Eureka Celebrates 100 Years of Cleaning Innovation

For the past 100 years, vacuum cleaners have been used for everything from drying hair and clothes to dusting hats, but the most remarkable function of a Eureka vacuum cleaner has always been cleaning floors. In 2009, Eureka is celebrating 100 years of consumer-inspired cleaning innovations that started with a true "eureka" moment - the idea that a lightweight, convenient vacuum could save Americans time and hassle.

Bloomington, Ill. (PRWEB) June 30, 2009

For the past 100 years, vacuum cleaners have been used for everything from drying hair and clothes to dusting hats, but the most remarkable function of a Eureka vacuum cleaner has always been cleaning floors. In 2009, Eureka is celebrating 100 years of consumer-inspired cleaning innovations that started with a true "eureka" moment - the idea that a lightweight, convenient vacuum could save Americans time and hassle.

"I found it!"
Near the turn of the 20th century, the first "portable" vacuums were made from wood and tin and could weigh more than 90 pounds. That was when Detroit businessman Fred Wardell first developed a lighter weight, aluminum cleaner that featured removable wheels - and The Eureka Company was born. Wardell named the company for the Greek exclamation "Eureka!" meaning "I found it!" and it has been synonymous with innovative inventions ever since.

"In 1909 the vacuum relied more on a woman's muscle power than on horsepower," said Jackie Cooper, director of marketing and communications for Eureka. "Eureka founder Fred Wardell saw the potential for vacuums and created six different models that were not only easier to use but also had attachments for cleaning challenging areas like rugs and crevices, similar to our vacuums today."

Wardell's hard work and foresight paid off in 1915 when his small vacuum operation hit the big time, winning the day's highest award for a vacuum cleaner - Grand Prize by a jury of electrical experts at the San Francisco International Exposition. Eureka kept moving full steam ahead, and less than 20 years after the company started, Eureka's door-to-door sales force of 5,000 was selling one-third of all vacuum cleaners produced in the United States.

Vacuums and so much more
While the iconic "Eureka Man" was busy selling vacuums door-to-door, Eureka's innovative spirit pulled the company into other industries, too. Soon the trusted Eureka name could also be found on a variety of products from gas masks during WWII and a "Wooden Lung" in 1949 to school furniture and a battery-operated car in the 1960s.

In 1974 Eureka joined forces with the AB Electrolux® organization of Sweden, the world's largest home appliance manufacturer, and devoted all of its energy to Wardell's original dream: creating innovative, insightful cleaning tools.

Today's Eureka
Because consumers clean differently today than 100 years ago or even 10 years ago, Eureka's engineers are constantly studying how people clean and developing tools to make it easier.

"Today's homeowners clean differently than their parents and grandparents. They have multiple vacuums for different cleaning needs and want tools to reach all the nooks, crannies and surfaces where dirt can hide," said Cooper. "At Eureka, we are putting our 100 years of cleaning expertise and consumer insight into the new solutions we develop."

Consumer-focused innovation continues to drive Eureka product development. In fact, Eureka's engineers regularly visit consumers' homes and watch them clean, identifying their biggest cleaning challenges and creating easy-to-use tools to meet everyday needs. The results of these insights can be seen in the award-winning Boss® SmartVac™, with its HEPA filtration that captures and seals 99.97 percent of allergens and dust particles and in the Capture™ vacuum, which won the coveted 2007 Good Design Award from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design.

Eureka also knows that lifestyles can affect cleaning needs. The company's lightweight Optima® packs powerful cleaning into an easy-to-maneuver design perfect for busy moms, while its first "greener" upright, envirovac™, uses 33 percent less energy for eco-conscious consumers. There's even a Pet Lover line of vacuums that not only captures dirt and pet hair but also eliminates odors that furry friends leave behind.

"Eureka has always been driven by a focus on innovation that meets the cleaning needs of everyday people," said Cooper. "As consumers' cleaning regimens have evolved over the years, Eureka has risen to the challenge and developed new tools and technologies to make cleaning easier, faster and more intuitive."

To the next 100 years!
With the dawn of its second century, Eureka is introducing a new look and feel to better represent the inventive, energetic spirit of the brand and its customers today, which will include a new brand logo, packaging and even product designs.

"As we celebrate Eureka's incredible legacy with an updated look and feel, our commitment to quality and innovation remains stronger than ever," said Cooper. "We look forward to another 100 years of cleaning tools that will inspire a new generation of consumers to exclaim 'Eureka!'"

For more information about Eureka's products, history or efforts around the environment, consumers can visit http://www.eureka.com. Downloadable hi-res images are available at http://tinyurl.com/Eureka100th.

About Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc.
Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc. (EHCP) leverages consumer driven insight to manufacture and market innovative floor care products under its well-known Eureka and Electrolux consumer brands. The company also sells high-quality commercial products under its Sanitaire brand name and central vacuums made by its Electrolux Central Vacuum Systems division (formerly known as Beam Industries). EHCP is based in Bloomington, Ill., and is a part of The Electrolux Group. Visit http://www.electroluxusa.com], http://www.eureka.com], http://www.sanitairevac.com or http://www.beamvac.com for more information.

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