4 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 92,180 cases recorded over 20 years. Males are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by bleaches (noncosmetic)?
Of all ER visits involving bleaches (noncosmetic), approximately 4.3% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (95.7%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with bleaches (noncosmetic)?
You can file a consumer incident report at SaferProducts.gov, the official CPSC reporting portal. Reports help the CPSC identify emerging hazards and trigger investigations or recalls. You can also call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772.
Related Products in Home Workshop Tools & Equipment
Safety Guides
What this means for you
Treat the 39/100 score as relative risk between products, not your personal odds of injury.
- See where this category ranks against every other tracked product. Full rankings
- Injuries cluster in the 0-4 age group, take extra care if that describes your household.
- Check for active recalls on this product before you assume it is safe. CPSC recalls
NEISS estimates ER-treated injuries from a national probability sample of hospitals; they do not capture injuries treated elsewhere or not treated at all.
Data: CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the CPSC.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, scored, and verified.
