Purex (laundry detergent)
{{Short description|Brand of laundry detergent manufactured by Henkel}}
{{infobox brand
| name = Purex
| logo = 200px
| image =
| caption =
| type = Laundry detergent
| currentowner = Henkel North American Consumer Goods
| origin = Introduced as Purex Bleach in Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| introduced = {{start date and age|1922}}
| discontinued =
| related = Purex Bleach
| markets = United States, Canada
| previousowners = Purex Industries, Inc.
| trademarkregistrations =
| ambassadors =
| tagline =
| website = {{url|http://www.purex.com}}
}}
Purex is a brand of laundry detergent and laundry-related products manufactured by Henkel North American Consumer Goods and marketed in the United States and Canada. Purex is one of the most widely used laundry detergents in North America. Its original product, Purex Bleach, was a major competitor to Clorox bleach. The brand name is also used for a line of in-wash "fragrance booster" products called Purex Crystals. The Purex Crystals brand was originally launched as an in-wash fabric softener product.
History
In 1922, Lionel S. Precourt and his son, Ray, began to make household bleach from their {{convert|400|sqft|m2|adj=on}} garage behind their family home in Los Angeles, California. The following year, the name Purex was adopted for their bleach product. By 1946, Purex{{clarify|reason=Was Purex the name of the company, or only the name of the brand? When did the company get that name?|date=February 2022}} began to produce its first light-duty, dry detergent, under the brand name Trend.
In 1955, Purex acquired Old Dutch Cleanser from Cudahy Packing Company.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1955/04/25/archives/purex-buys-cudahy-unit-old-dutch-cleanser-division-is-sold-for.html|title=Purex buys Cudahy unit; Old Dutch Cleanser Division Is Sold for Stock and Cash|first=|last=|work=The New York Times|date=25 April 1955|access-date=8 April 2020}} On July 31, 1956, Purex acquired the Manhattan Soap Company best known for its "SweetHeart" soap.Other Sales, Mergers, New York Times, August 1, 1956, pg. 30. In 1962, Purex acquired The Campana Company of Batavia, Illinois, from the Dow Chemical Company.{{Citation needed|date=August 2019}} The same year, it merged with Brillo Manufacturing Company, makers of Brillo Pad.{{Citation needed|date=February 2020}}
In 1975, Purex liquid laundry detergent was introduced. Purex liquids began the use of its distinctive blue plastic bottle in 1981.
In 1981, Purex acquired the food and household brands of A. E. Staley Manufacturing Company, among them, Cream Corn Starch, Staley Pancake and Waffle Syrup, Sta-Puf fabric softener, Sta-Flo liquid starch and Sno Bol toilet bowl cleaner.{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/10/26/Purex-Industries-Inc-the-maker-of-detergents-and-marketer/3588372920400/|title=Purex Industries Inc.|first=|last=|work=United Press International|date=26 October 1981|access-date=28 February 2020}}
In 1982, Purex Industries, Inc. was acquired in a leveraged buyout by Gibbons, Green and van Amerongen Ltd., the predecessor of Leonard Green & Partners.{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/01/29/Purex-Industries-has-annouced-it-has-agreed-in-principle/4381381128400/ph|title=Purex Industries |first=|last=|work=United Press International|date=29 January 1982|access-date=13 March 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/08/12/business/purex-merger-is-approved.html|title=Purex Merger is Approved|first=|last=|work=The New York Times|date=12 August 1982|access-date=13 March 2018}} In 1985, the household and consumer products business of Purex Industries, Inc. was acquired by Greyhound Corporation{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/02/22/business/greyhound-to-buy-a-purex-division.html |title=Greyhound to buy Purex Division|first=Jonathan|last=Hicks|work=The New York Times|date=22 February 1985|access-date=11 March 2018}} and was combined with Greyhound's Armour-Dial to form The Dial Corporation. By the 1990s, Dial would discontinue the Purex Bleach product to focus on laundry detergents.
In April 2004, The Dial Corporation was acquired by Henkel.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.purex.com/}}
{{Henkel}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Purex (Laundry Detergent)}}
Category:Dial Corporation brands
Category:Private equity portfolio companies
Category:Cleaning product brands
Category:Products introduced in 1922
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