011011 Dial 3Q Results Stronger Than Estimates

Scottsdale, AZ - The Dial Corporation announced it expects third quarter earnings per share from continuing operations, before special charges, to be approximately $0.26 per share, which exceeds the current range of analyst estimates of $0.19 to $0.21 as reported by First Call and is stronger than the prior guidance that the Company provided in August. Better than anticipated results are due to strong sales and improvements in gross margin. The Company further said that it believes these positive trends will continue in the fourth quarter.

The Company previously announced that it expects to incur special charges in the third quarter of 2001 of approximately $200 million after tax in connection with the sale of its Specialty Personal Care (SPC) business and approximately $10 million pre tax in connection with plant consolidations in the U.S. and Argentina. In addition to these charges, the Company will incur a special charge in the third quarter in connection with the closure of its Mexico City manufacturing plant. The Company now estimates that special charges in the third quarter will total approximately $210 million after tax.

The Dial Corporation is one of America's leading manufacturers of consumer products, including Dial soaps, Purex laundry detergents, Renuzit air fresheners and Armour Star canned meats. Dial products have been in the American marketplace for more than 100 years. For more information about The Dial Corporation, visit the Company's Web site at www.dialcorp.com.

Statements in this press release as to the Company's expectations, beliefs, plans or predictions for the future are forward-looking statements within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "PSLRA"). Such forward-looking statements include the Company's expectations for earnings per share for the third quarter of 2001; continued strong sales and improved gross margins in the fourth quarter; and the estimated special charges associated with the sale of the SPC business and plant consolidations in the U.S., Argentina and Mexico.

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