What Glasses Came in Laundry Detergent? A Nostalgic Look Back

Do you remember those bright plastic sunglasses that used to come in boxes of laundry detergent? I sure do! As a home improvement pro who knows the ins and outs of laundry, let me take you on a fun trip down memory lane to explore the story behind those iconic laundry detergent glasses we know and love.

A Brief History of Laundry Detergent Glasses

Let‘s start at the beginning. Offering free gifts like sunglasses with purchases of laundry detergent started as early as the 1960s. Brands like Surf, Ajax, and others jumped on board to attract customers.

Surf Detergent really led the charge. Their iconic plastic "Surf Lenses" first appeared in boxes in the mid-1960s. These sunglasses came in super funky, bright citrus colors like pink, lime green, and orange. The frames had a thick, wraparound design that was so trendy in that era.

As a kid, I remember thinking they looked so cool and begging my mom to buy Surf just so I could get my hands on a pair! Surf advertised them as scratch-resistant lenses with UV protection, although the quality was similar to cheap drugstore shades. Still, we didn‘t care – we loved them!

Ajax Laundry Detergent also started offering free sunglasses in the 1960s they called "Ajax Shades." Their style had cat-eye type frames modeled after the popular ladies‘ sunglasses of the day.

Then in the 1970s, Wisk Laundry Detergent jumped aboard with their "Wisk Lens Towels" for cleaning glasses – how clever!

Even Cheer Laundry Detergent got in on the action offering beach towels as giveaways in the early 80s. I remember their famous promotion – the "Cheer Beach Towel" with the cute Cheer mascot. As a beach lover, I had to have one!

Here‘s a quick timeline of when major laundry detergent brands offered glasses and towels:

• early-mid 1960s – Surf Lenses, Ajax Shades
• 1970s – Wisk Lens Towels
• early 1980s – Cheer Beach Towels

So why did laundry brands include these promotional products back in the day?

Why Brands Offered Glasses as Promotions

There were a few smart marketing reasons laundry detergent brands offered free glasses and towels with purchases:

Product Demonstrations – The glasses and towels tied back to the theme of laundry and "helped" the customer while washing clothes. They were like tools for the task.

Goodwill – They served as a little "thank you" gift to show customer appreciation and build goodwill. It made customers feel valued.

Brand Awareness – The products promoted incredible brand awareness and visibility. Even after use, they reminded folks of the brand.

Competitive Edge – The free gifts helped brands stand out from competitors. I know I would beg my mom to buy the detergent with the cooler promotion!

It was incredibly effective marketing. The fun free gifts drove interest and sales while growing lasting brand loyalty. Pretty genius if you ask me!

The Popularity and Collectability of the Glasses

Now here‘s the crazy part – the Surf Lenses, Ajax Shades, and other detergent glasses became so popular they were collected and treasured long after doing laundry!

Part of the appeal was the bright, fun colors. The cheap plastic shades could just be worn for everyday fashion. As a kid, I thought I looked so rad in my pink hand-me-down Surf Lenses!

The glasses quickly became hot collectors‘ items, especially the Surf Lenses. To this day they remain highly sought-after among vintage collectors and folks feeling nostalgic.

On eBay and Etsy you can readily find Surf Lenses selling for $10-$60 depending on rarity and condition. Full sets with the packaging still fetch even higher prices. Other detergent glasses like Ajax Shades also sell well among collectors of vintage promotions.

Owning a pair of these iconic shades is like owning a piece of 60s/70s nostalgia. As both a home pro and vintage lover, I think that‘s pretty darn cool!

The Decline of Laundry Detergent Glasses

Unfortunately, the era of awesome laundry detergent glasses came to an end by the 1990s. A few factors led to their disappearance:

• Cost Cutting – Brands looked to cut costs by nixing free gifts.

• Environmental Concerns – Excessive packaging became frowned upon.

• Changing Marketing – Brands shifted promotions to giveaways like coupons.

• Safety Concerns – Some worried kids could mistake Tide Pods for candy. No more products that looked like sweets!

By 2000, glasses and towels as laundry detergent promotions were pretty much phased out completely. But that doesn‘t mean they‘re forgotten!

The iconic glasses of the past remain a symbol of the groovy 1960s and 70s. As someone passionate about laundry and design, I love having a few pairs of Surf Lenses in my vintage collection. They‘re a blast from the past.

So next time you reach for a bottle of Tide or Gain, take a moment to remember those zany colored sunglasses of yesterday. Laundry detergent glasses may not be common today, but their legacy lives on in the hearts of nostalgia lovers like me!

Now let‘s get a bit more specific and look brand-by-brand at some of the most popular laundry detergent glasses over the years…

Surf Detergent Glasses – The Beloved "Surf Lenses"

No discussion of laundry detergent glasses is complete without talking Surf and their famous Surf Lenses!

