S.O.S Soap Pad

S.O.S Soap Pad is a trade name for a scouring pad, used for cleaning dishes, and made from steel wool impregnated with soap.

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In 1917, Ed Cox of San Francisco, an aluminum pot salesman, invented a pre-soaped pad with which to clean pots. As a way of introducing himself to potential new customers, Cox made the soap encrusted steel-wool pads as a calling card. His wife named the soap pads S.O.S. or "Save Our Saucepans." Cox soon found out that the S.O.S pads were a hotter product than his pots and pans.^[1]

It is commonly believed that an error was made in the name's punctuation. However, this spelling was chosen by design. The acronym, S.O.S., is the famous distress signal and could not be trademarked. By removing the last period, the name was unique and could then be registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. ^[2]

S.O.S pads are currently manufactured by The Clorox Corporation.

References

1. ^ SOS History
2. ^ About the name

See also

• Brillo Pad