vacerator
Well-known member
My mom
used Sears detergent. I don't know who made it, but she liked it.
My grandma liked Oxydol.
used Sears detergent. I don't know who made it, but she liked it.
My grandma liked Oxydol.
Discontinued detergents/products that you remember
- Thread starter twinniefan
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grwasher_expert
Well-known member
Febreze had also made its appearance on greek market in late '90s(maybe '98 or '99),but it didn't stay on greek supermarket shelves for a long time.It was discontinued a couyple years after its first launch.It failed because in Greece it is uncommon to spray fragrance on clothes to mask odors.If a piece of clothing gets a pungent odor(e.g. cigarette smoke,sweat) it goes directly to the laundry basket.
BOLD 2in1
GRWasher_expert.
We still have Bold 2in1 here in the UK (in fact they have just done a change of the scents available). We have had it years - had the Bold brand since 1973, and it has been a 2in1 since around 1980.
Actually, I think it is the UKs 2nd best selling detergent brand; behind Persil in first place.
The fabric "softener" technology used in Bold is different to standard softeners (Bold is a clay base technology (can't remember the name of the compound used) whereas normal softeners are grease/oil based).
It has never softened as good as a separate softener, but it does a perfectly adequate job. Actually, since reformulation done on the Bold line this month it softens better than I can remember it doing.
GRWasher_expert.
We still have Bold 2in1 here in the UK (in fact they have just done a change of the scents available). We have had it years - had the Bold brand since 1973, and it has been a 2in1 since around 1980.
Actually, I think it is the UKs 2nd best selling detergent brand; behind Persil in first place.
The fabric "softener" technology used in Bold is different to standard softeners (Bold is a clay base technology (can't remember the name of the compound used) whereas normal softeners are grease/oil based).
It has never softened as good as a separate softener, but it does a perfectly adequate job. Actually, since reformulation done on the Bold line this month it softens better than I can remember it doing.
My extra manual with my '48 Kenmore has another booklet dedicated to the Housewife as to how a Mrs Martin kept her kids clothes perfect, curtains stretched and the husband that worked to pay for the washer had bright, crisp shirts with Rinso-O. Guess in 1948 Sears did not pack Tide in every new washer, but that booklet is a hoot that only Rinso-O would work right.Obviously that was written by a man paid by Rinso-O in 1948 and the lady of the house had her interview. My clinical test shows cheap liquid detergent works just fine in it. My mother used original Tide for everything. It made me sneeze to smell it up close but as she said, It scours well.
Rinse-O
Put out versions of that manual for Hotpoint, Speed Queen and many other wringer washers in the 1940's not sure about automatics. That Mrs. Martin and her family really did get around.
Lux also had a similar book as well.
Put out versions of that manual for Hotpoint, Speed Queen and many other wringer washers in the 1940's not sure about automatics. That Mrs. Martin and her family really did get around.
Lux also had a similar book as well.
lordkenmore
Well-known member
Is Fresh Start around? Judging from what I see with a Google search, it's no longer available... If so, that would be my nomination. I remember my mother using it at one point in the 80s.
I got a bottle 5-10 years ago. I'm the formula is different, but it was fun... I half wish I'd gotten more when it went on clearance at my usual grocery store.
I got a bottle 5-10 years ago. I'm the formula is different, but it was fun... I half wish I'd gotten more when it went on clearance at my usual grocery store.
Fresh Start
Someone was selling the stuff on eBay last year. Grabbed several bottles and am still on the first one opened.
Near as one can see there were two varieties; one with enzymes (proteinase) and without. Otherwise formulas are the same basic phosphates (about 14%), nonionic surfactants, OBAs, etc...
Truth to tell a blend of anionic and nonionic surfactants are better than one of the either. Anionic surfactants are like soaps and really good at dealing with oils, grease, and fats.
Like the scent of Fresh Start, and it is low sudsing with good rinsing.
Someone was selling the stuff on eBay last year. Grabbed several bottles and am still on the first one opened.
