# It is a Violation of Federal Law to Use This Product in a Manner Inconsistent with... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 22, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-a-violation-of-federal-law-to-use-this-product-in-a-manner-inconsistent-with/684302 "2014-03-22T17:43:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-a-violation-of-federal-law-to-use-this-product-in-a-manner-inconsistent-with/684302/1 "2014-03-22T17:43:17Z")
…its labeling. Appearing on many products, but in this case on a package of “Disinfecting Wipes, lemon Scent,” Target store brand. The labeling suggests that it should be used to clean hard and non-porous surfaces such as countertops, fax machines (fax machines??), and tables, and should not be used to clean people or be flushed down the toilet, among other things. So if I do use it to clean a person, or if I flush it down the toilet, am I violating federal law? Seems unlikely. So what’s the point of putting this warning on the label? And under what circumstances am I going to be arrested for misusing these wipes?? ---
**Author:** ![kurtisokc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kurtisokc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kurtisokc)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-a-violation-of-federal-law-to-use-this-product-in-a-manner-inconsistent-with/684302/2 "2014-03-22T18:52:34Z")
I think part of the reason for the warning is to protect the company from liability arising from misuse of the product. You probably don’t have to worry about an ATF raid your house if you use your cleaner on a porous surface, but good luck being able to sue if it ends up ruining whatever it was you were cleaning. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-a-violation-of-federal-law-to-use-this-product-in-a-manner-inconsistent-with/684302/3 "2014-03-22T19:36:35Z")
[The Master Speaks. (Or, Spoke - 26 years ago.)](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1019/is-misuse-of-pine-sol-a-federal-crime) [QUOTE=Cecil Adams] Don’t laugh, boys, it could happen. Disinfectants are legally classified as pesticides, which are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. A warning is required on the labels of all such products, regardless of their potential threat to the biota. Strictly speaking, the EPA could nab you if you used too high a concentration of Pine-Sol (or Lysol or what have you) or, for that matter, too low. This may seem like a classic case of bureaucratic overkill — you can just imagine EPA SWAT teams swooping down on Grandma to see if she’s mixing up the Pine-Sol right — but actually it does make some sense. Insecticides kill insects, and nobody doubts they ought to be regulated; disinfectants kill microorganisms, so it stands to reason they should be regulated, too. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-a-violation-of-federal-law-to-use-this-product-in-a-manner-inconsistent-with/684302/4 "2014-03-22T20:49:51Z")
Cool! Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-a-violation-of-federal-law-to-use-this-product-in-a-manner-inconsistent-with/684302/5 "2014-03-22T22:07:17Z")
They’re probably also worried about use as an inhalant, by stupid teenagers trying to get high. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-a-violation-of-federal-law-to-use-this-product-in-a-manner-inconsistent-with/684302/6 "2014-03-22T22:35:25Z")
One real example I’ve heard about is using too may bug bombs to fumigate a house. Bug bombs aren’t very effective any more because the strongest and best bug killing chemicals are no longer included in the retail products. So, frustrated homeowners think more is better. They set off three in every room. 18 bug bombs. It reaches the pilot light on the hot water heater or stove. boom! Mythbusters did a segment on this too. [http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/als-morning-meeting/22474/monday-edition-fogger-fires-bug-bomb-blazes/](http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/als-morning-meeting/22474/monday-edition-fogger-fires-bug-bomb-blazes/) ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2014, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-a-violation-of-federal-law-to-use-this-product-in-a-manner-inconsistent-with/684302/7 "2014-03-23T11:38:51Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > So if I do use it to **clean a person** , or if I flush it down the toilet, am I violating federal law? \ Target sells regular soap, too. That would work, and it’s legal. \ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2014, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-a-violation-of-federal-law-to-use-this-product-in-a-manner-inconsistent-with/684302/8 "2014-03-23T22:45:46Z")
> [@kurtisokc](#): > > I think part of the reason for the warning is to protect the company from liability arising from misuse of the product. They manufacturers may be happy to include this notation on their label for this reason. But whether they put that message voluntarily or not, I believe it’s required by law. I think. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-a-violation-of-federal-law-to-use-this-product-in-a-manner-inconsistent-with/684302/9 "2014-03-24T03:14:52Z")
> [@Heracles](#): > > \ > Target sells regular soap, too. That would work, and it’s legal. > \ > 😃 Soap? Soap? I dunno. “Ulf the Washed” doesn’t have the same ring to it…