Windex

Windex
Invented by Harry R. Drackett
Launch year 1933
Company S. C. Johnson & Son
URL http://www.windex.com/

Windex is a glass and hard-surface cleaner manufactured since 1933. S. C. Johnson acquired Windex in 1993 and has been manufacturing it since. The product was reformulated in 2006.[1]

The original Windex was colored a light, transparent shade of blue. Today there are varieties marketed in several colors (ocean fresh blue, sunshine lemon and citrus orange) and fragrances (spring bouquet, ocean mist, lavender and tea tree), with a number of additives such as vinegar, lemon, lime, or orange juice.

When Windex was invented in 1933 by Harry R. Drackett, it was almost 100% solvent. It was highly flammable and had to be sold in metal cans. When modern surfactants were introduced after World War II, the product was reformulated.

Windex was a 5% ammonia solution in 1989.[2]

The Sam Wise patent #3,463,735 lists example formulae, one of which is 4.0% isopropyl alcohol (a highly volatile solvent) 1% ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (a less volatile solvent), 0.1% sodium lauryl sulfate (a surfactant), 0.01% tetrasodium pyrophosphate (a water softener), 0.05% of 28% ammonia, 1% of a dye solution, and 0.01% perfume. This formula was not only less expensive to manufacture, but allowed the product to be packaged in glass bottles and dispensed with a plastic sprayer.

The popularity of Windex in the U.S. led to the generic use of the trademark for similar product, including those marketed under different brands Window Cleaner.

References

  1. ↑ S.C. Johnson & Son (January 5, 2006). "SC Johnson Honored With Presidential Award for Corporate Leadership in Ceremony at the White House" (Press release). S.C. Johnson & Son. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  2. ↑ Lewis, Peter H. (August 8, 1989). "PERSONAL COMPUTERS; Cleaning Screens Safely". The New York Times. p. 9.

External links