Mrs. Meyer, from Mrs. Meyer Clean Day Products, Is A Real Person and She Lives In Iowa

We've seen them on grocery store shelves at least a bazillion times and never knew Mrs. Thelma Meyer is from Iowa. But she is.

Granger, Iowa, to be exact. A little over two hours southwest of Cedar Rapids, and about 24 miles north of Des Moines, Iowa.

"I can't believe women go crazy when they find out that I'm Mrs. Meyer," she says. "It's funny, and there's lots of smiles and picture taking." (Source)

Who is she? She was born in Kansas, on a farm, during the depression. Then, off to Granger with her husband Vern. On AgingWithEnergy.com she said

I've raised 9 children who range in age from 56 to 66. I have 23 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren! I am a widow after 58 years and 10 days of marriage. I was a registered nurse and retired after 35 years of working in different areas of the hospital and clinic.

Did Mrs. Meyer invent the cleaning products?

No, she did not. She is the inspiration, but her oldest daughter, Monica Nassif, is the one that started Mrs. Meyer Clean Day.

(In 1999, Monica)...formed the company Caldrea to offer consumers European-style products with nontoxic ingredients and aromatic scents. Monica of course showed her mother, who suggested a more affordable line of products. Soon, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day was born. (Source)

In 2008, Nassif sold the company to S.C. Johnson & Son Inc. She stayed on to run the company in Minneapolis, MN. S.C. Johnson said Mrs. Meyer would remain there, but in 2014, they moved the operation to Racine, WI. At that point, any connection to the real Mrs. Meyer was gone, because Mrs. Meyer's daughter, had left for other opportunities.

So, that's the story of Mrs. Meyer Clean Day Products. Started by an Iowa native inspired by her Iowa mom in 1999, and within 15 years, bought out by a giant corporation. That is the American dream.

How does Mrs. Meyer feel about it?

"I can't believe women go crazy when they find out that I'm Mrs. Meyer," she says. "It's funny, and there's lots of smiles and picture taking." (Source)