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Today, laundry takes just a few buttons and a spin cycle—but behind that convenience lies a remarkable story of innovation and perseverance.

In this episode, Procter & Gamble’s historian and corporate storyteller Shane Meeker takes us on a journey through the evolution of laundry—from the gritty days of 19th-century soapmaking to the revolutionary invention of Tide, the detergent that took 14 years to create. From the company’s origins in the 1800s making soap and candles, we uncover how science, storytelling, and even wartime research reshaped household routines.

Plus, the unexpected role P&G played in inventing the TV soap opera, and how today’s laundry labs continue to evolve with consumer habits.

Tide and Downy sponsor this episode.

Mosheh Oinounou (@mosheh) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022.

EP 134: How Laundry Detergent Transformed American Life

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