Rain-X(R) Online Protectant by Ecolab Named Most Innovative New Product

ST. PAUL, Minn.--April 20, 2006--Rain-X Online Protectant was voted the Most Innovative New Product by attendees of the Car Care World Expo 2006, held March 13-15 in Las Vegas. More than 9,000 members of the International Carwash Association(TM) attended the Expo, where 100 entries - ranging from chemical products to control systems - competed for the Most Innovative New Product title.

Introduced in September 2005, Rain-X Online Protectant is the car wash industry's first complete surface protectant. Designed to work on multiple vehicle surfaces, including glass, paint, trim and chrome, Rain-X Online Protectant delivers increased shine, water repellency and more durable protection. The resulting effect is that vehicles washed with Rain-X Online Protectant appear cleaner and shinier than ever before, even after rainstorms.

"We knew the timing was right for the car wash industry to add exciting and innovative solutions," explains Gaetan Lambiase, vice president and general manager of Ecolab Vehicle Care. "Ecolab has demonstrated our leadership in the vehicle care industry by developing a product that offers new value and benefits to both car wash operators and consumers. We're finding our customers responding by advertising Rain-X Online Protectant at their car washes to generate add-on sales."

Rain-X Online Protectant uses a special polymer formulation engineered to create a water-repellant layer that chemically bonds to all exterior vehicle surfaces, then cures to the surfaces to provide better water beading and sheeting.

Ecolab Vehicle Care brands also include: Blue Coral(R), Black Magic(R) and Westley's(R). With 2005 sales of $4.5 billion, Ecolab is the leading global developer and marketer of premium cleaning, sanitizing, pest elimination, maintenance and repair products and services for the hospitality, foodservice, healthcare and industrial markets. Ecolab shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ECL.

http://www.ecolab.com.