2000 Flushes

2000 Flushes is an American automatic toilet-cleaning product brand best known for solid cleaners placed inside a toilet tank. Rather than requiring the user to scrub the bowl after every use, the product concept releases cleaning chemicals into the tank water so that cleaning or disinfecting activity occurs over a long sequence of flushes. The brand name expresses this durability proposition, although the actual service life depends on the formulation, toilet usage, water conditions, and product version. The concept was developed by Al Eisen, the founder of New Jersey-based Flushco, Inc. The origin story associated with the company describes Eisen looking for an alternative to manually cleaning the toilet after his wife asked him to do the job. His early prototype reportedly used a cup containing chlorine, weighted with rocks and placed in the toilet tank. That experiment suggested that a controlled chemical source in the tank could keep the bowl cleaner for an extended period and became the basis for the commercial product. The first newspaper advertisements appeared in 1978, followed by broadcast advertising in March 1979. Early commercials presented Eisen as the inventor and used a humorous household-cleaning message built around his dislike of scrubbing toilets. The product gained enough traction in its initial American markets to challenge Vanish, then an established automatic and crystal toilet-cleaner brand. The competitive environment became contentious when Vanish advertising raised claims that calcium-hypochlorite toilet cleaners could damage plumbing. In 1981, a group of manufacturers led by Twinoak obtained an out-of-court settlement involving Vanish's manufacturer, Drackett Company; the advertising was withdrawn under terms that were not publicly disclosed. Block Drug acquired Flushco and the 2000 Flushes brand in 1983. During Block Drug's ownership, the company marketed several variants, including 2000 Flushes Blue and 2000 Flushes Powder Foam. The brand was later included in a broader corporate restructuring in 1998. In 2001, WD-40 Company acquired Global Household Brands, a company established to acquire consumer brands including X-14, 2000 Flushes, and Carpet Fresh. This placed 2000 Flushes within WD-40 Company's household-products portfolio rather than its better-known maintenance and lubricant business. The brand's history is also connected to a wider plumbing and product-design issue. During the 1990s, plumbing manufacturers reported accelerated deterioration of rubber flush-valve flappers in some toilets. Concern increased as water-saving toilets became more common and as chlorine-based, in-tank drop-in cleaners gained popularity. Testing by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California from 1994 through 1997 examined the durability of flapper materials exposed to these products. Manufacturers subsequently redesigned flappers to tolerate continuous exposure to leading chlorine in-tank cleaners, including 2000 Flushes and Clorox products. A later Vanish in-tank product generated additional concerns, contributing to durability and marking requirements added to the ASME A112.19.5 standard in 2005. Current 2000 Flushes products are generally sold as solid tablets or blocks intended for in-tank use. Different formulations have included detergent, concentrated bleach, or disinfectant claims. In 2008, a disinfectant version adopted a claim that it could kill 99.9 percent of bacteria from flush to flush, placing the brand within a competitive category in which rival products had made germ-killing claims for decades. Formulations differ in toxicity and are not uniformly safe for pets. Publicly available material establishes the brand's historical development and ownership path, but does not provide a reliable current product catalog, headquarters, sales figures, or a confirmed official website.

2000 Flushes originated with Al Eisen, founder of Flushco, Inc., a New Jersey company. The product concept grew from Eisen's attempt to avoid the repetitive task of scrubbing a toilet. His reported early experiment placed a chlorine-containing cup, weighted with rocks, inside a toilet tank. The arrangement released cleaning material into the water and appeared to keep the toilet clean for months. This became the conceptual foundation for an automatic toilet cleaner marketed around long-lasting performance. The first newspaper advertisements for 2000 Flushes appeared in 1978. In March 1979, the company added simple broadcast advertising built around the line, “If there's one job I hate, it's scrubbing the toilet.” Early commercials also featured Eisen personally presenting the product and claiming that it worked for up to four months. These advertisements turned the inventor into part of the product's identity and emphasized convenience rather than intensive household labor. The product initially competed with Vanish, which had a strong position in the American toilet-cleaner market through crystal-based and automatic cleaning products. Before 2000 Flushes completed its planned expansion across the United States, Vanish advertising questioned whether calcium-hypochlorite toilet cleaners could damage plumbing. In the fall of 1981, manufacturers led by Twinoak, producer of a long-running automatic toilet-bowl cleaner, secured an out-of-court settlement involving Drackett Company, the maker of Vanish. The settlement included withdrawal of the disputed advertising, although its cash terms were not disclosed. Block Drug acquired Flushco and the 2000 Flushes brand in 1983. Under Block Drug, the company marketed multiple versions, including 2000 Flushes Blue and 2000 Flushes Powder Foam. The brand was later sold as part of a wider corporate restructuring in 1998. In 2001, WD-40 Company acquired Global Household Brands, a business formed in 1998 to acquire X-14, 2000 Flushes, and Carpet Fresh. This acquisition made 2000 Flushes part of WD-40 Company's household-products holdings. The brand's product category became associated with an industry-wide plumbing question in the 1990s. Beginning in October 1993, toilet-fixture manufacturers reported that some flush-valve flappers were degrading quickly. The issue was particularly relevant to newer water-saving toilets introduced in connection with a 1994 federal water-conservation deadline. In-tank drop-in cleaners often contained chlorine bleach, and infrequently flushed tanks could develop higher chemical concentrations. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California tested flapper materials between 1994 and 1997. By 1998, manufacturers had redesigned flappers to withstand continuous immersion in popular chlorine-based cleaners, including 2000 Flushes and Clorox products. A later Vanish in-tank cleaner generated further durability concerns. New durability and product-marking requirements were added to the ASME A112.19.5 standard in 2005. These developments did not constitute a specific finding that every 2000 Flushes formulation damaged plumbing; rather, they reflected the need for toilet components to be evaluated against chemical exposure from in-tank cleaners. Modern versions of 2000 Flushes are generally solid tablets or blocks placed in the tank. Product variations have used detergent, concentrated bleach, or disinfectant ingredients. A disinfectant version introduced a claim in 2008 that it killed 99.9 percent of bacteria flush after flush, responding to a market in which competing toilet-cleaner brands had long used germ-control claims. Because formulas vary, safety characteristics also vary; available reference material notes that most versions are not pet-safe. The brand's exact current corporate presentation, headquarters, product availability, and official web presence are not established by the supplied sources.

