UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 10-Q


                     QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



                  For the Quarterly Period Ended April 4, 1998
                         Commission file number 1-11793



                              THE DIAL CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)



     DELAWARE                                                51-0374887
(State  or  Other  Jurisdiction  of                          (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation  or  Organization)                             Identification No.)

15501  NORTH  DIAL  BOULEVARD
     SCOTTSDALE,  ARIZONA                                    85260-1619
(Address  of  Principal  Executive  Offices)                 (Zip Code)

Registrant's  Telephone  Number,  Including  Area  Code  (602)  754-3425
Indicate  by  check  mark  whether the registrant (1) has filed all Exchange Act
reports  required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange
Act  of  1934  during  the preceding 12 months, and (2) has been subject to such
filing  requirements  for  the  past  90  days.

               Yes      X                            No
                   -----------                          -----------

The  number  of shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, outstanding as the close
of  business  on  May  15,  1998  was  102,570,209.

<PAGE>
PART  I.    FINANCIAL  INFORMATION
ITEM  1.    FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                               THE DIAL CORPORATION
                            CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
                                  (000 omitted)
                                   (Unaudited)

<S>                                                     <C>         <C>
                                                         April 4,    January 3,
                                                            1998         1998 
                                                         ----------  -----------
ASSETS
Current Assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $   7,870   $   10,089 
  Receivables, less allowance of $7,032 and $6,841. . .     31,856       60,448 
  Inventories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    129,771      124,058 
  Deferred income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     24,815       25,185 
  Other current assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        738        7,174 
                                                         ----------  -----------

     Total current assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    195,050      226,954 

Property and equipment, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    255,721      260,928 
Deferred income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     64,324       63,567 
Intangibles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    328,264      331,482 
Other assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     11,230          921 
                                                         ----------  -----------

                                                         $ 854,589   $  883,852 
                                                         ==========  ===========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
  Trade accounts payable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $  73,584   $  102,235 
  Short-term borrowings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      8,792        8,500 
  Income taxes payable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     25,649       14,581 
  Other current liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     95,130      113,435 
                                                         ----------  -----------

     Total current liabilities. . . . . . . . . . . . .    203,155      238,751 

Long-term debt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     76,269       84,399 
Pension and other employee benefits . . . . . . . . . .    231,336      231,634 
Other liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      5,637        9,022 
     Total liabilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    516,397      563,806 
                                                         ----------  -----------

Shareholders' Equity
  Common stock, $.01 par value, 300,000,000 shares
  authorized, 102,775,954 and 102,725,481 shares issued      1,028       1,027 
  Additional capital. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    403,662     393,947 
  Retained earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     48,957      33,892 
  Unearned employee benefits. . . . . . . . . . . . . .   (109,035)   (107,372)
  Treasury stock, 311,124 and 101,040 shares held . . .     (6,420)     (1,448)
                                                         ----------  -----------
     Total shareholders' equity . . . . . . . . . . . .    338,192      320,046 
                                                         ----------  -----------

                                                         $ 854,589   $  883,852 
                                                         ==========  ===========
</TABLE>


See  Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements.

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                              THE DIAL CORPORATION
                      STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS
                      (000 omitted, except per share data)


                                                       (Unaudited)
                                                      Quarter Ended
                                                     ---------------       
                                                   April 4,    March 29,
                                                     1998        1997
                                                 ----------- -----------
<S>                                              <C>              <C>
Net sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $   335,022 $   316,242
                                                 ----------- -----------

Costs and expenses:
   Cost of products sold. . . . . . . . . . . .      176,506     169,290
   Selling, general and administrative expenses      117,962     110,295
                                                 ----------- -----------

                                                     294,468     279,585
                                                 ----------- -----------


Operating income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       40,554      36,657

Interest and other expenses . . . . . . . . . .        4,754       7,666
                                                 ----------- -----------


Income before income taxes. . . . . . . . . . .       35,800      28,991
Income taxes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       12,889      10,668
                                                 ----------- -----------

NET  INCOME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $    22,911 $    18,323
                                                 =========== ===========

NET INCOME PER SHARE -- BASIC . . . . . . . . .  $     0.23  $     0.20
                                                 =========== ===========

NET INCOME PER SHARE -- DILUTED . . . . . . . .  $     0.23  $     0.20

Weighted average basic shares outstanding . . .       97,898      89,877
     Weighted average equivalent shares . . . .        2,126       2,066
                                                 ----------- -----------
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding . .      100,024      91,943
                                                 =========== ===========



</TABLE>


See  Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements.


