Lysol Tells "The Story of SOMO" This Back-to-School Season

Lea Michele returns to the classroom with Lysol to educate families on how to help prevent the spread of illness-causing germs

PARSIPPANY, N.J., July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- When kids miss a day of school because of illness, they miss out on more than just learning – they miss shared jokes, playground adventures, and other irreplaceable moments of childhood.

That's why Lysol^®, a Reckitt brand, is on a mission to help fight SOMO, or 'Sick of Missing Out,' through germ education and prevention. For year seven of its HERE for Healthy Schools initiative, Lysol has teamed up with actress, singer, author, and mom Lea Michele to return to the classroom and teach parents how they can help protect their children from the spread of germs – so kids can be in school for moments that matter.

In "The Story of SOMO," Lea shares a fictional storybook telling of one student's experience with SOMO and encourages parents to prepare for back-to-school season with Lysol Disinfecting Wipes and Lysol Disinfectant Spray, which kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria* on surfaces at home and in classrooms.

"As a mom, I'm aware of the simple ways we can help protect our children from the spread of germs," Lea said. "During back-to-school shopping, it's easy to think about the clothes and supplies, but Lysol is an important part of my routine to start the year off right – because fewer days home sick from school means more moments for them to enjoy!"

Lysol's HERE for Healthy Schools initiative is continuing to make hands-on learning accessible for classrooms nationwide with the second installment of the Lysol Minilabs Science Kits. Created in partnership with kids' co-design lab The GIANT Room, these kits feature interactive, hands-on germ education materials and lesson plans for the 2025-2026 school year. Eligible teachers at Title I schools can visit https://www.lysol.com/lysolminilabs to request a Lysol Minilabs Science Kit for their classroom, while supplies last.

"With absenteeism from illness at a record high**, Lysol is committed to helping protect against the spread of illness-causing germs in the classroom," said Benoit Veryser, Vice President of US Marketing for Lysol. "This year, we are fighting SOMO, which is why we're encouraging parents to prepare for and help stop the spread of germs, so kids can thrive in the classroom – and not miss out from being sick."

To watch "The Story of SOMO," visit Lysol's official YouTube and Instagram pages. To learn more about Lysol's HERE for Healthy Schools initiative, visit: https://www.lysol.com/our-mission/here-for-healthy-schools or follow @lysol on Instagram and @lysolus on TikTok.

You can find Lysol Disinfecting Wipes and Lysol Disinfectant Spray at major retailers and learn more by visiting www.Lysol.com.

*When used as directed
**Student-level attendance patterns show depth, breadth, and persistence of post-pandemic absenteeism, 9/4/2024,Tom Swiderski, Sarah Crittenden Fuller, and Kevin C. Bastian

About HERE For Healthy Schools
Established in 2019, HERE for Healthy Schools launched with the mission of helping to curb the spread of illness-causing germs in classrooms nationwide. From the creation of interactive lesson plans and physical resources to donating millions of Lysol Disinfecting products, Lysol is committed to helping kids learn healthy habits and providing educators with the resources they need to keep their classrooms protected from germs.

About Lysol Minilabs Science Kits
Lysol partnered with children's innovation lab, The Giant Room, to collect insights from teachers, parents and students to input into the creation of the Lysol Minilabs Science Kits. The kits are designed to make hands on learning accessible to students and will be donated to Title I schools throughout the upcoming 2025 – 2026 school year.

About Lysol 
For more than a century, Lysol has been protecting families from the spread of illness-causing germs. We believe there is nothing more important than keeping our loved ones safe and healthy. For Lysol, just as it is for parents, protection is an instinctive act of love: an unconditional combination of strength and heart. 

About Reckitt 
Reckitt^† exists to protect, heal, and nurture in the pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world. We believe that access to the highest-quality hygiene, wellness and nourishment is a right, not a privilege. 

Reckitt is the company behind some of the world's most recognizable and trusted consumer brands in hygiene, health, and nutrition, including Air Wick, Calgon, Cillit Bang, Clearasil, Dettol, Durex, Enfamil, Finish, Gaviscon, Harpic, Lysol, Mortein, Mucinex, Nurofen, Nutramigen, Strepsils, Vanish, Veet, Woolite and more. 

Every day, around 30 million Reckitt products are bought globally. We always put consumers and people first, seek out new opportunities, strive for excellence in all that we do and build shared success with all our partners. We aim to do the right thing, always. 

We are a diverse global team of c. 40,000 colleagues. We draw on our collective energy to meet our ambitions of purpose-led brands, a healthier planet, and a fairer society.  Find out more or get in touch with us at http://www.reckitt.com/us.  

^†Reckitt is the trading name of the Reckitt Benckiser group of companies. 

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SOURCE Lysol