Which popular consumer product was once marketed as a floor cleaner?
WD-40
Pepto-Bismol
Listerine
Mountain Dew
Fact: Listerine, now best known as a mouthwash, was originally marketed in the late 19th century as a versatile antiseptic and later as a floor cleaner. Developed in 1879 by Dr. Joseph Lawrence, it was sold as a powerful disinfectant for hospitals and households, advertised for cleaning floors, sterilizing surgical instruments, and treating wounds. Its potent formula of alcohol and essential oils made it an effective germ killer, though it wasn’t specifically marketed for oral hygiene until the 1920s. Only later, after aggressive advertising campaigns, did Listerine transform into the mouthwash we know today.
Correct Answer: Listerine