Clorox bleach and cleaning products

Clorox is a globally recognized brand that traces its origins back to May 1913, when five entrepreneurs founded the Electro-Alkaline Company in Oakland, California. The brand name 'Clorox' is a portmanteau of its original active ingredients: chlorine and sodium hydroxide. Initially focused on industrial bleach, the company pivoted to the consumer market in 1916 after introducing a less-concentrated household version, a move championed by Annie Murray.

Today, Clorox is a diversified multinational corporation with a manufacturing footprint spanning the globe. While the company maintains significant production facilities across the United States—including major plants in Georgia, Illinois, and Arkansas—it also operates manufacturing sites and joint ventures in approximately 25 countries across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia to serve over 100 markets worldwide.

Ownership of the brand has seen notable shifts throughout its history. In 1957, Clorox was acquired by Procter & Gamble, but a landmark U.S. Supreme Court antitrust ruling in 1967 forced P&G to divest the company, restoring its independence in 1969. As of 2026, The Clorox Company remains an independent, publicly traded entity listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CLX), with its headquarters still located in Oakland, California. The company has continued to expand its portfolio through strategic acquisitions, including the purchase of GOJO Industries (makers of Purell) in 2026.