Surf began offering their signature plastic sunglasses as promotions in boxes starting around 1965. The glasses came in a rainbow of bright, punchy colors like pink, lime green, and orange – the colors of citrus fruits and beachy summertime.

The frames had a thick, bold wraparound style that was so in vogue in the 1960s and 70s. I‘ve always thought they have a very retro-futuristic look about them. Very groovy indeed!

In their advertising of the time, Surf boasted the Surf Lenses featured scratch-resistant lenses with UV protection. But let‘s be honest – these were basic inexpensive plastic shades probably sourced cheaply in bulk.

Still, the quality didn‘t matter one lick to kids and teens back then. We thought Surf Lenses were the coolest sunglasses around!

By the late 1970s over 50 million Surf Lenses had been produced. They were hugely successful as promotions. Of course, part of the appeal was wearing them out and about, not just for laundry.

The Surf Lenses became a pop culture phenomenon unto themselves. Even today they remain one of the most iconic and collectible vintage promotions of the 20th century.

On eBay, you can typically find Surf Lenses selling for:

• Common colors like yellow or green – $10-$25

• Rare colors like purple or turquoise – $25-$60

• Full set of 8+ colors in package – $70-$300

I picked up a set of mint green ones for $20 and love the retro look. They‘re a great conversation piece when guests come over!

So if you‘re feeling nostalgic for the Sixties and Seventies, find yourself a set of Surf Lenses! You can‘t think of laundry detergent glasses without thinking of Surf. Groovy, baby!

Ajax Laundry Detergent Glasses – "Ajax Shades" of the 60s

Like Surf, Ajax laundry detergent also promoted cool sunglasses as giveaways back in the 1960s. Their shades were dubbed "Ajax Shades."

Ajax‘s sunglasses had cat-eye type frames modeled on the popular ladies‘ styles of the era. The arms were usually white or colored plastic matching the frames.

From ads of the time, the Ajax Shades appear to have come in classically retro 1960s colors like mint green, pale yellow, baby blue, and peach. Images show moms happily washing laundry while wearing their Ajax Shades.

While not as wildly popular as Surf Lenses, Ajax Shades are still fondly remembered by detergent collectors as a nostalgic relic of the time. Finding a set today in good shape can be challenging.

If you come across Ajax Shades at a vintage shop or online, expect to pay:

• Single pair – $15-$30

• Full set of 4-5 colors – $50-$75

• With original packaging – $75-$125+

Ajax Shades may not be as plentiful as Surf Lenses, but they‘re an awesome piece of laundry detergent history.

Wisk "Lens Towels" and Cheer Beach Towels

Moving into the 70s and 80s, brands like Wisk and Cheer got creative with detergent promotions beyond sunglasses.

In the early 1970s, Wisk offered custom branded "Lens Towels" for cleaning glasses. The towels came in green and featured cute embroidery with the Wisk name.

Around 1981, Cheer laundry detergent distributed branded beach towels through a mail-in offer. Their iconic "Cheer Beach Towel" is sky blue with the Cheer bull terrier mascot.

Because I‘m such a beach lover, I think the vintage Cheer Beach Towels are super cool! They can sell for a pretty penny today:

• Used Cheer Beach Towel – $20-$40

• Unused in package – $50-$150

The Wisk Lens Towels and Cheer Beach Towels show how brands adapted with the times, moving on from sunglasses to offer different freebies that related to laundry and aligned with current trends. Pretty smart!

While glasses may have dominated detergent promotions in the 60s and 70s, times were changing. But the impact of those classic laundry detergent glasses remains strong even today.

The Legacy Lives On

Although laundry detergent glasses are mostly a thing of the past, their legacy lives on thanks to nostalgic folks like me!

Today it‘s rare for laundry brands to offer free glasses or towels with detergent. Reasons include cost cutting, environmental concerns over packaging, and safety issues.

But the iconic glasses of the past remain a symbol of the groovy 1960s and 70s era. Whenever I see someone wearing reproduction Surf Lenses, it brings me right back.

For home decor lovers and vintage collectors, laundry detergent glasses remain hot commodities. I just love having some Surf Lenses and Ajax Shades on display! They‘re great conversation starters.

So even if we‘ll likely never see free sunglasses in laundry detergent boxes again, the memories remain. Those zany colored glasses of yesteryear just had a certain…je ne sais quoi.

When I do my laundry now, I get a little nostalgic thinking about the glasses of the past. Laundry will never seem quite as fun without Surf Lenses! But the history lives on.

So there you have it – the full scoop on those famous laundry detergent glasses of the 60s, 70s and 80s. Which giveaway glasses do you remember from childhood? Share your memories below!