brillo

Brillo is a term with several distinct uses in language and culture. In Spanish, brillo means brightness, shine, or gloss, and it can describe the luster of surfaces, cosmetics, or other reflective qualities. In English, Brillo most commonly appears as the name of a cleaning product and as a project name associated with Google's early forays into the Internet of Things, as well as a notable reference in pop art.

Brillo pads and cleaning products: Brillo refers to a brand of abrasive steel wool soap pads used for cleaning cookware and heavy grime. The pads typically consist of steel wool fibers coated with soap or detergent and are marketed for scrubbing burned-on residue from pots and pans, as well as for other household cleaning tasks. They are effective on tough grime but can scratch delicate or soft metals, make scratches on nonstick coatings, and should be used with care on aluminum or coated surfaces. The pads can rust if left wet for extended periods.

Brillo (Google): Brillo was the codename for Google's lightweight operating system designed for the Internet of Things. Announced in 2015, Brillo targeted small, networked devices and was later renamed Android Things as part of Google's IoT initiative. The platform sought to provide a common foundation across devices and to enable integration with Google services; it was eventually deprecated as Google shifted strategy in the space.

Brillo Boxes: In art history, Brillo Boxes refers to a series of works by Andy Warhol created in the 1960s that replicated the packaging of Brillo soap pads. The pieces are a landmark of pop art, illustrating themes of consumer culture, mass production, and artistic appropriation.