The birth of hygiene: How we helped change the world with disinfection
16.07.2025
Today, disinfection is second nature, whether it’s a surgical scrub or cleaning your hands at home. But that wasn’t always the case. In fact, when we were founded in 1889, few people even knew what disinfection meant. Fast forward 135 years and our innovations have helped save millions of lives around the world.
It all started in Hamburg, 1889
We were founded in the harbour city of Hamburg by Rudolf Schülke and Julius Mayr, two merchants with a bold idea: to fight infectious diseases using science. That same year, we introduced Lysol®[1] the world’s first branded universal disinfectant.
Just three years later, in 1892, Lysol played a vital role in helping to contain a deadly cholera outbreak in Hamburg. It was one of the first times a public health crisis had been managed using modern disinfection, setting a new precedent for hygiene in healthcare and beyond.
A century of firsts – from Lysol to octenisept
Lysol set the tone for the decades that followed. We became known for pioneering new solutions across every aspect of hygiene:
- 1913: We launched Sagrotan®[2], the first branded disinfectant for domestic use. It’s still a household name in many countries.
- 1920s to 1970s: We expanded our range with breakthroughs like parmetol®, grotan®[3], and gigasept® to tackle infections ranging from tuberculosis to hepatitis B.
- 1989 to 1990: We developed octenidine, a powerful new active ingredient. This led to Neo-Kodan® and octenisept®, which revolutionised skin and mucosal antiseptics.
- 2007: We brought octenidine into oral care, launching an alcohol-free mouth rinse that offered powerful antimicrobial protection.
Whether it’s pre-op skin prep, post-op wound care or at-home hygiene, our science-backed products have helped shape better outcomes for generations.
More than products – a legacy of progress
The innovation doesn’t stop at our lab benches. In 1972, we founded the Rudolf Schülke Foundation designed to promote research in hygiene and microbiology – a legacy that continues to support scientific excellence to this day.
Even during global conflicts, pandemics and times of uncertainty, our mission has stayed the same: We Protect Life Worldwide. It’s more than a mission statement – it’s what drives every product, partnership and breakthrough we’ve delivered for over a century.
Today, the schülke name stands for trust, reliability and innovation in hygiene, helping healthcare professionals protect lives every day.
Still leading the way – 135 years on
We’re now a global business, supplying over 80 countries and employing more than 1,200 people worldwide. But our focus hasn’t changed.
We continue to invest in innovation, digitalisation and sustainability. We’re proud to be part of the Science Based Targets Initiative, aligning our operations with the Paris Climate Agreement. And with recyclable packaging, green electricity and ethical supply chains, we’re building a future that protects both people and the planet.
From Hamburg to hospitals across the globe, our story is one of science, courage, and care. We didn’t just create the first branded disinfectants; we helped to define what modern hygiene looks like.
And we’re not finished yet!
Curious to explore more milestones, breakthroughs and what’s next?
Discover the full schülke story.
Sources
[1] schülke & Mayr has sold the Lysol brand to Reckitt Benckiser Holding GmbH & Co. KG. Today, Reckitt Benckiser Holding GmbH & Co. KG is the owner of this brand. This is a purely historical review of the company history of schülke.
[2] schülke & Mayr has sold the Sagrotan brand to Reckitt Benckiser Holding GmbH & Co. KG. Today, Reckitt Benckiser Holding GmbH & Co. KG is the owner of this brand. This is a purely historical review of the company history of schülke.
[3] schülke & Mayr sold the Grotan brand to the company Vink Chemicals GmbH & Co KG. Today, Vink Chemicals GmbH & Co KG is the owner of this brand. This is a purely historical review of the company history of schülke.