Bottle of Dero CLAR dishwashing detergent

Object/Artifact

-

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

Bottle of "Dero CLAR" dishwashing detergent

Entry/Object ID

2025.1.156

Description

A tall, faceted (polygonal-section) cylindrical bottle of cream/ivory plastic with a ribbed conical screw cap (twist/spike-type dispensing cap), containing — or formerly containing — dishwashing detergent. The front is printed in dark red: a small three-flower motif beside lowercase "dero," then "CLAR" in bold, underscored, above the descriptive line "Detergente para fregar vajillas y otros objetos de uso doméstico. Devuelve el brillo de los objetos." The reverse carries the "DERO ®" oval logo, "MODO DE EMPLEO:" with directions (one spoonful of Dero Clar in 4 liters of hot water; wash objects and rinse under running water), and net weight "500 ± 15 g." The "DERO" trademark is also embossed in an oval on the bottle shoulder. The plastic is yellowed/aged with soiling, especially at the cap.

Use

Detergent used and bottle preserved in the Caraballo Gálvez household.

Collection

The Cabrera Arús family collection

Acquisition

Accession

2025.1

Made/Created

Manufacturer

Ploiești detergent factory

Place

Country

Romania

Region

Eastern Europe

Continent

Europe

Edition

DERO — the Romanian detergent brand (the name an abbreviation of "detergent românesc," Romanian detergent).

Notes

Maker: DERO — Romanian detergent brand, created in 1966 ("Detergent Românesc"), produced at the detergent factory in Ploiești (Prahova, Romania). This "Dero Clar" dishwashing variant is Spanish-labeled for the Cuban market — a socialist-bloc (Romanian/COMECON) import. The brand and producing city (Ploiești) are confirmed; the specific socialist-era state enterprise that operated the Ploiești detergent works in the 1960s–80s is not yet identified (post-1995 the plant was Unilever Romania). Date: circa 1970s–1980s (tentative). The DERO brand dates from the 1960s in Romania; a Spanish-labeled export to Cuba fits the 1970s–80s socialist-bloc trade period, consistent with the bottle's styling.

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Notes

Front (printed, red): three-flower motif; "dero"; "CLAR"; "Detergente para fregar vajillas y otros objetos de uso doméstico. Devuelve el brillo de los objetos." Reverse (printed, red): "DERO ®" (oval logo); "MODO DE EMPLEO: En 4 litros de agua caliente se pone 1 cucharada de DERO CLAR. Se friegan los objetos y después se enjuagan bajo el chorro de agua."; "500 ± 15 g." Shoulder (embossed): "DERO" in an oval.

Materials

Material Notes

Materials: Molded plastic bottle (cream/ivory, yellowed; likely HDPE — tentative) with molded plastic screw/dispensing cap; printing ink. Contents: dishwashing detergent (presence/quantity not assessed). Technique: Blow-molded faceted plastic bottle with embossed shoulder trademark and threaded conical cap; surface-printed (screen or pad) label text in red.

Condition

Overall Condition

Fair

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez

Notes

owner

Related Places

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

use, purchase

Place

Country

Romania

Region

Eastern Europe

Continent

Europe

Notes

production

Research Notes

Notes

DERO ("Detergent Românesc") was launched in 1966 at the Ploiești detergent factory and became Romania's iconic detergent brand. This dishwashing variant, "Dero Clar," is Spanish-labeled for Cuba — a Romanian COMECON import. Producing city confirmed as Ploiești; the exact socialist-era state-enterprise name (1960s–80s) is unconfirmed and would need Romanian industrial-history records to pin down.

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

April 13, 2026

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

June 5, 2026