<PAGE>   1

EXHIBIT 24.1





                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


         The undersigned director of National Sanitary Supply Company
("Company") hereby appoints Edward L. Hutton, Paul C. Voet and Naomi C. Dallob
as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact for the purpose of signing the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, and
all amendments thereto, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.  Each of such attorneys-in-fact is appointed with full power to act
without the other.

Date:  March 4, 1996
                                        /s/ Robert B. Garber
                                        --------------------
                                        Robert B. Garber    
<PAGE>   2





                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


         The undersigned director of National Sanitary Supply Company
("Company") hereby appoints Edward L. Hutton, Paul C. Voet and Naomi C. Dallob
as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact for the purpose of signing the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, and
all amendments thereto, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.  Each of such attorneys-in-fact is appointed with full power to act
without the other.

Date:  March 4, 1996
                                        /s/ Arthur J. Bennert, Jr.
                                        --------------------------
                                        Arthur J. Bennert, Jr.    
<PAGE>   3




                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


         The undersigned director of National Sanitary Supply Company
("Company") hereby appoints Edward L. Hutton, Paul C. Voet and Naomi C. Dallob
as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact for the purpose of signing the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, and
all amendments thereto, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.  Each of such attorneys-in-fact is appointed with full power to act
without the other.

Date:  March 6, 1996
                                        /s/ James A. Cunningham
                                        -----------------------
                                        James A. Cunningham    
<PAGE>   4





                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


         The undersigned director of National Sanitary Supply Company
("Company") hereby appoints Edward L. Hutton, Paul C. Voet and Naomi C. Dallob
as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact for the purpose of signing the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, and
all amendments thereto, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.  Each of such attorneys-in-fact is appointed with full power to act
without the other.

Date:  March 6, 1996
                                        /s/ Charles H. Erhart, Jr.
                                        --------------------------
                                        Charles H. Erhart, Jr.    
<PAGE>   5





                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


         The undersigned director of National Sanitary Supply Company
("Company") hereby appoints Edward L. Hutton, Paul C. Voet and Naomi C. Dallob
as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact for the purpose of signing the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, and
all amendments thereto, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.  Each of such attorneys-in-fact is appointed with full power to act
without the other.

Date:  March 1, 1996
                                  /s/ Neal Gilliatt                
                                  -----------------
                                  Neal Gilliatt
<PAGE>   6





                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


         The undersigned director of National Sanitary Supply Company
("Company") hereby appoints Edward L. Hutton, Paul C. Voet and Naomi C. Dallob
as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact for the purpose of signing the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, and
all amendments thereto, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.  Each of such attorneys-in-fact is appointed with full power to act
without the other.

Date:  March 1, 1996
                                        /s/ Will J. Hoekman
                                        -------------------
                                        Will J. Hoekman    
<PAGE>   7





                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


         The undersigned director of National Sanitary Supply Company
("Company") hereby appoints Edward L. Hutton, Paul C. Voet and Naomi C. Dallob
as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact for the purpose of signing the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, and
all amendments thereto, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.  Each of such attorneys-in-fact is appointed with full power to act
without the other.

Date:  March 1, 1996
                                        /s/ Thomas C. Hutton
                                        --------------------
                                        Thomas C. Hutton    
<PAGE>   8



                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


         The undersigned director of National Sanitary Supply Company
("Company") hereby appoints Edward L. Hutton, Paul C. Voet and Naomi C. Dallob
as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact for the purpose of signing the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, and
all amendments thereto, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.  Each of such attorneys-in-fact is appointed with full power to act
without the other.

Date:  March 1, 1996
                                        /s/ W. Dwight Jackson
                                        ---------------------
                                        W. Dwight Jackson    
<PAGE>   9





                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


         The undersigned director of National Sanitary Supply Company
("Company") hereby appoints Edward L. Hutton, Paul C. Voet and Naomi C. Dallob
as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact for the purpose of signing the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, and
all amendments thereto, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.  Each of such attorneys-in-fact is appointed with full power to act
without the other.

Date:  March 6, 1996
                                        /s/ Charles O. Lane
                                        -------------------
                                        Charles O. Lane    
<PAGE>   10





                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


         The undersigned director of National Sanitary Supply Company
("Company") hereby appoints Edward L. Hutton, Paul C. Voet and Naomi C. Dallob
as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact for the purpose of signing the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, and
all amendments thereto, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.  Each of such attorneys-in-fact is appointed with full power to act
without the other.

Date:  March 6, 1996
                                        /s/ Sandra E. Laney
                                        -------------------
                                        Sandra E. Laney    
<PAGE>   11





                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


         The undersigned director of National Sanitary Supply Company
("Company") hereby appoints Edward L. Hutton, Paul C. Voet and Naomi C. Dallob
as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact for the purpose of signing the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, and
all amendments thereto, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.  Each of such attorneys-in-fact is appointed with full power to act
without the other.

Date:  March 1, 1996
                                        /s/ Kevin J. McNamara
                                        ---------------------
                                        Kevin J. McNamara    
<PAGE>   12





                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


         The undersigned director of National Sanitary Supply Company
("Company") hereby appoints Edward L. Hutton, Paul C. Voet and Naomi C. Dallob
as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact for the purpose of signing the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, and
all amendments thereto, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.  Each of such attorneys-in-fact is appointed with full power to act
without the other.

Date:  March 1, 1996
                                        /s/ Timothy S. O'Toole
                                        ----------------------
                                        Timothy S. O'Toole    
<PAGE>   13





                               POWER OF ATTORNEY



         The undersigned director of National Sanitary Supply Company
("Company") hereby appoints Edward L. Hutton, Paul C. Voet and Naomi C. Dallob
as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact for the purpose of signing the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, and
all amendments thereto, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.  Each of such attorneys-in-fact is appointed with full power to act
without the other.

Date:  March 2, 1996
                                        /s/ D. Walter Robbins, Jr.
                                        --------------------------
                                        D. Walter Robbins, Jr.    
<PAGE>   14


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


         The undersigned director of National Sanitary Supply Company
("Company") hereby appoints Edward L. Hutton, Paul C. Voet and Naomi C. Dallob
as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact for the purpose of signing the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, and
all amendments thereto, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.  Each of such attorneys-in-fact is appointed with full power to act
without the other.

Date:  March 1, 1996
                                        /s/ Jerome E. Schnee
                                        --------------------
                                        Jerome E. Schnee    
<PAGE>   15





                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


         The undersigned director of National Sanitary Supply Company
("Company") hereby appoints Edward L. Hutton, Paul C. Voet and Naomi C. Dallob
as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact for the purpose of signing the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, and
all amendments thereto, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.  Each of such attorneys-in-fact is appointed with full power to act
without the other.

Date:  March 1, 1996
                                        /s/ Kenneth F. Vuylsteke
                                        ------------------------
                                        Kenneth F. Vuylsteke