Near as one can see there were two varieties; one with enzymes (proteinase) and without. Otherwise formulas are the same basic phosphates (about 14%), nonionic surfactants, OBAs, etc...
Truth to tell a blend of anionic and nonionic surfactants are better than one of the either. Anionic surfactants are like soaps and really good at dealing with oils, grease, and fats.
Like the scent of Fresh Start, and it is low sudsing with good rinsing.
grwasher_expert
Well-known member
Another memory that hit me:
Unilever's british brands Surf and Radion have made a brief appearance on greek market in the decade of '90s.They were secondary/budget lines of products,as Skip was always the top of the line product since 1967.I remember that Radion was emphasizing on its commercials that it fights not only dirt but also strong odors on clothing.Radion was discontinued in early '00s.Surf was available until circa 2005 as a low-price washing powder brand.Then it was discontinued and replaced by OMO.
Unilever's british brands Surf and Radion have made a brief appearance on greek market in the decade of '90s.They were secondary/budget lines of products,as Skip was always the top of the line product since 1967.I remember that Radion was emphasizing on its commercials that it fights not only dirt but also strong odors on clothing.Radion was discontinued in early '00s.Surf was available until circa 2005 as a low-price washing powder brand.Then it was discontinued and replaced by OMO.
grwasher_expert
Well-known member
Dosia detergent
Another discontinued product in greece is Dosia.It was a range of low-priced laundry products(powders,liquids,tablets,fabric conditioners) manufactured by Reckitt Benckiser with a pig-coin bank as a mascot.They dissappeared from greek shelves before 7-8 years,however they continue to be marketed in other eastern european countries such as Russia,Romania,Hungary and Czech republic.By the way,why does not reckitt benckiser produce any laundry detergent worldwidely? They produce dishwashing detergents(finish),fabric conditioner(quanto),household cleaners(cillit band),water softeners(calgon),stain removers(vanish),disinfectants(dettol),virtually every kind of cleaning products except laundry detergent.Why do they exclude them from their product range?Laundry derergents by RB are only marketed in very few countries.
Another discontinued product in greece is Dosia.It was a range of low-priced laundry products(powders,liquids,tablets,fabric conditioners) manufactured by Reckitt Benckiser with a pig-coin bank as a mascot.They dissappeared from greek shelves before 7-8 years,however they continue to be marketed in other eastern european countries such as Russia,Romania,Hungary and Czech republic.By the way,why does not reckitt benckiser produce any laundry detergent worldwidely? They produce dishwashing detergents(finish),fabric conditioner(quanto),household cleaners(cillit band),water softeners(calgon),stain removers(vanish),disinfectants(dettol),virtually every kind of cleaning products except laundry detergent.Why do they exclude them from their product range?Laundry derergents by RB are only marketed in very few countries.
aquacycle
Well-known member
Radion
The Radion brand was discontinued, but for years, the formula lived on as yellow Surf. Rather than ditch the detergent altogether, it was absorbed into another brand.
The Radion brand was discontinued, but for years, the formula lived on as yellow Surf. Rather than ditch the detergent altogether, it was absorbed into another brand.
aquarius1984
Well-known member
Radion when it was first brought out in the UK circa 1989 was actually Levers TOL detergent. I hadnt realsied this until we got a copy of the Which report from when it first came out.
It actually went in as a competitor to Ariel as it not only washed biologically and targeted stains but also odours. Radion had extra ingredients to Persil and was around IIRC 20p a box more expensive. It was also slightly more expensive than Ariel.
Of the era it is interesting to look back and see that actually Daz was marketed as Persils competitor although it was cheaper to buy. Il explain...
Ariel & Radion - TV adverts centred around science and men in white coats, marketed towards stains, smells, target audience DINK's - Double Income No Kids and families who were well off.
Persil and Daz - Family cleaning, Mum knows best, WHITENESS. Adverst centred around cleanliness and family.
