laundryshark
Well-known member
Never heard of this unique brand before. Must not have been around for very long.--Laundry Shark
Punch Laundry Detergent by Colgate
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angus
Well-known member
Punch was introduced in 1968 or so as Colgate's enzyme detergent offering. P&G started the whole enzyme thing with the introduction of Gain in 1966, then added enzymes to Tide as Tide XK in 1967-68, so Lever followed with Drive and Colgate followed with Punch. Then within a year, each of the big three added enzymes to their mainstream detergents. P&G added enzymes to Bold, Oxydol and Dash (but not Cheer, Bonus or Duz. I recall that Lever's only enzyme offering was Drive - none of their other brands (All, Wisk, Rinso, Breeze, Silver Dust, Cold Water Surf) had them. Colgate added "active enzymes" to Fab, Ajax now had "en-jax" action and Cold Power had enzymes as well. Also, Colgate introduced a concentrated powder in 1968 as well - Burst. Even sleepy little Purex jumped on the bandwagon with Brillo Enzyme Detergent - also not a bad product and great packaging with lots of pink. But Purex was not that well represented on the east coast so we never saw much of that.
With all the phosphate nonsense that began in 1972, enzymes as they existed then were not long for this world. So by 1973 - none of the detergents contained them anymore. In addition to the phosphate controversy, there were issues among workers in the manufacturing facilities of rashes and respiratory ailments from the enzymes. It would be years later before enzymes were added back to detergents.
Punch was around in various incarnations until the early 90's though over time, it became harder and harder to find, ultimately becoming Colgate's value brand and you know that was the death knell for any detergent (as it was for Rinso and Dash. The last box I saw was in a small bodega in the next city. As I recall,Burst didn't last that long either - probably not more than a few years.
As an enzyme detergent, Punch was a good product - mother switched to it in 1969. It cleaned quite well and smelled great - also had "adjusted suds" so no oversudsing.
With all the phosphate nonsense that began in 1972, enzymes as they existed then were not long for this world. So by 1973 - none of the detergents contained them anymore. In addition to the phosphate controversy, there were issues among workers in the manufacturing facilities of rashes and respiratory ailments from the enzymes. It would be years later before enzymes were added back to detergents.
Punch was around in various incarnations until the early 90's though over time, it became harder and harder to find, ultimately becoming Colgate's value brand and you know that was the death knell for any detergent (as it was for Rinso and Dash. The last box I saw was in a small bodega in the next city. As I recall,Burst didn't last that long either - probably not more than a few years.
As an enzyme detergent, Punch was a good product - mother switched to it in 1969. It cleaned quite well and smelled great - also had "adjusted suds" so no oversudsing.
I remember Punch had a nice scent.
Fascinating info. Angus!
I remember buying a couple of boxes of Punch in the later 80s. I was in college, and had my new Kenmore BD washer I bought in 1986. My folks were paying the bills, which unlike a lot of college kids, I didn't like to take advantage of. My favorite detergent was Surf and Fab (I loved the scent), but if I didn't have a coupon and/or it wasn't on sale, I'd get a box of Punch. As you said, it was indeed a value brand by then and was available on limited shelf space.
One thing I enjoyed about those times was being able to buy stuff that my mom wouldn't buy when I still lived at home just a few years earlier. She was a fairly loyal buyer of All for 20 years probably (we always had water softeners and needed low sudsing detergent). She also liked the 80's Fresh Start. So, I could buy whatever I wanted, and put it in MY washer, yet I tried to be frugal and Punch wasn't a bad deal at all.
The bargain brands we have today in the stores around here are Trend, Purex, and in some cases Fab. I'm guessing there's more in other parts of the country?
Gordon
I remember buying a couple of boxes of Punch in the later 80s. I was in college, and had my new Kenmore BD washer I bought in 1986. My folks were paying the bills, which unlike a lot of college kids, I didn't like to take advantage of. My favorite detergent was Surf and Fab (I loved the scent), but if I didn't have a coupon and/or it wasn't on sale, I'd get a box of Punch. As you said, it was indeed a value brand by then and was available on limited shelf space.
