<PAGE>   1
                                                                      Exhibit 24
                                                                      ----------
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENT, that each of the undersigned Directors of
Rubbermaid Incorporated (the "Registrant"), a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of the State of Ohio, hereby constitute and appoint
Wolfgang R.  Schmitt, George C. Weigand and James A. Morgan, and each of them a
true and lawful attorney-in-fact in their name, place and stead with full power
of substitution, to sign, in their name as a Director of the Registrant, the
Registrant's Form 10-K Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995,
which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington,
D.C., and any and all amendments thereto.


<TABLE>
<S>                                              <C>
/s/ Tom H. Barrett, Director                     /s/ Robert M. Gerrity
----------------------------                     ----------------------------
Tom H. Barrett, Director                         Robert M. Gerrity, Director
                            
Date:  February 29, 1996                         Date:  February 29, 1996
       ---------------------                            ---------------------
                            
                            
/s/ Charles A. Carroll                           /s/ Karen N. Horn
----------------------------                     ----------------------------
Charles A. Carroll, Director                     Karen N. Horn, Director
                            
Date:  February 29, 1996                         Date:  February 29, 1996
       ---------------------                            ---------------------
                            
                            
/s/ Paul G. Schloemer                            /s/ William D. Marohn
----------------------------                     ----------------------------
Paul G. Schloemer, Director                      William D. Marohn, Director
                            
Date:  February 29, 1996                         Date:  February 29, 1996
       ---------------------                            ---------------------
                            
                            
/s/ Robert O. Ebert                              /s/ Steven A. Minter
----------------------------                     ----------------------------
Robert O. Ebert, Director                        Steven A. Minter, Director
                            
Date:  February 29, 1996                         Date:  February 29, 1996
       ---------------------                            ---------------------
                            
                            
/s/ Stanley C. Gault                             /s/ Jan Nicholson
----------------------------                     ----------------------------
Stanley C. Gault, Director                       Jan Nicholson, Director
                            
Date:  February 29, 1996                         Date:  February 29, 1996
       ---------------------                            ---------------------
</TABLE>


                             /s/ Gordon R. Sullivan
                             ----------------------------
                             Gordon R. Sullivan, Director

                             Date: February 29, 1996
                                   ----------------------