Janitor in a Drum[1] is a cleaning product produced by S. C. Johnson. Although it is made for home use by consumers,[2] it describes the product as industrial strength both in advertising[3] and on the package.
History
Janitor in a Drum[4] originated in 1945 as an industrial cleaning product made by Texize[2] and was subsequently marketed for consumer use. Greenville, South Carolina-based Texize was sold to Norwich Pharmacal Co. in 1967; that company "was acquired and became Morton Norwich Products Inc."[5][6] Morton sold the consumer products division of Texize to Dow in 1986.[7] DowBrand sold a package of cleaning products, including Janitor in a Drum to S. C. Johnson in 1998.[8]
A federal court ruled in 1978 that Janitor in a Drum, which says Industrial Strength on packages, must include a warning "advising users that they can harm the eyes."[1] The product, which began as being for industrial use,[2] was mandated as falling "under the provision of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act."[1]
Competition
In 1974, The New York Times placed Mr. Clean ahead of Janitor in a Drum[9] and noted the phrase "smells like Janitor in a Drum.[10]
External links
References
- Court Says 2 Household Cleaners Must Be Marked for Eye Hazards The New York Times, June 27, 1978^
- Henderson Advertising Advertising Age, September 15, 2003^
- From 'Happy Camper' to 'out of sight' The New York Times, November 18, 1997^
- Philip H. Dougherty. Bid by a 4-A Chief The New York Times, May 17, 1974^
- Texize founder dies UPI (United Press International), June 27, 1989^
- P&G Buys Morton's Drug Unit The New York Times, March 18, 1982^
- Robert J. Cole. Morton to sell Texize to Dow for $256 million The New York Times, November 16, 1984^
- FANTASTIK^
- Israel Shenker. The Gallon: A Measure Of Outrage? The New York Times, January 19, 1974^
- Perfume Promotion Was a Sniff and Tell The New York Times, June 21, 1973^