<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                    THE DIAL CORPORATION
                            STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS
                                       (000 omitted)
                                        (Unaudited)
                                             
                                         

<S>                                                        <C>          <C>
                                                            Three Months Ended
                                                            April 4,    March 29,
                                                              1998         1997 
                                                           ----------  -----------
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED (USED) BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   $  22,911   $   18,323 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
 provided (used) by operating activities:
  Depreciation and amortization. . . . . . . . . . . . .       7,953        7,613 
  Deferred income taxes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        (387)       7,864 
  Change in operating assets and liabilities:
   Receivables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       3,270       10,736 
   Inventories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      (7,142)      11,039 
   Trade accounts payable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     (28,651)     (26,619)
   Other assets and liabilities, net . . . . . . . . . .      (5,503)      (7,842)
                                                           ----------  -----------

Net cash provided (used) by operating activities . . . .      (7,549)      21,114 
                                                           ----------  -----------

CASH FLOWS PROVIDED (USED) BY INVESTING  ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      (6,646)      (6,795)
Proceeds from sale of product lines
and other non-operating assets                                10,053
                                                           ----------  -----------           
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities . . . .       3,407       (6,795)
                                                           ----------  -----------

CASH FLOWS PROVIDED (USED) BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net payments on long-term borrowings . . . . . . . . . . .    (8,130)     (10,833)
Common stock purchased for treasury. . . . . . . . . . . .    (4,501)
Net change in short-term bank loans. . . . . . . . . . . .       292 
Dividends paid on common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    (7,846)      (7,220)
Cash proceeds from stock options . . . . . . . . . . . . .     6,408        3,504 
Net change in receivables sold . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    15,700       (8,200)
                                                           ----------  -----------
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities . . . . .     1,923      (22,749)
                                                           ----------  -----------
Net (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents. . . . . . . .    (2,219)      (8,430)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year . . . . . . .    10,089       14,102 
                                                           ----------  -----------

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD . . . . . . . . . $   7,870   $    5,672 
                                                           ==========  ===========
</TABLE>


See  Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements.


<PAGE>
				      THE DIAL CORPORATION
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE  A.    BASIS  OF  PREPARATION

The  Consolidated  Financial  Statements of The Dial Corporation ("the Company")
include  the  accounts  for  the  Company  and  all  of  its subsidiaries.  This
information  should  be  read  in  conjunction with the financial statements set
forth  in  The Dial Corporation Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended
January  3,  1998.

Accounting  policies  utilized  in  the preparation of the financial information
herein  presented  are  the  same as set forth in the Company's annual financial
statements  except  as modified for interim accounting policies which are within
the guidelines set forth in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 28, "Interim
Financial  Reporting."    The  interim  consolidated  financial  statements  are
unaudited.   In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal
recurring  accruals,  necessary  to  present fairly the financial position as of
April  4, 1998 and the results of operations and its cash flows for the quarters
ended  April  4, 1998 and March 29, 1997 have been included.  Interim results of
operations  are  not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the
full  year.

In  March  1997,  the  Financial  Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial  Accounting  Standards No. 128, "Earnings Per Share" ("SFAS No. 128"),
which  is effective for financial statements for both interim and annual periods
ending after December 15, 1997.  This new standard requires dual presentation of
"basic" and "diluted" earnings per share ("EPS") on the face of the statement of
operations  and  requires a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of
basic  and  diluted  EPS calculations. Basic net income per share is computed by
dividing  net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding
during  the period.  Diluted net income per common share is computed by dividing
net  income  by  the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during
the period after giving effect to stock options considered to be dilutive common
stock  equivalents.   Shares held by the Employee Equity Trust (the "Trust") are
not  considered  outstanding  for  net  income  per share calculations until the
shares  are  released  from  the  Trust.

At  April  4,  1998,  there  were  102,775,954 shares of common stock issued and
97,935,512  shares outstanding.  At April 4, 1998 and March 29, 1997, a total of
4,529,318  and  5,670,818,  respectively,  of the issued shares were held by the
Trust.

At  April  4,  1998  and  March  29,  1997,  a  total  of  311,124  and  65,879,
respectively,  shares  were held in treasury by the Company.  The shares held in
treasury  at  April  4, 1998 includes 187,935 shares purchased by the Company as
part  of  a  small shareholder selling/repurchasing program initiated during the
first  quarter  of  1998.


