Product type Laundry detergent Introduced 1922 Markets North America | Owner Henkel Corporation Related brands | |
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Country First Manufactured in Los Angeles, California, U.S. | ||
Purex is the brand name of a popular laundry detergent in the United States, Canada and other countries. It is manufactured by the Dial Corporation, a U.S. subsidiary of Germany's Henkel Corporation. Purex is one of the most widely used laundry detergents in North America. It takes its name from a sister product, Purex bleach, which was a widely popular competitor to Clorox bleach.
In 1982 Purex Industries was acquired in a leveraged buyout by Gibbons, Green and van Amerongen Ltd., the predecessor of Leonard Green & Partners. In 1985, the Purex household and consumer product lines were acquired by the Dial Corporation consumer business.
History
Purex Laundry Detergent was created by Lionel S. Precourt with his son, Ray in 1922, in Los Angeles, California. The father and son team began to make their household bleach from their headquarters in their 400 square foot garage. In 1923 the name “Purex” was created and used on their first bleach product. By 1946 Purex began to produce its first light-duty, dry detergent, under the brand name 'Trend'.
In 1975 the liquid laundry detergent Purex was introduced. Purex liquids began the use of their distinctive blue plastic bottle in 1981. Over the years Purex released several additional brands including Mountain Breeze, Purex Liquid Fabric Softeners, Purex Dryer Sheets, Purex Natural Elements Liquid Detergents, Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets, and in 2011 Purex Complete Crystals Softener and Purex Complete with Zout Detergent were launched.