100 Spotless Years
This year Persil is celebrating 100 years of tough but gentle cleaning. Over the years, we’ve worked hard to make sure Persil remains your number one.
As the first laundry brand to launch a detergent and to feature a man in our TV advertising, Persil has always been at the forefront of innovation. So join us as we look back over the last century of tough but gentle cleaning.
History Gallery
1900’s - 1910’s
In 1903, whilst everyone was using bars of soap to clean their clothes, Professor Herman Glessler and Dr Herman Bauer were busy producing the world’s first soap powder with a bleaching agent - Persil.
Persil was launched in the UK as the 'Amazing Oxygen Washer', and the rest, as they say, is history.
1920’s
The Wash Day revolution brought about a complete change in the way washing was done.
Throughout the 1920’s, the Persil advertisements and ‘on the road demonstrations’ educated housewives everywhere about the exciting new ‘scientific’ washing powder.
1930’s - 1940's
During the 1930’s, Persil employed ‘Expert Washers’ to show women the best ways to use Persil.
Persil was promoted as a powder that’s good for whites, and in the Second World War the brand was fighting off its competition with the slogan 'Persil Washes Whiter'.
1950’s
The first Persil TV ad featuring the line ‘What is a mum?’ hit people’s screens in the 1950’s.
The famous Irish washerwoman character, ‘Old Mother Riley’, played by Arthur Lucan, went on to appear in a Persil cinema ad, and is still remembered by some to this day.
1970’s
Persil helped 3 million people clean their clothes, and their teeth, by distributing 2p toothpaste coupons on packs of Persil.
1980’s
A TV ad called ‘Out on the Street’ was aired by Persil and featured a young man having to do his own washing.
1990’s
In 1991, Persil did their bit for charity by joining up with Save the Children. Consumers were offered a 10p money-off coupon on their next purchase of Persil; 5p was donated to Save the Children. They also ran the first ‘Super Mum’ competition to find the best mums in the UK.
And, Persil once again changed the laundry market by introducing the very first tablets and capsules.
2000’s
Kids were encouraged to get dirty with the Persil ‘Get Creative’ campaign. 15,500 children sent in drawings of their mums to create the world’s largest picture mosaic – ‘Big Mummy’.
In 2003 Persil liquids were replaced with Liquigels and in March 2007 Persil Small & Mighty, the UK’s first double concentrated liquid detergent, was launched.