<PAGE>
NOTE  B.    INVENTORIES

Inventories  consisted  of  the  following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                             April 4,   January 3,
                               1998        1998
                             ---------  -----------
<S>                          <C>        <C>
                                 (000 omitted)

Raw materials and supplies.  $  35,526  $    36,938
Work in process . . . . . .      8,561        9,373
Finished goods. . . . . . .     85,684       77,747
                             ---------  -----------
                             $ 129,771  $   124,058
                             =========  ===========

</TABLE>


NOTE  C.    INCOME  TAXES

Reconciliations  between  the  statutory  federal income tax rate of 35% and the
Company's  consolidated  effective  income  tax  rate for the three months ended
April  4,  1998  and  March  29,  1998  are  as  follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



                                      April 4,   March 29,
                                        1998        1997
                                      ---------  ----------
<S>                                   <C>        <C>
Federal statutory rate . . . . . . .      35.0%       35.0%
Nondeductible goodwill amortization.       0.3         0.4 
FSC exclusion. . . . . . . . . . . .      (0.4)       (0.7)
State income taxes . . . . . . . . .       4.0         4.0 
Other, net (benefit) . . . . . . . .      (2.9)       (1.9)

Effective income tax rate. . . . . .      36.0%       36.8%
                                      =========  ==========
</TABLE>



NOTE  D.    NEW  ACCOUNTING  PRONOUNCEMENT

In June 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Statement
of  Financial  Accounting  Standards  ("SFAS") No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive
Income."    SFAS  No.  130  requires  that  enterprises  classify items of other
comprehensive  income  by  their nature in a financial statement and display the
accumulated  balance  of  other  comprehensive  income  separately from retained
income and additional capital in the shareholders' equity section of the balance
sheet.    The  Company's  annual  comprehensive  income  is  not  expected to be
materially different from its net income.  Comprehensive income for the quarters
ended  April  4,  1998  and  March  29,  1997  was  $22,881,000 and $18,263,000,
respectively.    The  difference  between  net  income  and comprehensive income
consists  primarily  of  increases  in  the Company's additional minimum pension
liability.


ITEM  2.    MANAGEMENT'S  DISCUSSION  AND  ANALYSIS  OF  FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
            RESULTS  OF  OPERATIONS

COMPARISON  OF  THE  FIRST  QUARTER  OF  1998  WITH  THE  FIRST  QUARTER OF 1997

Net sales increased $18.8 million, or 6%, to $335.0 million in the first quarter
of  1998 from $316.2 million in the first quarter of 1997.  The first quarter of
1997  included  approximately  $23.0  million  in  sales  from  brands that were
divested  in  the  third  quarter  of  1997.

Sales  of  products  in the DIAL, PUREX, RENUZIT and ARMOUR franchises accounted
for  26%, 30%, 11% and 16% respectively, of the Company's total net sales in the
first  quarter  of  1998 compared to 25%, 29% 11% and 17%, respectively, for the
first  quarter  of  1997.    Compared  to  the first quarter of 1997, Dial sales
increased  12%,  Purex sales increased 7%, and Renuzit sales increased 3% during
the  first  quarter  of  1998. Armour sales were relatively flat during the same
period.    Net  sales  in  international  markets  increased approximately $26.0
million,  or  nearly  200%,  to  $41.2  million  in  the  first quarter of 1998.
International  sales, exclusive of the acquisitions in Argentina, increased $5.1
million,  or  33%,  to  $19.6  million  in  the first quarter of 1998 from $14.7
million  in  the  first  quarter  of  1997.

Gross  profit  margin  increased  .8% to 47.3% in the first quarter of 1998 from
46.5%  in  the  first  quarter  of  1997.   The increase resulted primarily from
increased  manufacturing  efficiencies,  offset  in  part  by  the  Company's
Argentinean  operations  which  have  a lower margin than the corporate average.

Selling,  general  and  administrative  expenses  for  the first quarter of 1998
increased  $7.7  million,  or  7%,  to $117.9 million from $110.2 million in the
first  quarter  of 1997.  The increase was primarily due to higher trade expense
supporting  new  product  launches  and  detergent  merchandising initiatives to
support  the  Dial  franchise.

Operating  income in the first quarter of 1998 increased $3.9 million, or 10.6%,
to  $40.6  million  from  $36.7  million  during the first quarter of 1997.  The
increase  was  primarily  due  to  increased  sales and continued cost reduction
programs.

Interest  and other expenses decreased $2.9 million, or 38%, to $4.8 million for
the first quarter of 1998 compared to $7.7 million in the first quarter of 1997.
The  decrease  resulted  primarily  from lower debt, down  approximately  $182.0
million from  the  first  quarter  of  1997.

Net income increased $4.6 million, or 25%, to $22.9 million in the first quarter
of  1998  from  $18.3  million  in  the first quarter of 1997.  The increase was
primarily  due  to  increased  sales  and  gross  profit  margin  improvements.

The  effective  tax  rate for the first quarter of 1998 declined slightly to 36%
from  36.8% for the first quarter of 1997.  The decrease resulted primarily from
the  benefits  associated  with  Foreign Sales Corporation sales and foreign tax
holidays.

