Procter & Gamble's Swiffer Proven to Remove Cat and Dog Allergens.

Business Editors

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 6, 2000

A poster presented today at the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology (AAAAI) conference, (based on a study conducted by the Institute of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Sydney, Australia) proves that Swiffer(R), a cleaning system by Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) ("P&G") is more efficient in removing cat and dog allergens from floors than a variety of traditional cleaning methods.

Swiffer effectively picked up more than 93% of cat and dog allergens in comparison to a standard broom, which picked up less than 16% of cat allergens and a standard dust mop, which picked up less than 13%. The broom captured less than 14% of dog allergens and the dust mop less than 28%(1).

"Taking steps to remove or reduce the allergens in your home, can greatly improve the quality of life for people with allergies," stated Mary Worstell, executive director of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. "Since allergens are often tiny particles, getting rid of them can often be a cleaning challenge. That's why people with allergies welcome products that make this cleaning process easier."

The Study

The study, conducted with the Institute of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Sydney, Australia evaluated the efficiency of Swiffer and six other implements for removing dust containing cat and dog allergens from floors. The other floor cleaning implements evaluated included assorted brooms, a disposable oil-cloth sweeper, a dry synthetic dust mop and a synthetic wool sweeper.

"The study results are consistent with our other research which demonstrates that Swiffer captures 94% of dust mite allergen(1) -- another major indoor allergen," said Jennifer Counts, Ph.D. at P&G, who presented the research at the AAAAI meeting. "We have demonstrated that Swiffer effectively picks up pet allergens as well(2)."

Allergy Sufferers

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, more than 50 million Americans, the equivalent to one out of five people, suffer from allergic diseases. Two of the most significant sources of allergic reactions are pet dander and dust mite allergens, common ingredients in household dust. These airborne allergens float in the air and resettle both on surfaces, exposing sufferers to possible asthma attacks, allergic rhinitis (a condition which causes hay fever-like symptoms) or conjunctivitis. Even those without pets can be exposed to pet allergens in their homes via contact with visitors' clothing.

Technology

Swiffer is a cleaning system that includes a versatile, lightweight sweeper and dry, disposable cleaning cloths. The Swiffer cloths can be attached to the sweeper and used on floors, ceilings, and hard-to-reach places or used alone for hand dusting furniture, electronics and knickknacks -- essentially any dry surface that needs cleaning. The fibers in the Swiffer cloth create an electrostatic charge when wiped across floors or other hard surfaces. This charge attracts household soil and common allergens into the cloth, where Lift & Lock Pockets(tm) trap and hold them. When finished cleaning, the cloth -- and all the soil -- is simply thrown away.

Pricing and Availability

The Swiffer starter kit contains one Swiffer sweeper and eight disposable cloths and is available nationwide near other household cleaning products in grocery stores, drug stores and mass merchandisers. The suggested retail price for the Starter Kit is $15.00. Swiffer refills are also available in 8, 16 and 32-count packs.

Procter & Gamble, based in Cincinnati, markets more than 300 brands to nearly five billion consumers in over 140 countries. Procter & Gamble has on the ground operations in more than 70 countries, employs more than 110,000 employees worldwide and has recently introduced other revolutionary new products, including Febreze and Dryel. For more information check the Procter & Gamble world wide Web site at www.pg.com or the Swiffer Web site at www.swiffer.com.

Notes to Editor

(1) Overall, Swiffer removed significantly more cat and dog allergens than any of the traditional cleaning methods that were tested. The other devices varied in efficiency from near zero to 91% for cat allergens and 14% to 88% for dog allergens.

(2) A study presented at the ACAAI conference in November 1999 demonstrates that Swiffer picks up more than 94% of dust mite allergens while a standard broom picks up less than 34% and a standard dust mop picks up less than 42%.