Did you know that the Q-tip was invented by observing a Jewish mother caring for her baby?
In 1923, the Gerstenzang family was living in New York City. One day, Leo came home and saw his wife, Ziuta, using cotton wads wrapped around toothpicks to clean their infant’s ears. Concerned about the safety of this makeshift tool, Leo was inspired to create a more effective, ready-to-use cotton swab.
He founded the Leo Gerstenzang Infant Novelty Co., which initially marketed baby care accessories, and introduced the product that would become the now iconic Q-tips. The “Q” stands for “quality,” representing Leo’s vision for a better product.
Today, Q-tips are one of the most widely recognized cotton swabs in the world, with a billion-dollar global business that continues to be a staple in households everywhere.