Surf and Bold, marketed as cleaning well on the whole wash and costing a little less, not specifically aimed at any market group but definitely VFM.
Wisk was an oddball. More centred around coloured washes although supposedly capable of cleaning everything - debateable as to where it stood in the market but from what I remember it was between Surf and Persils price point. I cant help but think that the Victor washing machine Ad's had it aimed at DINK's who didnt really wish to spend money on an expensive product whereas Surf was more a family/economy thing.
Radion never really fitted in and from what I remmeber as its life fizzled out it ended up being downgraded with a similar cleaning performance albeit a different fragrance to Surf which then as Chris points out ended up absorbed into that brand.
It actually went in as a competitor to Ariel as it not only washed biologically and targeted stains but also odours. Radion had extra ingredients to Persil and was around IIRC 20p a box more expensive. It was also slightly more expensive than Ariel.
Of the era it is interesting to look back and see that actually Daz was marketed as Persils competitor although it was cheaper to buy. Il explain...
Ariel & Radion - TV adverts centred around science and men in white coats, marketed towards stains, smells, target audience DINK's - Double Income No Kids and families who were well off.
Persil and Daz - Family cleaning, Mum knows best, WHITENESS. Adverst centred around cleanliness and family.
Surf and Bold, marketed as cleaning well on the whole wash and costing a little less, not specifically aimed at any market group but definitely VFM.
Wisk was an oddball. More centred around coloured washes although supposedly capable of cleaning everything - debateable as to where it stood in the market but from what I remember it was between Surf and Persils price point. I cant help but think that the Victor washing machine Ad's had it aimed at DINK's who didnt really wish to spend money on an expensive product whereas Surf was more a family/economy thing.
Radion never really fitted in and from what I remmeber as its life fizzled out it ended up being downgraded with a similar cleaning performance albeit a different fragrance to Surf which then as Chris points out ended up absorbed into that brand.
Radion...
Radion's story is featured in a book I have called "brand failures - the truth about the 100 biggest branding mistakes of all time" authored by Matt Haig.
It's only a short section, so I have copied out word for word (as mentioned about this is authored by Matt Haig and NOT me).
Radion
Bright orange boxes aren't enough
Many of the brand in this section have failed because they were too far away from what the consumer wanted, but sometimes products fail because they aren't different enough from other popular products. This is certainly the case of Radion washing powder. Along with Pear's soap, Radion was one of the many brands for the chop when the Anglo-Dutch conglomerate announced it would be narrowing its scope on 400 'power' brands.
Launched 10 years before the February 2000 announcement, Radion had struggled to capture just over 2 per cent of the UK detergent market. One of the reasons for this, as with most brand failures, is that the public's perception of the brand was far from clear.
Although the product's vibrant design (Radion came in shocking orange packets) meant that the brand was easily identifiable on supermarket shelves , consumers were less than sure why they should buy it. It wasn't the cheapest, it wasn't considered the best quality, it wasn't the oldest or original. It was simply the brand with the brightest packaging. And that, in the end, is rarely enough.
Unilever's final decision was to amalgamate Radion into its brand, and it continues under the banner Surf Fun Fresh.
Lessons from Radion
- Be different. Brands need to have a strong point of difference from their competition. After all, this is the very point of branding in the first place. Garish packaging was not enough to win over consumers.
///
Just some corrections (as above is copied word for word).
It was Surf SUN Fresh, not FUN.
It is no longer made, as Sun Fresh went ages ago.
But yes, for a time, Radion continued in Surf's Orange boxes (I still remember the smell).
Radion's story is featured in a book I have called "brand failures - the truth about the 100 biggest branding mistakes of all time" authored by Matt Haig.
It's only a short section, so I have copied out word for word (as mentioned about this is authored by Matt Haig and NOT me).
