3204. Mr. Clean

Mr. Clean is a brand name and mascot fully owned by Procter & Gamble used for a cleaning solution and related products, and as "Mr. Clean Magic Eraser", for a melamine foam cleaner.

Mr. Clean was created by Linwood Burton, a marine ship cleaning businessman with accounts throughout the east coast of the United States. In the past, ships had to be cleaned using abrasives or solvents that were able to cut successfully through embedded grease and grime; however, past solvents were so dangerous to workers that Burton was motivated to finding a solution that was effective and less caustic. Burton, with fundamental knowledge in chemistry, developed Mr. Clean in an effort to clean ships without having to pay significant premiums in disability claims for his workers. He later sold the product to Procter & Gamble in 1958. Mr. Clean made his television commercial debut in 1958.

Within the first six months of the introduction, Mr. Clean became the best-selling household cleaner on the market. In November 1962, Mr. Clean was assigned a first name Veritably Clean as a result of the "Give Mr. Clean a First Name" promotion.

 In the winter of 1963, Mr. Clean played a police officer "Grimefighter" who arrested dirt problems. In the summer of 1963, Mr. Clean became the first liquid household cleaner in a plastic bottle. In April 1965, Mr. Clean got mad at dirt and appeared as "New, Mean Mr. Clean". In the spring of 1966, Mr. Clean played "two-fisted" grime fighter, who knocked out dirt with one hand and left the shine with the other. Also offered a spray dispenser as promotion pack to increase convenience of use. In spring 1966, Mr. Clean offered clean and shine, in the "Mr. Clean leaves a sheen where you clean" campaign. He grew whiskers for brute strength, had a black eye to show floor "shiner" and testified in court against dirt. In Spring 1968, Mr. Clean was a "Changed Man" and was reformulated to include pine aroma and better cleaning "in the bucket." In October 1970, "Lemon Refreshed" Mr. Clean premiered. In the summer of 1974, "Two Fisted Mr. Clean" was introduced, who was great at cleaning on one hand and on the other hand he leaves what's shiny gleaming. (This commercial brought back the use of the original Mr. Clean jingle). In July 1976, "Sunshine Fresh Mr. Clean" with improved fragrance was introduced. In December 1981 Mr. Clean had a new no-wax floor formula. In July 1985 a new Mr. Clean was introduced with better full-strength cleaning to clean down to the shine like never before. Also in 1985 a national search for Mr. Clean look-alikes launched in Los Angeles. In 1996, Mr. Clean appeared in "How Times Have Changed", once again using the original Mr. Clean jingle and the new Ultra power in it.