Ban the Buzz: Sprayless Protection Keeps Mosquitoes at Bay

New OFF! Clip-on™ Helps Canadians Take Full Advantage of Summer

TORONTO, May 10, 2012 /CNW/ - Summer is almost here, and the warm weather and extra hours of sunshine signal the start of the best things that Canada's most relished season has to offer - more time outside! Yet according to a survey¹ from OFF!^®, 82 per cent of Canadians rarely or never carry insect repellents to protect themselves - while more than half (53 per cent) lose almost two full days spending time indoors specifically to avoid being bitten by bugs.

To help Canadian families enjoy the best summer has to offer, Mariko Izumi, star of World Fishing Network's Hookin' Up and avid angler, recently partnered with OFF!^® to help Canadians spend more bug-free time outdoors.

"While I do spend a lot of time outdoors all year long, I may not always need to use a spray-on repellent, especially if I'm just casually enjoying the long summer days with family and friends," says Izumi. "The new OFF! Clip-on™ is a great alternative to traditional bug sprays and provides protection from mosquitoes without having to spray anything on your skin. It's the perfect way to enjoy personal time outside, whether it's relaxing in a hammock, reading in the park or entertaining in the backyard."

Now available in Canada, the new OFF! Clip-on™ Mosquito Repellent can help even the most hesitant bug spray user benefit from a personal repellant. An odourless device that can be clipped onto a belt, purse or chair, OFF! Clip-on™ Mosquito Repellent provides head-to-toe protection from mosquitoes without spraying anything on the skin.

Get More Out of Your Summer

Izumi offers these top tips to ensure a mosquito-free summer this year:

• Know what you need:  Repellents are available in a variety of strengths and formulations to suit different needs. It's easy to be prepared, no matter where pesky mosquitoes are found.
  
  
• Watch what you wear: Wear light-coloured clothing when outside, since mosquitoes prefer darker shades that radiate heat.
  
  
• Don't use strong fragrances: Heavily scented toiletries such as soap and perfume may attract mosquitoes.
  
  
• Avoid mosquito-prone spots:  Mosquitoes are attracted to damp, stagnant areas and like to rest in dense vegetation. Remove standing water on your property (as little as a tablespoon of water can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes!) and cut back grasses and other plants that appeal to bothersome bugs.
  
  
• Don't leave protection to chance: Don't rely on home remedies or bath oils, especially during prime mosquito times at dawn and dusk.

About OFF! Clip-on™ Mosquito Repellent

OFF! Clip-on™Mosquito Repellent features a quiet, battery-powered fan that circulates odourless repellent in minutes providing effective protection from mosquitoes for up to 11 hours without spraying anything on the skin.

Ideal for relaxing outdoor activities, such as gardening, reading, or watching a sporting event, OFF! Clip-on™ Mosquito Repellent is a useful tool to save summer moments and maximize time outdoors.

OFF! Clip-on™ Mosquito Repellent is available wherever OFF!^® products are sold, including Wal-Mart, Canadian Tire, Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaw stores, Zellers and Home Hardware.

The manufacturer-suggested retail price for OFF! Clip-on™ Mosquito Repellent is $11.99 for starter kit (contains one repellent fan unit, one disk, 2 AAA batteries) and $6.99 for a refill (contains two disks).

For more information about OFF! Clip-on™ and the full OFF!^® product line of insect repellents, visit www.bugsmart.ca

About SC Johnson

SC Johnson is a family-owned and managed business dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, pest control and shoe care. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, KIWI®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, TANA®, BAMA®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, MR. MUSCLE®, and RIDSECT®. The 126-year old company, that generates $9 billion in sales, employs nearly 13,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. www.scjohnson.ca

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¹ This survey was conducted online within Canada by Angus Reid Public Opinion on behalf of Edelman Public Relations from March 24^th to March 25^th, 2011, among a randomly selected, representative sample of 1,031 Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panel members Individuals were sampled according to Census data to be representative of the Canadian national adult population. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Rachel Hlinko.

Image with caption: "Infographic: Canada's Buggiest Cities (CNW Group/SC Johnson)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120510_C6079_PHOTO_EN_13506.jpg

PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2012/05/10/20120510_C6079_DOC_EN_13508.pdf

Rachel Hlinko
416-849-8915
[email protected]

Jam Stewart
262-260-2440
[email protected]

www.bugsmart.ca
www.scjohnson.ca