laundryshark
Well-known member
I have always wanted to find this classic detergent ad.--Laundry Shark
Axion X Marks the Spot
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I actually recall that jingle----seems like the timing for Colgate-Palmolive for that branding was a bit off because this would have been about the moment that X-rated movies became a "thing" in the greater culture.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Age_of_Porn
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Age_of_Porn
X was used along with XK with names of detergents, like TIDE XK and presoak products to signify that they had enzymes. The main secret behind the enzyme products was that they were high in sodium tripolyphosphate at a time when mainstream detergents were pulling phosphates from their formulas and cleaning performance suffered so the phosphate-rich enzyme presoak products really helped. I remember people buying Arm and Hammer detergent thinking that they were getting baking soda as the builder when they were getting much cheaper and harsher washing soda which really mineraled up machines in hard water areas.
Late Arthur Godfrey got into hot water after promoting Colgate-Palmolive product "Axion" pre-soaker.
By then Mr. Godfrey was a big environmentalist and so forth. Troubles started when it was pointed out that Axion contained huge amounts of phosphates, a substance very much at the time causing controversy.
Mr. Godfrey claimed at first he wasn't aware, but later fessed up and withdrew his endorsement of said product. In fact things went quite the opposite way with Mr.
Godfrey then turning around and attacking Colgate Palmolive's product.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Godfrey#Post-retirement
https://archive.ph/O0whz
post was last edited: 12/22/2024-19:50]
By then Mr. Godfrey was a big environmentalist and so forth. Troubles started when it was pointed out that Axion contained huge amounts of phosphates, a substance very much at the time causing controversy.
Mr. Godfrey claimed at first he wasn't aware, but later fessed up and withdrew his endorsement of said product. In fact things went quite the opposite way with Mr.
Godfrey then turning around and attacking Colgate Palmolive's product.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Godfrey#Post-retirement
https://archive.ph/O0whz
post was last edited: 12/22/2024-19:50]
And the phosphate BS was largely a bow to the agricultural lobby who did not want to be blamed for phosphates in surface water from fertilizer run off and animal fecal run off in streams and rivers from poultry, dairy and commercial hog farms.
WE used Axion. IN fact, the 1970 Kenmore 800 had the 30 minute Enzyme Soak cycle that was perfect for this product.
Meanwhile Eddie Albert was peddling Axion's competitor, Biz from P&G.
Kaye Ballard would go on to replace Mr. Albert. Both actors were veterans of Broadway stage but would be famous latter for their roles on television.
Eddie Albert starred in "Green Acres" while Ms. Ballard was one of co-stars in "The Mothers In Law"
CP eventually threw in the towel with Axion (see what I did there?), but P&G continued on with Biz. Later refinements moved Biz from a "pre-soak" product to main wash additive including in last stages with an oxygen bleaching system.
Pre-soaking products for wash day were all rage on both sides of pond. Then as wont to happen P&G, Lever Bros (Unilever),Henkel and rest simply moved bio-enzym tech to their laundry detergents (Tide, Persil and rest). That spelled slow sad end to separate enzyme wash day products. P&G and rest actively promoted and marketed fact that one could pre-soak or pre-wash with their detergents so one didn't need to purchase anything else.
Where pre-soaking (with whatever product) did have an advantage on this side of pond had to do with dominance in USA of top loading washers.
While some automatic washers did have pre-soak or pre-wash cycles, many didn't. Thus one had to set machine manually to do the job, go back and drain, set to begin main wash.... This of course tied up washing machine unless one soaked things in a tub or something. Enzymes need time to work, especially on heavy soils or stains. Thus soaking would give better results than often comparatively short wash times in top loaders.
On other side of pond front loaders with their long wash cycles had no such issues for most part. Main quibble was that machines often heated water so quickly it went from cold to hot or boiling before enzymes could fully do their job. That problem was solved by adding a "stain" or whatever option that held temps (and prolonged cycle) to give enzymes a time to do their job properly.
Kaye Ballard would go on to replace Mr. Albert. Both actors were veterans of Broadway stage but would be famous latter for their roles on television.
Eddie Albert starred in "Green Acres" while Ms. Ballard was one of co-stars in "The Mothers In Law"
CP eventually threw in the towel with Axion (see what I did there?), but P&G continued on with Biz. Later refinements moved Biz from a "pre-soak" product to main wash additive including in last stages with an oxygen bleaching system.
Pre-soaking products for wash day were all rage on both sides of pond. Then as wont to happen P&G, Lever Bros (Unilever),Henkel and rest simply moved bio-enzym tech to their laundry detergents (Tide, Persil and rest). That spelled slow sad end to separate enzyme wash day products. P&G and rest actively promoted and marketed fact that one could pre-soak or pre-wash with their detergents so one didn't need to purchase anything else.
Where pre-soaking (with whatever product) did have an advantage on this side of pond had to do with dominance in USA of top loading washers.
While some automatic washers did have pre-soak or pre-wash cycles, many didn't. Thus one had to set machine manually to do the job, go back and drain, set to begin main wash.... This of course tied up washing machine unless one soaked things in a tub or something. Enzymes need time to work, especially on heavy soils or stains. Thus soaking would give better results than often comparatively short wash times in top loaders.
On other side of pond front loaders with their long wash cycles had no such issues for most part. Main quibble was that machines often heated water so quickly it went from cold to hot or boiling before enzymes could fully do their job. That problem was solved by adding a "stain" or whatever option that held temps (and prolonged cycle) to give enzymes a time to do their job properly.
I look at today's OXI additives and boosters in much the same light. Costco used to sell a 183 load box of Tide. Now it has been replaced by a 143 load box of Tide OXI. Just as washing performance declined in the late 60s with the removal of STPP, now it is is colder water and terrible washing machines and practices that the detergent manufacturers are trying to overcome with oxygen bleach.
laundryshark
Well-known member
Feedback much appreciated.
My mother used Axion when I was a boy. Cheers!--Laundry Shark, Who rarely checks in, as he is out at sea
My mother used Axion when I was a boy. Cheers!--Laundry Shark, Who rarely checks in, as he is out at sea
Re: reply #7
I neglected to state that the boxes are the same size, but you lose 40 loads because so much OXI bleach is added to the formula.
I neglected to state that the boxes are the same size, but you lose 40 loads because so much OXI bleach is added to the formula.
