Seventy Five Years and as Clean as Ever

Seventy Five Years and as Clean as Ever
Pine-Sol(R), America's Leading Dilutable Cleaner, Celebrates Its 75th Birthday



OAKLAND, Calif., June 17  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ask most Americans what
smell comes to mind when they think of a fresh, clean house, you're likely to
get the same response -- the crisp, pine scent of Pine-Sol cleaner.  This year
Pine-Sol cleaner celebrates 75 years of helping American households, look,
smell and feel clean.

By most accounts, 1929 was not a year of happy beginnings.  It is most often
remembered for the stock market crash and the start of the Great Depression. 
But when life hands you lemons, some people make lemonade. That's just what
Harry A. Cole, a chemist from Jackson, Mississippi did. Living in the midst of
miles of pine forest, Mr. Cole used pine oil, a natural disinfectant and
deodorizer, to create a fresh smelling and highly effective cleaning product,
he aptly named Pine-Sol cleaner.

Pine-Sol cleaner, and the subsequent pine oil cleaners Mr. Cole invented,
weren't an overnight success.  His business started slowly, supplying
janitorial services that cleaned local banks.  It took 17 years before Pine-Sol
cleaner would be sold outside of Mississippi.

Sales grew with increased distribution through the years.  Then in 1990, The
Clorox Company acquired Pine-Sol cleaner.  It was a match made in heaven -- the
California-based Clorox Company had built its foundation on its namesake
cleaning product in 1913 and in the 1990s, the company was growing rapidly
through new product innovations and acquisitions.  Pine-Sol cleaner fit right
in with the strategy.

"We have grown the Pine-Sol brand by maintaining our loyal users and creating
new ones through consistent product quality, innovative scents and line
extensions," says Rob Bennett, Brand Manager for The Clorox Company. Bennett
continues, "It is an honor to work on a business that has such a great heritage
and an enthusiastic consumer base that believes in the benefits of real
cleaning."

Since Clorox acquired Pine-Sol cleaner sales have tripled, making it one of the
largest selling dilutable cleaners in the world.  The cleaner is also one of
the largest buyers of pine oil, which is made available from the pulp and paper
industry.  Pine oil is what gives original Pine-Sol cleaner its amazing
cleaning powers all over the house.

Pine-Sol cleaner can be used in the kitchen to clean floors, counter, sinks and
stoves; in the bathroom to clean showers, tubs, tile, floors and toilet bowls;
for tough jobs such as deodorizing garbage cans, pet areas and diaper pails;
and in the laundry for pre-treating grease spots and heavy soil on white and
colorfast fabrics.

To celebrate its milestone, bottles of Pine-Sol cleaner will be available with
special commemorative 75th anniversary labels through July 2004.  Look for them
in Pine, Lemon Fresh, Orange Energy, and Rain Clean scents at food, drug,
dollar and mass merchandising stores across the country.

  For more information, visit http://www.pinesol.com/.

  The Clorox Company


The Clorox Company is a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer products
with fiscal year 2003 revenues of $4.1 billion.  Clorox markets some of
consumers' most trusted and recognized brand names, including its namesake
bleach and cleaning products, Armor All(R) and STP(R) auto care products, Fresh
Step(R) and Scoop Away(R) cat litters, Kingsford(R) charcoal briquets, Hidden
Valley(R) and K C Masterpiece(R) dressings and sauces, Brita(R)
water-filtration systems, and Glad(R) bags, wraps and containers.  With 8,900
employees worldwide, the company manufactures products in 25 countries and
markets them in more than 100 countries.  Clorox is committed to making a
positive difference in the communities where its employees work and live.
Founded in 1980, The Clorox Company Foundation has awarded cash grants totaling
more than $55 million to nonprofit organizations, schools and colleges; and in
fiscal 2003 alone made product donations valued at $5 million.  For more
information about Clorox, visit http://www.clorox.com/. 

DATASOURCE: The Clorox Company



CONTACT:  Jennifer Barnhart of The Clorox Company, [phone], or





Web site:  http://www.pinesol.com/ 

Web site:  http://www.clorox.com/ 

Copyright