Seventy Five Years and as Clean as Ever Pine-Sol(R), America's Leading Dilutable Cleaner, Celebrates Its 75th Birthday OAKLAND, Calif., June 22 /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, +1-510-271-7461, or Web site: http://www.pinesol.com/ Web site: http://www.clorox.com/

Copyright