Leave Bedroom Allergens High and Dry This Spring!

Procter & Gamble Partners With Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America To
Combat Allergens in the Bedroom

CINCINNATI, April 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- This spring, Procter &
Gamble is partnering with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)
to educate consumers about combating indoor allergens by honing in on the area
where Americans spend one third of their lives: the bedroom.
"Many people overlook the bedroom as a significant problem area for indoor
allergens," said Mike Tringale, director of external affairs at AAFA. "Many
allergens hide inside pillows and bedding as well as on curtains, the walls
and on electronics like your alarm clock. Your bedroom can be a hot spot for
allergens and it's important to know the proper tools and techniques to help
you combat them effectively."
The AAFA has offered the following tips to help reduce allergens in the
bedroom this season:
Beds and Bedding: Use only washable materials on the bed. Look for
special mite-proof bedding and encasements. Wash bedding, pillows and stuffed
toys weekly in hot water (130 degrees F). In between washing, consider
spraying comforters, bedding and other soft surfaces with Febreze Allergen
Reducer(R) Fabric Refresher, which reduces up to 75 percent of allergens from
cats, dogs, and dust mites that may become airborne.
Air Control: Keep humidity levels at 50 percent or lower by using a room
air filter or dehumidifier. This will significantly help reduce the levels of
allergens in the air as dust mites need high humidity to live and grow. Take
special care to clean air conditioners and humidifiers frequently with a weak
bleach solution (one cup bleach in one gallon water) to prevent mold growth.
"Dust Magnets": The less furniture and decorative material in the room,
the better. Stacks of magazines, fancy artwork, bookcases and window
draperies are considered ideal locations for dust mites. If such decorations
are a must, clean those areas regularly to avoid clutter and control dust
build-up. Dust the bedroom frequently with a product like Swiffer Dusters(R)
to remove dust, dirt and allergens from cats, dogs and dust mites. Swiffer
Dusters trap and lock the household allergens that gather on hard surfaces
like bookshelves, ceiling fans, walls and electronics, instead of just
spreading the dust around like traditional feather dusters.
Closets and Drawers: Dust, cat dander and other allergens that stick to
your clothing can accumulate in your closets and drawers over time, so always
wipe yourself off after coming in from the outdoors or holding pets. Wash
clothing more frequently during the spring as well, to minimize allergen
build-up.
To educate consumers about indoor allergens, Febreze Allergen Reducer and
Swiffer Dusters will exhibit a "Bedroom Sanctuary Series" at the Los Angeles
NEI Health and Lifestyle Expo from April 12 -13 and Seattle's K5 Healthy
Living Expo April 19 - 20. Laura Dellutri, cleaning expert and author of the
books "Speed Cleaning 101" and "White Couch with Kids!?" will be touring with
Swiffer and Febreze to answer questions and provide professional expertise on
how to properly manage allergens in the home.
"P&G is committed to educating consumers about improving the quality of
their lives," said Susan Baba, external relations manager for Swiffer.
"Swiffer Dusters and Febreze Allergen Reducer are great solutions to help
reduce and remove indoor allergens that are hiding in the home, especially in
the bedroom."
Please visit www.aafa.org, www.febreze.com and www.swiffer.com for more
information and tips on how to reduce these allergens in the home.
About AAFA
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America is the leading nonprofit
consumer and patient organization fighting asthma and allergic diseases. AAFA
provides free information to the public, offers educational programs to
consumers and health professionals, leads advocacy efforts to improve patient
care, and supports research to find cures.
The Allergen Hot Spots program is made possible by an unrestricted
educational grant from Procter & Gamble.
About Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG)
Three billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the
world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality,
leadership brands, including Pampers(R), Tide(R), Ariel(R), Always(R),
Whisper(R), Pantene(R), Mach3(R), Bounty(R), Dawn(R), Pringles(R), Folgers(R),
Charmin(R), Downy(R), Lenor(R), Iams(R), Crest(R), Oral-B(R), Actonel(R),
Duracell(R), Olay(R), Head & Shoulders(R), Wella(R), Gillette(R), and
Braun(R). The P&G community consists of over 135,000 employees working in
over 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest
news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.
SOURCE Procter & Gamble

Krystina Fisher of MS&L, +1-212-468-4357, krystina.fisher@mslpr.com; or Susan
Baba of Procter & Gamble, +1-513-983-1138, baba.so@pg.com