Bombril Snapshot
Not unlike Rush Limbaugh and Rosie O'Donnell, Bombril makes its money being abrasive. Bombril is the largest manufacturer of steel wool -- including Brillo brand steel wool -- in the world. The company also makes many other household cleaning products, including detergents, disinfectants, deodorizers, fabric softeners, insecticides, sponges, and glass cleaners. Products are marketed under more than a dozen brand names, such as Bom Bril, Kalipto, Limpol, Mon Bijou, and Pratice, and distributed to more than 400,000 retail locations throughout Brazil. Bombril was founded in 1948 as Abrasivos Bombril. Today it operates three manufacturing plants located in Anchieta, Abreu e Lima, and Sete Lagoas.