NEW YORK, NY, March 20, 1998 – Most Americans know the link between cleaning and health, according to a new national study conducted by Roper Starch Worldwide Research and released today by The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA). But closing a few know ledge gaps could help boost their understanding of how the right cleaning practices can help protect people against the spread of some common germs and allergens and result in a healthier indoor environment.

"Time-stressed Americans can’t afford to get sick," said Peg Jordan, R.N., founder and editor of American Fitness Magazine, "yet today’s lifestyles put many in contact more often with the very health risks they’d like to avoid. That’s why it’s especially important for people to understand that following a few basic personal hygiene and household cleaning practices can help keep themselves and their families healthy."

Controlling health risks is a challenge that requires making knowledge and behavior more consistent. "Much like people recognize the role of diet and exercise, they also know the importance of cleanliness in maintaining good health," said Jordan. "But tra nslating that understanding into everyday behavior is often hard to do. When it comes to our personal environment, knowing where cleaning and disinfecting can make the biggest contribution in safeguarding health can help us develop an easy-to-follow clean ing routine."

The Bad Guys: Bold Mold and Mighty Dust
While 80% of Americans recognize mold and mildew as a health hazard, more than half fail to recognize the health threat caused by common household dust.

"It’s important to realize that dust, like mold and mildew, is an allergen and poses potential health threats," said Jordan. "Regular dusting and cleaning of wood surfaces and laundering of bed linens, as well as controlling the growth of mold and mildew , can reduce allergens in the home." Jordan added that prolonged exposure to allergens can result in irritation of the eyes, nose and throat for the estimated 50 million Americans who suffer from allergies.

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