Submitted by Lois Rain on April 25, 2011

To what lengths will a company go to warn consumers about dangerous chemical ingredients? Method, the naturally-derived cleaning products company, is about to celebrate its 10 year anniversary. Awhile back, they posted a spoof-with-message ad conveying the dangers of toxic cleaning residues by portraying the cleaning product “shiny suds” as animated bubbles that were suggestive stalkers in the shower.

Comments from viewers on various sites were split: some were appalled and disappointed, while others found it funny and effective. Treehugger found it hilarious, yet Method received lots of complaints that it was off-putting, sexist, and insensitive to assault victims. Method finally removed it saying, “Due to the sensitive nature of [concerned viewers'] concerns we chose to take down the video.”

Extreme and poignant, it successfully bashed those happy scrubby bubble type ads that never depict how awful they actually are after they’ve “cleaned” your bathroom. Method’s ad was trying to show how “dirty” these cleaning products are to you and the environment. It was a sort of antithesis to “sex sells,” and they chose a taboo, darkly humorous, in your face way to get an important point across.

~Health Freedoms

Method ‘Shiny Suds’ Ad Pulled Over Sexually Aggressive Toxic Bubbles

Back in November of last year [2009], green-cleaning company Method released an ad in support of the Household Product Labeling Act spoofing “bathroom cleaner” commercials. Called “Shiny Suds”, the ad was meant to show how marketing glosses over the toxic chemicals that are actually present in many household cleaners; something consumers have a right to know about.

Unfortunately, the happy shiny bubbles turn into sexually aggressive ones and Method received a wide range of complaints. “There is nothing hilarious about sexual assault, period,” wrote one commenter on Treehugger. “While I completely agree that chemical residue is something to be concerned about, comparing it to sexual assault (not only comparing it to, but presenting sexual assault as something funny) is reductive, triggering and disgusting.”

“It is unfortunate that they felt they needed to resort to the sexist angle, but I thought the ad was very effective,” wrote another on The Huffington Post.

[Ad contains suggestive material. Please watch at your own discretion.]:

Sources:

http://www.ecorazzi.com/2010/01/18/method-shiny-suds-ad-pulled-over-sexual-aggressive-toxic-bubbles/

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/11/method-commercial-turns-cleaners-dirty-with-disturbingly-funny-shiny-suds-video.php

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/13/method-ad-shiny-suds-pull_n_390275.html

http://www.methodhome.com/user/register

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