Purex was founded in 1922 by father-son duo Lionel and Ray Precourt. These California-based entrepreneurs made household bleach and sold it for much less than their big-name competitors. The bleach was called “Purex” due to its clearness and cleaning powers. Over time, the Precourts expanded the company to include household cleaners and laundry detergent. Purex is now a division of Henkel.