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Radio Shack Video Head Cleaner

May 11, 2005
Radio Shack is recalling about 1 million units of its Wet System Video Head Cleaner. The cleaning solution bottle, which is labeled as containing isopropanol, actually contains methanol. Methanol can be fatal or cause blindness if swallowed.

Methanol is much more toxic than isopropanol. Also, the cleaning solution bottle does not have special cautionary labeling and child-resistant packaging, as required by Federal regulation for methanol.

RadioShack has received 39 reports from their poison center of children accessing this product. No injuries or illnesses have been reported.

The recalled non-abrasive “Wet System” Video Head Cleaner was sold in a box labeled “Video Head Cleaner,” “RadioShack” and “44-1230” or “44-1213.” The box contains a cleaning video cassette and a bottle of cleaning solution. The 4-inch-high white plastic cleaning solution bottle is labeled “Video Head Cleaning Fluid” or “Cleaning Liquid for HEAD CLEANER.” Other writing on the bottle includes “Contents: Isopropanol,” and the item number “44-1230” or “44-1213.”

RadioShack stores nationwide and www.radioshack.com from December 1995 through January 2005 for about $13.

Consumers should immediately place this product out of reach of children and return the product to the nearest RadioShack store for a refund, or dispose of the bottle of cleaning fluid in accordance with all state and local requirements.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

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