Radion
Bright orange boxes aren't enough
Many of the brand in this section have failed because they were too far away from what the consumer wanted, but sometimes products fail because they aren't different enough from other popular products. This is certainly the case of Radion washing powder. Along with Pear's soap, Radion was one of the many brands for the chop when the Anglo-Dutch conglomerate announced it would be narrowing its scope on 400 'power' brands.
Launched 10 years before the February 2000 announcement, Radion had struggled to capture just over 2 per cent of the UK detergent market. One of the reasons for this, as with most brand failures, is that the public's perception of the brand was far from clear.
Although the product's vibrant design (Radion came in shocking orange packets) meant that the brand was easily identifiable on supermarket shelves , consumers were less than sure why they should buy it. It wasn't the cheapest, it wasn't considered the best quality, it wasn't the oldest or original. It was simply the brand with the brightest packaging. And that, in the end, is rarely enough.
Unilever's final decision was to amalgamate Radion into its brand, and it continues under the banner Surf Fun Fresh.
Lessons from Radion
- Be different. Brands need to have a strong point of difference from their competition. After all, this is the very point of branding in the first place. Garish packaging was not enough to win over consumers.
///
Just some corrections (as above is copied word for word).
It was Surf SUN Fresh, not FUN.
It is no longer made, as Sun Fresh went ages ago.
But yes, for a time, Radion continued in Surf's Orange boxes (I still remember the smell).
What about Rain Barrel, the softener you added to the wash? I remember it when I was a kid, my neighbor used it in her WP...this was back in the early 70's.
Breeze detergent...didn't it have a dish towel inside the box?
Breeze detergent...didn't it have a dish towel inside the box?
Quite a few detergents tried putting towels, washcloths or other premiums inside the box.
In addition to Breeze, Lever also did this with Silver Dust, and P&G tried it with Bonus. P&G's Duz also had cups, plates, and glasses at different times; the boxes suggested buying it in bulk with your neighbors in order to build a set of dishes faster. I suppose it might have made some sense for large families that broke a lot of dishes, but no doubt the main idea was to make people think they were getting something for nothing, Which rarely happens.
In addition to Breeze, Lever also did this with Silver Dust, and P&G tried it with Bonus. P&G's Duz also had cups, plates, and glasses at different times; the boxes suggested buying it in bulk with your neighbors in order to build a set of dishes faster. I suppose it might have made some sense for large families that broke a lot of dishes, but no doubt the main idea was to make people think they were getting something for nothing, Which rarely happens.
richardc1983
Well-known member
Does anyone remember Radion Sunfresh?
Forgot to mention
I'm sure most know, but Radion is still available in the UK, but in name only.
The company who make it are listed as Radion?
It's bargain detergent, seen it a few times in places like Home Bargains, and local paper shops.
I bought 2 boxes years and years ago, I can't even remember the smell - but it wasn't Radion.
I'm sure most know, but Radion is still available in the UK, but in name only.
The company who make it are listed as Radion?
It's bargain detergent, seen it a few times in places like Home Bargains, and local paper shops.
I bought 2 boxes years and years ago, I can't even remember the smell - but it wasn't Radion.
grwasher_expert
Well-known member
It's a completely different detergent with just the same name.Apparently a small company picked up the brand name since it was no longer used by Unilever,so it isn't a registered trademark anymore.They chose that name in order to gain some of the old Radion's reputation.
aquacycle
Well-known member
remember Radion Sunfresh?
See above - there's a whole discussion about it. Radion Sun Fresh became Surf Sun Fresh after it was discontinued.
The "new" Radion is name only and when I looked at the ingredients list it was >5% of everything, so I wouldn't expect it to be much good. On par with Easy & Morning Fresh (pound shop specials).
See above - there's a whole discussion about it. Radion Sun Fresh became Surf Sun Fresh after it was discontinued.
The "new" Radion is name only and when I looked at the ingredients list it was >5% of everything, so I wouldn't expect it to be much good. On par with Easy & Morning Fresh (pound shop specials).
aquacycle
Well-known member
hotpointwfwt02
Well-known member
Persil Liquigel
