Before the introduction of washing liquid, dishes were washed with a combination of whatever soap was to hand, and a great deal of elbow grease. However the discovery that surfactants could be used in foaming and cleansing liquids lead to the development of dish washing liquids. The first examples were created in the 1940s and the basic composition has changed little since then.

1950 saw the launch of Fairy Liquid by P&G. Manufactured in West Thurrock, Fairy was marketed in a white plastic bottle with green graphics and a red top. The plastic bottle enabled housewives to squirt the green liquid into their sinks, providing satisfying piles of foam. Like many products of the post-war era Fairy’s success was built on the promise of making life easier by taking some of the hard work out of housework.