LIQUIDITY  AND  CAPITAL  RESOURCES

The  Company  used cash from operations of $7.5 million during the first quarter
of  1998 compared to cash generated of $21.1 million for the same period of time
in  1997.    The  decrease  was  attributable primarily to annual incentive plan
payouts  and  higher  inventory levels  in support of new product introductions.

Capital expenditures for the first quarter of 1998 were $6.6 million versus $6.8
million for the comparable period in 1997.  Capital spending in 1998 is expected
to approximate $50.0 million and will be concentrated primarily on equipment and
information systems that provide opportunities to reduce manufacturing, logistic
and  administrative  costs and address the Year 2000 issue.  However, such plans
are  dependent  on  the  availability  of  funds,  as  well as identification of
projects  with sufficient returns.  As a result, there can be no assurance as to
the  quantity  and  the  type  of  capital  spending  in  the  future.

The  Company received approximately $10.0 million from the disposition of assets
during the first quarter of 1998, the majority of which resulted from two sales.
The  Toss 'n Soft brand and related inventories were sold to Church & Dwight Co,
Inc. for approximately $5.3 million.  In addition, a non-operating manufacturing
property  was  sold  for  $4.0  million  to  a third party.  No gain or loss was
realized  on  either  of  the  transactions.

The  Company's  financing  plan  includes  the  sale  of  accounts receivable to
accelerate cash flow.  Accounts receivable sold but not yet collected under this
plan  at  April 4, 1998 and March 29, 1997 were $74.6 million and $66.7 million,
respectively.    Under  the  terms  of the plan, the Company retains the risk of
credit  loss  on  the  receivables  sold.

The  Company  is  also party to a $350.0 million revolving credit agreement (the
"Credit  Agreement")  with  various  banks.    The  Credit Agreement, which will
terminate  on August 15, 2002, unless extended, contains certain covenants which
impose  limitations  on  the  Company  with  respect to, among other things, its
ability  to  place  liens  on  property,  its  ability  to merge, consolidate or
transfer  substantially all its assets, its minimum net worth and the incurrence
of  certain  indebtedness.    The Company had $350.0 million available under the
Credit  Agreement  at  April  4,  1998.    The Company, from time to time, makes
short-term  bank borrowings that are supported by the  Credit  Agreement.  As of
April 4, 1998, The  Company  had $75.6  million  aggregate  principal amount  of
such short-term  borrowings outstanding.  The  bank  borrowings  are  classified
as  long-term  debt  because  they   are  supported  by  the  long-term   Credit
agreement.

At  April  4,  1998  and  March  29,  1997,  a  total  of  311,124  and  65,879,
respectively,  shares  were held in treasury by The Company.  The shares held at
April  4,  1998  includes 187,935 shares valued at $4.5 million purchased by the
Company  as  part  of a small shareholder selling/repurchasing program initiated
during  the  first  quarter  of  1998.

In August 1997, the Company moved its corporate headquarters from the Viad Tower
to  office  space  in  Scottsdale, Arizona.  The Company has approximately eight
years remaining on the lease for the Viad Tower space, which commits the Company
to payments of approximately $2.7 million annually through 2006.  The Company is
actively  marketing  the  space  for  sublease.

As of April 4, 1998, The Company had approximately $89.1 million in net deferred
tax  benefits.    The  realization  of such benefits will require average annual
taxable  income  of  approximately  $16.5  million  over the next 15 years.  The
Company's  average  income  before  income  taxes  over the last three years was
approximately  $43.1  million.

In the second or third quarter of 1998, the Company intends to complete a $100.0
million  offering  of Senior Notes  to  take  advantage  of  favorable long-term
interest  rates.  The  net  proceeds of this debt financing will be used for the
repayment of indebtness  that bears short-term interest rates, general corporate
purposes and  possible  acquisitions.

<PAGE>
PART  II.    OTHER  INFORMATION

ITEM  6.    EXHIBITS  AND  REPORTS  ON  FORM  8-K

     (A)    Exhibits

     11.    Statement  Re:  Computation  of  Per  Share  Earnings.

     27.    Financial  Data  Schedule

     99.    Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 Safe Harbor
            Coverage Statement  for  Forward-Looking  Statements

    (B)     A  Current  Report  on  Form  8-K was filed on May 4, 1998,
            relating to the Company's  first  quarter  financial  results.


                                  SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934, the
registrant  has  duly  caused  this  report  to  be  signed on its behalf by the
undersigned  thereunto  duly  authorized.


The  Dial  Corporation
(Registrant)

May  18,  1998


\s\  Susan  J.  Riley
-----------------------------------------------------------------
     Susan  J.  Riley
     Senior  Vice  President  and  Chief  Financial  Officer
     (Chief  Accounting  Officer  and  Authorized  Officer)