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.

Janitor in a Drum
Product typeHousehold cleaning product
OwnerS. C. Johnson & Son
CountryUnited States
Introduced1945
Previous ownersDowBrands
Websitewww.scjohnson.com

History

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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

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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]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Court Says 2 Household Cleaners Must Be Marked for Eye Hazards". The New York Times. June 27, 1978.
  2. ^ a b c "Henderson Advertising". Advertising Age. September 15, 2003.
  3. ^ "From 'Happy Camper' to 'out of sight'". The New York Times. November 18, 1997.
  4. ^ Philip H. Dougherty (May 17, 1974). "Bid by a 4-A Chief". The New York Times. created the first spray cleaner, Fantastik, in 1967
  5. ^ "Texize founder dies". UPI (United Press International). June 27, 1989.
  6. ^ "P&G Buys Morton's Drug Unit". The New York Times. March 18, 1982.
  7. ^ Robert J. Cole (November 16, 1984). "Morton to sell Texize to Dow for $256 million". The New York Times.
  8. ^ "FANTASTIK". Morton-Norwich Products, Inc
  9. ^ Israel Shenker (January 19, 1974). "The Gallon: A Measure Of Outrage?". The New York Times.
  10. ^ "Perfume Promotion Was a Sniff and Tell". The New York Times. June 21, 1973.
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