Households were changing during the 1960s.
The 1960s represented a time of major changes within American history. The average home grew in size while the number of people living within home declined. Most products for the family were purchased rather than crafted by hand. Several household products common in the 1950s still had a place in the 1960s household, and some continue to be used widely today. Does this Spark an idea?
Ajax Laundry Detergent
Ajax cleaner, developed in 1947 by Colgate-Palmolive, was one of the more popular cleansers in America, but the introduction of Ajax laundry detergent in 1964 pushed Ajax to become even more of a household name. The advertising campaign surrounding the laundry detergent helped to make it popular. A white knight rode a white horse and magically zapped children clean using his lance. The ads were so popular, the knight was a fixture of Ajax for nearly the rest of the 1960s.
Mr. Clean Cleanser
Procter and Gamble introduced the Mr. Clean brand to the world in 1957. By 1962, the brand became so popular as a household cleanser that the company held a promotion that allowed consumers to choose the mascot's first name. By 1963, Mr. Clean became the first liquid cleanser to come in a plastic bottle. The pine scent of Mr. Clean was introduced in 1968 when Procter and Gamble reformulated the cleaner to make it more effective.
Charmin Bathroom Tissue
Charmin brand bath tissue, created in 1928 and purchased by Procter and Gamble in 1957, became one of the most popular tissues of the 1960s thanks to its famous advertising campaign. Mr. Whipple, the grocer requesting that consumers not squeeze rolls of Charmin in his store, became one of the most recognizable American figures of the 1960s and 1970s.
Vacuum
With the larger size of homes, the necessity of vacuums to keep them clean rose. Hoover vacuums became incredibly popular to the point that even today, any brand of vacuum may be colloquially referred to as a Hoover, and the act of vacuuming is known as hoovering. In the mid 1950s, Hoover developed the Hoover Constellation vacuum cleaner and it became a hit throughout the 1960s.
Dishwasher
The move toward automating household chores, such as doing laundry or washing dishes, continued into the 1960s. Many homes either came with dishwashers, or they were installed by families living there. KitchenAid brand developed one of the more popular dishwashers of the 1950s with the KD-10. By the 1960s, KitchenAid dishwashers were known for their reliability.
Portable Television Sets
New England Economic Adventure notes that the number of homes containing a television sets jumped from 9 percent in 1950 to 87 percent in 1960. Television sets from manufacturers such as Sony, Zenith or Sears filled houses in the 1960s. Floor model televisions were commonplace in living rooms, but portable sets became popular for use in kitchens, bedrooms and dorm rooms. General Electric portable sets, averaging about 26 pounds, allowed viewers to take their favorite shows with them.
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