Category:
Baths, Showers and Other Cleansing Methods

Marvel Whirling Spray



Marvel Whirling Spray was a feminine hygiene product marketed in the early 20th century. It stopped being made and fell into obscurity for 100 years until the early 21st century, when it earned a place in comic-book history.

Alan Moore included a reprint of one of the Marvel Whirling Spray ads in an issue of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Vol. 1, #5). An executive at DC (publishers of the comic) saw the ad and became worried that their rival, Marvel Comics, would take offense — even though Marvel Whirling Spray was a real product that existed before Marvel Comics. So he ordered the entire print run destroyed. The few copies that survived are now considered rare collector's items. More details at recalledcomics.com.

Posted By: Alex - Sat Jan 19, 2013 - Comments (4)
Category: Hygiene, Baths, Showers and Other Cleansing Methods, Products, 1900s

Wolverine Soap

image

image

image

Even before a certain blade-wielding comicbook character pre-empted the name of "Wolverine," could it possibly have been a good idea to name your product after a vicious, pint-sized killer beast?

"Wolverine Soap--it will rip the dirt off your skin, and your skin with it!"

No wonder the pitchman in the ad below is working so hard to find sales reps.


image
image

Posted By: Paul - Fri Sep 21, 2012 - Comments (5)
Category: Animals, Business, Advertising, Products, Death, Destruction, Hygiene, Baths, Showers and Other Cleansing Methods, 1920s

Brush your teeth with soap?

Having your mouth washed out with soap is traditionally thought of as a punishment, but Dr. Gerald Judd doesn't think so. He's leading a campaign to convince everyone to stop using toothpaste, and brush their teeth with soap instead. He writes:

Teeth are best cleaned by brushing with any bar (not liquid) soap. Bar soap does an excellent job in cleaning tooth surfaces, enabling the enamel to thicken and causing the teeth to become less sensitive.
Toothpastes containing glycerine—which most do—are very sticky, requiring over 20 rinses to remove it from tooth surfaces. Glycerine-containing toothpastes leave a residual film, preventing the teeth from proper re-enamelization. Soap, on the other hand, is removed with two rinses.

Maybe he's onto something. I have no idea. But for now I think I'll stick with toothpaste.

Posted By: Alex - Thu Sep 13, 2012 - Comments (9)
Category: Hygiene, Baths, Showers and Other Cleansing Methods

Uncle Sam Toiletries





I suppose if the USA could fall for hokum like Crocodile Dundee, then Aussies could fall for this line of "American" products.

Posted By: Paul - Fri Aug 10, 2012 - Comments (4)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Stereotypes and Cliches, Baths, Showers and Other Cleansing Methods, Hair Styling, 1970s, Australia

Whiz Soap



Perhaps you recall the commercials with Madge the Manicurist, where she recommended Palmolive soap for its skin-softening qualities.

Well, Madge had nothing on a campaign from early in the century, for Whiz Soap, which informed customers that they could use Whiz to clean, oh, filthy farm equipment, and then use the same stuff for their personal bathing.

image

image
[Click to enlarge for readability]

There seem to be lots of antique Whiz containers around for sale, if you want to commemorate this product in your home.

image

Original ad here.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Jul 01, 2012 - Comments (4)
Category: Body, Business, Advertising, Products, Baths, Showers and Other Cleansing Methods, 1910s

Post-Poo Drops

Available from Aesop chemists. Only for use after "vigorous activity has occurred in the bathroom." I guess that's a euphemism for 'after you've taken a large and smelly dump.'

Posted By: Alex - Fri May 18, 2012 - Comments (6)
Category: Bathrooms, Scatology, Products, Baths, Showers and Other Cleansing Methods, Body Fluids, Excrement

The Super Suds Experiment

In 1947, Colgate-Palmolive conducted a test to prove that just one package of Super Suds detergent could fill two trucks full of suds. Because who wouldn't want a kitchen full of suds!

Posted By: Alex - Mon Feb 06, 2012 - Comments (3)
Category: Advertising, Baths, Showers and Other Cleansing Methods

Hygienic Equipment for Men

Since most men usually wear their pants while using urinals, I can't imagine how this would work without getting their pants wet. Bonus weirdness is the cheesy music, heavily accented narration, and use of a plastic fish as a phallic stand-in.

