Some of the cleaning products we rely on today have traces back here to Upstate New York.

The Herkimer County Historical Society's Executive Director says a local woman's early research led to many of today's necessities. Born in 1887, Lois Wing Burrell grew up in Ithaca and went to Cornell University, where she met her husband, Loomis.

The executive director said Lois' studies helped develop the method and use of hypochlorite solution for sterilizing dairy equipment.

"Her research in sanitization of the machines led to a major breakthrough in the dairy industry because now more cows could be milked at one time, and also making the sanitary conditions much better," said Herkimer County Historical Society Executive Director Susan Perkins.

That breakthrough was translated into other areas, including household products.

"She was able to come up with the idea of sanitation for household products, and Clorox was not invented by her, but I'm sure her research in this field of study helped to develop Clorox," Perkins said.

Lois and her husband moved to Little Falls, and had three daughters. She died in 1973.