• 2008

  Disinfectant version promoted

  [1]2000 Flushesen.wikipedia.org

  A 2000 Flushes version added disinfectant positioning and a repeated-flush bacteria-killing claim.

• 2005

  Flush-valve requirements updated

  [1]2000 Flushesen.wikipedia.org

  Durability and marking requirements for flush valves were added to ASME A112.19.5 after concerns involving in-tank cleaners.

• 2001

  WD-40 Company ownership begins

  [1]2000 Flushesen.wikipedia.org

  WD-40 Company acquired Global Household Brands, which owned 2000 Flushes among other household brands.

• 1998

  Brand included in corporate restructuring

  [1]2000 Flushesen.wikipedia.org

  Block Drug sold 2000 Flushes as part of a broader corporate restructuring.

• 1983

  Block Drug acquisition

  [1]2000 Flushesen.wikipedia.org

  Block Drug acquired Flushco and the 2000 Flushes brand.

• 1981

  Vanish advertising settlement

  [1]2000 Flushesen.wikipedia.org

  A manufacturer-led action resulted in an out-of-court settlement with Drackett over advertising that criticized calcium-hypochlorite toilet cleaners.

• 1979

  Broadcast advertising begins

  [1]2000 Flushesen.wikipedia.org

  The brand expanded into broadcast advertising with a humorous anti-scrubbing message and appearances by founder Al Eisen.

• 1978

  First newspaper advertising

  [1]2000 Flushesen.wikipedia.org

  The first known newspaper advertisements introduced 2000 Flushes as an automatic toilet-cleaning product.

A convenient, extended-duration household toilet-cleaning solution designed to reduce manual scrubbing through automatic in-tank dispensing.

• In-tank toilet cleaner

  2000 Flushes automatic toilet cleaner

  The core product is placed inside a toilet tank, where it releases cleaning chemicals into the tank water over repeated flushes. Its value proposition is convenience and extended duration compared with manual bowl cleaning. Historical and current formulations may differ, and the supplied sources do not establish a complete present-day range or standardized service life.

• Colored in-tank toilet cleaner

  2000 Flushes Blue

  A blue-formula variant marketed during Block Drug's ownership. The name indicates the product's coloring or presentation, but the supplied reference does not provide a complete ingredient list, package history, or confirmed current availability.

• Foaming toilet cleaner

  2000 Flushes Powder Foam

  A historical variant distributed by Block Drug. Its name suggests a powder-based product intended to generate foam, but the available source does not document detailed instructions, formulation, or whether it remains commercially available.

• Disinfecting in-tank toilet cleaner · 2008

  2000 Flushes disinfectant formulation

  A later formulation added disinfectant positioning and promoted a claim that it killed 99.9 percent of bacteria from flush to flush. Formulation-specific safety and efficacy details are not established in the supplied reference.

• 1979If there's one job I hate, it's scrubbing the toilet

  United States

  Broadcast advertising used humor and founder Al Eisen's personal appearances to frame 2000 Flushes as an alternative to repetitive toilet scrubbing.

  Outcome. The campaign helped establish the brand's convenience-oriented identity during its early expansion.

  Source
• 1978Initial newspaper advertising

  United States

  The first newspaper advertisements introduced the automatic toilet-cleaning concept and its long-duration benefit.

  Outcome. The product gained enough acceptance in its initial markets to become a credible competitor to Vanish.

  Source

• 2008

  Disinfectant formulation introducedProduct launch

  Background

  Toilet-cleaner competitors had used germ-killing claims for many years.

  Action taken

  A 2000 Flushes version added disinfectant positioning and promoted a 99.9-percent bacteria-killing claim.

  Aftermath

  The product competed more directly in the disinfecting automatic-toilet-cleaner segment.

  Source

• 2001

  WD-40 Company acquires Global Household BrandsM&A

  Background

  Global Household Brands had been established to acquire household brands including 2000 Flushes.

  Action taken

  WD-40 Company acquired Global Household Brands.

  Aftermath

  2000 Flushes became part of WD-40 Company's household-products portfolio.

  Source

• 1998

  Sale during Block Drug restructuringM&A

  Background

  Block Drug undertook a broader corporate restructuring involving the brand.

  Action taken

  2000 Flushes was sold as part of the restructuring.

  Aftermath

  The supplied source does not identify the immediate buyer in 1998.

  Source

• 1983

  Block Drug acquires FlushcoM&A

  Background

  Flushco had developed and marketed the 2000 Flushes toilet-cleaner brand.

  Action taken

  Block Drug purchased Flushco and assumed ownership of the brand.

  Aftermath

  Block Drug distributed multiple product versions, including 2000 Flushes Blue and 2000 Flushes Powder Foam.

  Source

1. 12000 Flushesen.wikipedia.org