In the 80s, Lenore Propper Schwartz started an apparel firm called Conshohocken Cotton Co., making clothing using a patented, cotton yarn.

But they soon noticed a problem—all commercial detergents on the market were too harsh for the clothes they made.

Lenore, along with her son Jonathan Propper, set out to develop a biodegradable detergent that kept clothes looking better for longer. They called the product Cot’n Wash, and it became Consumer Reports first choice in overall cleaning quality.