Open the door ... to a healthier home : Advertising leaflet issued by : Domestos Ltd., Newcastle upon Tyne : nd [c.1955] : cover

            A small folding publicity leaflet issued by Domestos, the Newcastle upon Tyne manufacturer of the bleach bsed cleaner and also of Stergene, the detergent. In 'opening the door to a healthier home' we are told 'in confidence' that Domestos, the brushless sanitary cleanser, can bring hospital cleanliness to every home, is concentrated and has no fancy perfume and it cleans "even here" where no brush can reach.

Not dated the headscarf wearing housewife figure was used by Domestos across a range of advertising and publicity in the 1950s. Domestos was founded in Newcastle Upon Tyne in 1929 by one William Handley who had an interesting and apparently complex career past. He decided to locally market, door to door, a form of bleach based cleaning product, using diluted sodium hypochlorite, in stoneware jars. There are various explanations as to the name but "domestic use" comes close. Handley's enterprise, the Hygiene Disinfectant Company, thrived and outgrew his shed and by 1936 was in a small factory where the business expanded into other products. The company name changed to Domestos Ltd. and from a larger factory, College Works, obtained in 1938 the company grew into a national brand. In post-war years they introduced Stergene, a woollen detergent, and branched out into a motor vehicle bodywork company, Modern Coachcraft Ltd., to supply their fleet of delivery lorries. 

Handley sold out to Lever Brothers in 1961 and retired becoming a noted local philanthopist. Lever's/Unilever moved production away from Newcastle with Domestos going to Warrington in the 1970s. Since then it has become a worldwide brand.

Taken on: February 14, 2025

Tags:

Mike Ashworth Collection

advertising

Ephemera

Domestos

bleach

household products

household cleaner

Open the door to a healthier home

Domestos Ltd.

College Works

Newcastle Upon Tyne

c.1955

William Handley

graphic design

lettering

leaflet

sanitary cleanser

illustration

housewife

domestic cleaning

toilet

vintage packaging « less

Sets appears in: • Domestos advertising • Open the door to a healthier home : leaflet issued by Domestos Ltd : c.1955 more » • Some old advertising « less

Groups appears in: • Vintage Advertising • That Old Timey Feeling more » • Vintage Illustration • Golden Age of Advertising: 1950s - 1970s • Advertising through the years • 1950s Britain (Original '50s images only) • PLANET EARTH BACK IN THE DAY « less

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