The solution was a special heavy-duty formula that could remove grime without smearing or streaking. After the war, an Elgin, Illinois businessman named A.J. Funk acquired the formula and adapted it for consumer use.

Here is the story of how Sparkle went from military-grade cleaner to a household staple.

High above the Pacific, the navigators and gunners of the B-29 Superfortress faced a new kind of enemy: a stubborn, grimy film on their plexiglass windows. The constant exposure to high altitudes, moisture, and engine exhaust left an opaque haze that made aiming nearly impossible. Ordinary cleaners only made the problem worse, leaving behind streaks and a greasy residue. The Army Air Force needed a heavy-duty, yet gentle, solution that would leave the plastic crystal-clear.

An unknown chemist developed a specialized formula to meet this challenge. It was a potent yet careful mixture, designed to cut through the thick buildup without damaging the delicate plexiglass. For the airmen, the new cleaner wasn’t just a convenience—it was a matter of life and death.

After the war, A.J. Funk, a paper company owner in Elgin, Illinois, learned about the military’s advanced cleaning formula. He recognized the formula’s potential beyond the battlefield. He correctly reasoned that a cleaner effective enough for military-grade plexiglass would work wonders on household glass, mirrors, and fixtures.

Funk acquired the formula and set up a makeshift production line in the back room of his paper company on North State Street. He hired a local retiree to begin mixing the cleaner by hand and filling the bottles one gallon at a time. The new product was a distinctive purple color, which Funk named “Sparkle”.

In the beginning, Sparkle was a local secret. Funk distributed his glass cleaner through his network of paper salesmen in the Fox Valley area of Illinois. The salespeople, who were already making regular deliveries to businesses and homes, carried the gallon-jugs of the purple cleaner with them.

Word of mouth spread quickly. Users were astonished by Sparkle’s ability to clean without streaking or smearing, and they particularly appreciated that the formula was free of the harsh fumes associated with ammonia-based cleaners. The iconic purple formula soon became a beloved local product.

As demand grew, Funk expanded his operation. What started as a small, manually-run side business in the 1940s blossomed into a full-scale manufacturing enterprise. A.W. Funk, A.J.’s son, eventually took over the company and guided its growth, scaling production from a few gallons at a time to millions of gallons per year.

Today, Sparkle is still known for its unique purple formula. Though the company has expanded its product line and distribution, the cleaner’s origin story remains a testament to the ingenuity of a wartime chemist and the entrepreneurial spirit of a local businessman.