U.S. Adults Preparing To Clean Their Way Into Spring; Survey shows nea

    Business Editors/Technology Writers

    BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 16, 2005--As the winter thaws, and brings longer days and warmer temperatures, homeowners and renters alike are preparing to shake out their dusters and pull out their brooms for the annual spring cleaning ritual. A new survey commissioned by Internet Yellow Pages provider Switchboard(R) (www.switchboard.com) and conducted by Harris Interactive(R) shows that nearly three out of four U.S. adults (72 percent) are gearing up for spring cleaning this year.
    Of those who plan to spring clean, the no. 1 priority among women is completing projects that clean the inside of the house, such as dusting and vacuuming (42 percent), while men plan to focus more on outside tasks, such as doing yard work and cleaning the gutters (44 percent). The survey also revealed that women who plan to spring clean are more likely than men to give priority to getting organized and reducing clutter (34 percent vs. 23 percent).
    Those who do not plan to spring clean cited the main reason being they feel their home does not need it (28 percent), while nearly one out of five (20 percent) do a thorough cleaning of their home at another time of the year.
    "A lot of people get bogged down just thinking about spring cleaning tasks," said Porter Knight, author of "Organized to Last: Five Simple Steps to Staying Organized." "Motivate yourself by visualizing how you'll benefit when the job is done. For example, once the house is clean and organized you'll be ready for that graduation party. And regular seasonal home care will prevent more expensive maintenance down the road. Keeping these benefits in mind can help you stay focused on the task."
    Knight also suggests allowing for enough time to get the job done right, and points out that if time is tight, hiring local professionals such as a carpet and upholstery cleaner, professional organizer or a landscape service can make the job easier and more efficient.
    For a comprehensive resource of local businesses that can help with spring cleaning tasks, pass up the Yellow Pages book and instead try the online Yellow Pages site Switchboard.com. Switchboard offers an easy way to find professionals such as gutter cleaners and maid services who are close to home or the office. Switchboard users can access a variety of features not available in the print Yellow Pages book, such as the ability to plot businesses on a map and sort listings by location.
    In honor of the season, Switchboard.com will post tips and tricks on its Web site to help spring cleaners get the job done quickly and efficiently, in addition to the Clean Sweep Sweepstakes where one grand prize winner will win a year's worth of cleaning from a maid service. Look for the "Clean Sweep Tips & Tricks" icon on the home page starting March 21st.

    About the Survey

    Harris Interactive(R) conducted the telephone survey for InfoSpace, Inc. between March 4 and 6, 2005 among a nationwide cross section of 1,030 U.S. adults ages 18 and over comprising 509 men and 521 women. The sample that plans to do spring cleaning this year consists of 738 U.S. adults, comprising 335 men and 403 women. Those who do not plan to do spring cleaning this year consists of 273 U.S. adults. Figures for age, sex, race, education, number of adults, number of voice/telephone lines in the household, region and size of place were weighted where necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the population. In theory, with a probability sample of this size, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results for the overall sample have a sampling error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. The sampling error for samples: do not plan to do spring cleaning this year -- plus or minus 6.1; do plan to do spring cleaning this year -- plus or minus 3.7 ; women who plan to spring clean -- plus or minus 5.0; and, men who plan to spring clean -- plus or minus 5.5 percentage points.

    About Switchboard(R)

    Switchboard (www.switchboard.com) is a leading provider of Internet-based yellow pages and white pages that helps consumers by providing a fast, easy solution to finding businesses and people nationwide, and connects consumers with merchants through interactive and innovative directory technology. Switchboard is part of the InfoSpace Search & Directory network of Web search and online directory properties. These products bring people, information and businesses together online to help users find the information they need quickly and easily. InfoSpace Search & Directory is a business of InfoSpace, Inc. (Nasdaq:INSP)

    More information can be found at http://www.infospaceinc.com.

    About Harris Interactive(R)

    Harris Interactive Inc. (www.harrisinteractive.com), the 15th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world, is a Rochester, N.Y.-based global research company that blends premier strategic consulting with innovative and efficient methods of investigation, analysis and application. Known for The Harris Poll(R) and for pioneering Internet-based research methods, Harris Interactive conducts proprietary and public research to help its clients achieve clear, material and enduring results.
    Harris Interactive combines its intellectual capital, databases and technology to advance market leadership through U.S. offices and wholly owned subsidiaries: London-based HI Europe (www.hieurope.com), Paris-based Novatris (www.novatris.com), Tokyo-based Harris Interactive Japan, through newly acquired WirthlinWorldwide, a Reston, Virginia-based research and consultancy firm ranked 25th largest in the world, and through an independent global network of affiliate market research companies. EOE M/F/D/V

    Note to Editors: B-roll Footage Available

    B-roll footage of screenshots of Switchboard.com is available by request. Please contact Carol Rogalski of Text 100 Public Relations, 206-267-2024

--30--KS/se*

CONTACT: Text 100 Public Relations for InfoSpace Carol Rogalski, 206-267-2024 Mobile: 425-890-4747 infospace@text100.com or Katrina Thomas, 206-267-2011 Mobile: 425-445-2148 infospace@text100.com

KEYWORD: WASHINGTON INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HARDWARE SOFTWARE CONSUMER/HOUSEHOLD INTERNET E-COMMERCE SOURCE: Switchboard

Copyright Business Wire 2005