One thing I enjoyed about those times was being able to buy stuff that my mom wouldn't buy when I still lived at home just a few years earlier. She was a fairly loyal buyer of All for 20 years probably (we always had water softeners and needed low sudsing detergent). She also liked the 80's Fresh Start. So, I could buy whatever I wanted, and put it in MY washer, yet I tried to be frugal and Punch wasn't a bad deal at all.
The bargain brands we have today in the stores around here are Trend, Purex, and in some cases Fab. I'm guessing there's more in other parts of the country?
Gordon
angus
Well-known member
Gordon, Ajax has been considered the real Colgate value brand for years. Fab became what Gain was for a long time to P&G - slightly lower point that the first tier products but still a good performer. Then suddenly Gain exploded into a major product with many different offerings - not sure how that happened since original Gain was fine for me.
Actually, All became somewhat of a value brand and Arm & Hammer offers XTRA as their real bargain basement offering. Huish Detergents offers the Sun product line only available in WalMart, KMart or dollar stores
Actually, All became somewhat of a value brand and Arm & Hammer offers XTRA as their real bargain basement offering. Huish Detergents offers the Sun product line only available in WalMart, KMart or dollar stores
I was at a Kmart the other day and enjoyed reviewing their detergent offerings. They had Dynamo and Ajax liquid - the only stores I'm aware of around here that do, and they were price competitive with Xtra. If I didn't have a huge supply of detergent already, I'd try some of both Dynamo and Ajax just to see how they perform.
I forgot about Sun, which I have actually been pleasantly surprised with a few times. Target carries a couple Sun items as well.
As to Gain, the variety of products now is staggering and I wonder how necessary. I really liked the old one-cup Gain scent from the early 90s, and I especially liked the Ultra Gain powder from the late 90s/early 2000s. I found a small box of that a few weeks ago which had been continually burried on a store's shelf until they discontinued the 15-load size. We'll see if it still has any scent.
Gordon
I forgot about Sun, which I have actually been pleasantly surprised with a few times. Target carries a couple Sun items as well.
As to Gain, the variety of products now is staggering and I wonder how necessary. I really liked the old one-cup Gain scent from the early 90s, and I especially liked the Ultra Gain powder from the late 90s/early 2000s. I found a small box of that a few weeks ago which had been continually burried on a store's shelf until they discontinued the 15-load size. We'll see if it still has any scent.
Gordon
Punch and Paul
At an estate sale I picked up a old box of PUNCH - unused and in good condition. I believe it was a rather big free-sample box.
Just for experimentation sake, I mixed up small batches of it to spot-clean vintage light-colored linen tablecloths that were stained after a dinner party and weren't coming out clean enough with CHEER. They came out miraculously clean with PUNCH! I continue to use it sparingly as a spot remover. The next box of PUNCH I find I will certainly buy!
At an estate sale I picked up a old box of PUNCH - unused and in good condition. I believe it was a rather big free-sample box.
Just for experimentation sake, I mixed up small batches of it to spot-clean vintage light-colored linen tablecloths that were stained after a dinner party and weren't coming out clean enough with CHEER. They came out miraculously clean with PUNCH! I continue to use it sparingly as a spot remover. The next box of PUNCH I find I will certainly buy!
I, too, remember that Punch had a very distinctive scent. I wish this one would come back...
brettsomers
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Who the hell is Sheila McCrae?
Just watched. Fabulous. Love Sheila's Dusty Springfield look. I'm gonna stitch around all my stains from now on.
"Stop slamming that goddam box on my washer, please!"
Just watched. Fabulous. Love Sheila's Dusty Springfield look. I'm gonna stitch around all my stains from now on.
"Stop slamming that goddam box on my washer, please!"
