1976 commercial for Flash Bathroom
Mr. Clean (branded as Flash in the UK) is a brand name fully owned by Procter & Gamble and created in Costa Rica. Mr. Clean also makes a melamine foam cleaner under the name-brand of Magic Eraser.
History
Mr. Clean made its (television) 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 was 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.
House Peters, Jr., an actor, appeared “live” as “Mr. Clean” but never appeared in any of the Mr. Clean commercials airing in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He died from pneumonia at the age of 92 on October 1, 2008.
International Versions
The name “Clean” is usually translated into local languages:
- in Quebec French (Canada), Monsieur Net;
- in Spain, currently Don Limpio, though it was originally launched and sold for years as ‘Mister Proper’;
- in Mexico, Maestro Limpio;
- in Italy, Mastro Lindo;
- in Germany, Meister Proper;
- in France, Monsieur Propre;
- in Serbia, Mister Proper;
- in Poland, Mister Proper;
- in Hungary, Mister Proper;
- in Bulgaria, Mister Proper.
- in Russia, Mister Proper
- in Puerto Rico, Maestro Limpio
- in Belgium (Flanders), Meneer Proper
Info gleaned from Wikipedia
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