National Press Release

Turtle Wax(R) and Baseball Great Mike Schmidt Offer Car Care Tips to Turn Amateurs into Pros

CHICAGO, March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- With Spring Training underway, it's the start of a new season for baseball fans. For some, the beginning of baseball season also indicates that warm weather is just around the corner. Turtle Wax(R) and baseball great Mike Schmidt want fans to take this time to care for their cars. Just like your favorite players trying to make the cut and polish off their skills after a winter off, fans have "35 Days to Shine" and polish off their cars for summer driving season.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090302/CG76027)

From March 1-April 5, 2009, Turtle Wax and the legendary former Philadelphia third baseman encourage consumers to spend the next 35 days showing their cars some extra attention. Spring is the perfect time to treat your car to a good cleaning and protect it with a coat of wax. The debris that accumulates on a vehicle's surface during the colder months can lead to permanent damage down the road. The longer it stays there, the more damage it can do.

"I take great pride in my team, the Phillies, helping them get ready for the season ahead," said Schmidt. "During Spring Training, fans can take pride in their cars by preparing them for summer driving, which means washing off any debris and really making them sparkle with a good coat of wax. Taking care of your car's appearance not only keeps it looking new, but can protect your vehicle investment."

As an alternative to taking your car to a car wash, Turtle Wax suggests a do-it-yourself approach. By investing in the necessary products now, there can be a cost savings of more than $200 over a six-month period. The total upfront investment for at-home wash and wax products and accessories is around $50, and the products will last for months, compared to $20 professional car cleaning every other week. Turtle Wax suggests the following easy steps, using high-quality car care products, to turn an amateur into a pro and get a get a flawless looking car wash in your own driveway:

Wash: The first step is to wash away the dirt and grime on the vehicle's surface. For best results, use a product that will deep clean the vehicle's exterior and remove any stubborn dirt and stains. Turtle Wax(R) ICE(R) Car Wash is a clean rinsing formula that is safe for all finishes.

Wax: After the vehicle is clean of all surface contaminants, it's time to wax. Waxing helps restore color and shine left behind from bad weather and road debris and leaves behind a protective barrier to help prevent scratches, swirl marks and other surface contaminants from damaging the finish. Turtle Wax(R) ICE(R) Liquid Polish goes on easy and creates exceptional shine.

Wheels and Tires: In addition to the vehicle's finish, cleaning and protecting wheels will help keep cars looking like new. Turtle Wax(R) ICE(R) Wheel and Tire Cleaner easily cuts through brake dust and road debris on all wheel and tire surfaces. The detachable unique ICE(R) Edge(TM) Brush helps clean intricate wheel areas effortlessly.

Interior: To prevent stains and permanent discoloration, it's important to clean interior surfaces, including carpeting, upholstery and inside door panels. Turtle Wax's ICE(R) Total Interior Care can be used on all interior surfaces and leaves behind a barrier and non-greasy shine.

"Washing and waxing your own car isn't what it used to be," said Mike Schultz, senior vice president of product development for Turtle Wax. "With today's innovative products, a complete detail can take less than an hour. And with people holding onto their cars for longer, it's becoming increasingly important to keep your car clean and protected, not to mention maximize trade-in value."

As part of the "35 Days to Shine" campaign, customers can enter to win the Turtle Wax(R) "Ultimate Baseball Getaway." From March 1- May 1, 2009, fans can log on to www.TurtleWax.com/35DaysToShine and submit a short essay on why they are the biggest baseball fan out there. The best entry will win a trip for two to Turtle Wax's home city of Chicago for a weekend of Cubs baseball at the historic Wrigley Field. The winner will also receive a Turtle Wax(R) product bundle to get their car in tip-top shape. Customers can also upload a photo of themselves with their car for a chance to appear on the Web site.

Schmidt spent his entire 18-year career in Philadelphia, carving out a legacy at third base. He played in five League Championship Series and two World Series, and was voted National League MVP three times. Since retiring, Schmidt has stayed active within the Phillies organization and in 1995 was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

About Turtle Wax

Turtle Wax(R) is the number one selling brand of car care products in the world with sales in 90 countries. Founded more than 60 years ago in Chicago, the company is recognized for manufacturing environmentally-friendly appearance and performance car care products for the retail consumer market and the commercial car care and professional detailing industries.

About Turtle Wax ICE

Turtle Wax(R) ICE(R) line is a full car care system of ultra-premium products formulated to work with changing vehicle technology. The ICE line features cutting edge innovation that cleans and polishes without leaving a white powdery residue or staining trim. The full line includes ICE Car Wash, ICE Ultimate Finish Clay Kit, ICE Paste Polish, ICE Liquid Polish, ICE Spray Detailer, ICE Total Interior, ICE Wheel & Tire Cleaner and ICE Tire Shine.

    Media Contact:
    Liz Risoldi
    Zeno Group for Turtle Wax
    liz.risoldi@zenogroup.com
    (312) 396-9730

SOURCE Turtle Wax