The production of cleaning agents began in artisan workshops and smaller soap factories at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. Between the two world wars, factories produced toilet soaps, laundry soaps, and soap powders. Around 1930, the first cleaning product brands were created, some of which are still present today. Soap powders were packed in cost-effective packaging, in cardboard boxes with distinctive colours. The recognizable elements of leading brands’ successful packaging design, such as Schicht's ‘Radion’ and ‘Vim’, remained unchanged for decades. The most significant detergent and household cleaning product manufacturers in Croatia between the two world wars developed their marketing operations thanks to extensive advertising campaigns.

In Zagreb, during the interwar period, chemical household products were produced, including various polishes, adhesives, cleaning agents, candles, and shoe impregnating chemicals.

In the post-war period, due to general poverty, old wine and beer bottles were reused as packaging for liquid cleaning products, with only the labels being changed.

In the 1950s, new products were developed – synthetic washing powders (‘Plavi Radion’), whose packaging was modern and attractive.