Play-Doh Was Originally Wallpaper Cleaner

The Kutol company created Play-Doh in the 1930s as a wallpaper cleaning putty. Before vacuum cleaners became common, people used this white, dough-like substance to remove soot and dirt from wallpaper by rolling it across the surface. When vinyl wallpapers and better cleaning methods made the product obsolete, the company faced bankruptcy. In 1955, they reformulated it with bright colors and non-toxic ingredients, marketing it as a children's modeling compound. This pivot saved the company and created one of the most beloved toys in history.