Menards joins other home improvement stores in ditching deadly paint strippers

  Dozens have died from the chemical fumes of toxic paint strippers sold in stores across America, but now Menards is joining other home improvement retailers in attempting to stop that number from growing.

Dozens have died from the chemical fumes of toxic paint strippers sold in stores across America, but now Menards is joining other home improvement retailers in attempting to stop that number from growing.

The Midwestern home improvement store’s Feb. 13 announcement that it would stop the sale of toxic paint strippers came just one day after we and our coalition partners delivered a letter requesting swift and public action.

“The chemicals in these products are a hazard to public health, and stores need to protect consumers by providing safer alternatives,” said Kara Cook-Schultz, U.S. PIRG’s toxics program director. “We applaud Menards for doing the right thing and taking action on this important issue.”

Our network partners were part of the broad coalition calling on Menards to phase out these deadly products. Menards has now joined Lowe’s, Walmart, and other major retailers in its pledge to get toxic paint strippers off store shelves.

Read more about the announcement here

Photo Caption: Menards announced that it will no longer sell toxic methylene chloride- and NMP-based paint strippers.

Photo Credit: Mike Kalasnik via Flickr (CC by SA 2.0)