Posted By: Alex - Tue Jan 10, 2012 - Comments (4)
Category: Bathrooms, Hygiene, Baths, Showers and Other Cleansing Methods, Body Fluids

Numi Toilet



Longtime WU-vies know all about the Japanese fascination with complex automated toilets. Now there's one for the USA market.

And for only $6400.00!

Read a review here.

Posted By: Paul - Thu Oct 13, 2011 - Comments (5)
Category: Domestic, Appliances, Hygiene, Baths, Showers and Other Cleansing Methods, Body Fluids, Excrement, Flatulence, Money, Outrageous Excess

Page 5 of 6 pages ‹ First  < 3 4 5 6 > 




weird universe thumbnail
Who We Are
Alex Boese
Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes.

Paul Di Filippo
Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1.

Contact Us
Monthly Archives
March 2024 •  February 2024 •  January 2024

December 2023 •  November 2023 •  October 2023 •  September 2023 •  August 2023 •  July 2023 •  June 2023 •  May 2023 •  April 2023 •  March 2023 •  February 2023 •  January 2023

December 2022 •  November 2022 •  October 2022 •  September 2022 •  August 2022 •  July 2022 •  June 2022 •  May 2022 •  April 2022 •  March 2022 •  February 2022 •  January 2022

December 2021 •  November 2021 •  October 2021 •  September 2021 •  August 2021 •  July 2021 •  June 2021 •  May 2021 •  April 2021 •  March 2021 •  February 2021 •  January 2021

December 2020 •  November 2020 •  October 2020 •  September 2020 •  August 2020 •  July 2020 •  June 2020 •  May 2020 •  April 2020 •  March 2020 •  February 2020 •  January 2020

December 2019 •  November 2019 •  October 2019 •  September 2019 •  August 2019 •  July 2019 •  June 2019 •  May 2019 •  April 2019 •  March 2019 •  February 2019 •  January 2019

December 2018 •  November 2018 •  October 2018 •  September 2018 •  August 2018 •  July 2018 •  June 2018 •  May 2018 •  April 2018 •  March 2018 •  February 2018 •  January 2018

December 2017 •  November 2017 •  October 2017 •  September 2017 •  August 2017 •  July 2017 •  June 2017 •  May 2017 •  April 2017 •  March 2017 •  February 2017 •  January 2017

December 2016 •  November 2016 •  October 2016 •  September 2016 •  August 2016 •  July 2016 •  June 2016 •  May 2016 •  April 2016 •  March 2016 •  February 2016 •  January 2016

December 2015 •  November 2015 •  October 2015 •  September 2015 •  August 2015 •  July 2015 •  June 2015 •  May 2015 •  April 2015 •  March 2015 •  February 2015 •  January 2015

December 2014 •  November 2014 •  October 2014 •  September 2014 •  August 2014 •  July 2014 •  June 2014 •  May 2014 •  April 2014 •  March 2014 •  February 2014 •  January 2014

December 2013 •  November 2013 •  October 2013 •  September 2013 •  August 2013 •  July 2013 •  June 2013 •  May 2013 •  April 2013 •  March 2013 •  February 2013 •  January 2013

December 2012 •  November 2012 •  October 2012 •  September 2012 •  August 2012 •  July 2012 •  June 2012 •  May 2012 •  April 2012 •  March 2012 •  February 2012 •  January 2012

December 2011 •  November 2011 •  October 2011 •  September 2011 •  August 2011 •  July 2011 •  June 2011 •  May 2011 •  April 2011 •  March 2011 •  February 2011 •  January 2011

December 2010 •  November 2010 •  October 2010 •  September 2010 •  August 2010 •  July 2010 •  June 2010 •  May 2010 •  April 2010 •  March 2010 •  February 2010 •  January 2010

December 2009 •  November 2009 •  October 2009 •  September 2009 •  August 2009 •  July 2009 •  June 2009 •  May 2009 •  April 2009 •  March 2009 •  February 2009 •  January 2009

December 2008 •  November 2008 •  October 2008 •  September 2008 •  August 2008 •  July 2008 •