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 400 sqft garage behind their family home in Los Angeles, California. The following year, the name Purex was adopted for their bleach product. By 1946, Purex 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.[1] On July 31, 1956, Purex acquired the Manhattan Soap Company best known for its "SweetHeart" soap.[2]