{{Short description|American cleaning product company}} {{Use American English|date=December 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2025}} {{Infobox company | name = Scrub Daddy Inc. | logo = Scrub Daddy logo.svg | logo_size = 190px | type = Private | industry = Cleaning products | fate = | predecessor = <!-- or: | predecessors = --> | successor = <!-- or: | successors = --> | founded = {{start date and age|2012}} | founder = Aaron Krause | defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | hq_location_city = 1700 Suckle Highway Pennsauken Township, New Jersey | hq_location_country = US | area_served = <!-- or: | areas_served = --> | key_people = | products = Sponges | owner = <!-- or: | owners = --> | num_employees = 273 | num_employees_year = <!-- Year of num_employees data (if known) --> | parent = | website = {{URL|scrubdaddy.com}} }}
thumb|A couple of Scrub Daddy sponges '''Scrub Daddy Inc.''' is an American cleaning product company best known for eponymous sponges it manufactures in the shape of a smiley face. Most products are made of a polymer which changes texture{{snd}}firm in cold water and soft in warm water.<ref name="nbr">{{cite news|title=How I Made My Millions: Scrub Daddy|url=http://nbr.com/2016/05/13/how-i-made-my-millions-scrub-daddy/|accessdate=2 February 2017|agency=NBR|publisher=CNBC|date=13 May 2016|archive-date=3 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203161757/http://nbr.com/2016/05/13/how-i-made-my-millions-scrub-daddy/|url-status=live}}</ref>
== History == After damaging the exterior of a vehicle when cleaning the outside, detailer Aaron Krause invented a line of buffing and polishing pads. The company was acquired by 3M in August 2008. 3M did not purchase a line of sponges Krause had invented, leaving them to sit in his factory. Five years later, Krause used the remaining sponges to clean his dishes and lawn furniture. According to Krause, this is when he "realized his multi-million dollar idea."<ref name="nbr" /><ref name="gma">{{Cite news |last=Sawyer |first=Nicole |date=20 March 2014 |title=Sponge Soaks Up 'Shark Tank' Success, Sales Balloon to $18M |publisher=ABC News |agency=Good Morning America |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2014/03/sponge-soaks-up-shark-tank-success-sales-balloon-to-18m/ |access-date=2 February 2017 |archive-date=26 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231226041558/https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2014/03/sponge-soaks-up-shark-tank-success-sales-balloon-to-18m/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="3M">{{Cite news |date=23 September 2008 |title=3M Acquires Paint Finishing Business |publisher=3M |url=http://news.3m.com/press-release/company/3m-acquires-paint-finishing-business |access-date=2 February 2017 |archive-date=3 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203161349/http://news.3m.com/press-release/company/3m-acquires-paint-finishing-business |url-status=dead }}</ref>
According to the company's website, Scrub Daddy, Inc. was officially founded in 2012 with grassroots marketing.<ref name="scrub daddy">{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://scrubdaddy.com/about-us/ |access-date=2 February 2017 |website=Scrub Daddy |archive-date=2 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402103411/https://scrubdaddy.com/about-us/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On the ''Shark Tank'' episode originally airing in October 2012, Lori Greiner made a 20% equity stake deal with Krause for $200,000.<ref name="forbes">{{cite magazine |last1=Adams |first1=Susan |date=18 March 2016 |title=Ten Of The Best Businesses To Come Out Of Shark Tank |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2016/03/18/ten-of-the-best-businesses-to-come-out-of-shark-tank/#3d917eaf5015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223003141/http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2016/03/18/ten-of-the-best-businesses-to-come-out-of-shark-tank/#3d917eaf5015 |archive-date=23 December 2016 |magazine=Forbes |accessdate=2 February 2017}}</ref> The following day, Greiner and Krause sold 42,000 sponges in under seven minutes on QVC.<ref name="bustle">{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Jodi |date=5 December 2014 |title=Where To Buy 'Shark Tank's Scrub Daddy So You Can Help It Remain the Series' Most Successful Product |publisher=Bustle |url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/52311-where-to-buy-shark-tanks-scrub-daddy-so-you-can-help-it-remain-the-series-most |access-date=2 February 2017 |archive-date=3 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203080617/https://www.bustle.com/articles/52311-where-to-buy-shark-tanks-scrub-daddy-so-you-can-help-it-remain-the-series-most |url-status=live }}</ref> Greiner then helped Scrub Daddy to be sold in retail stores such as Bed, Bath & Beyond. In January 2017, Scrub Daddy's total revenues surpassed $100 million – the highest of any ''Shark Tank'' product.<ref name="bonappetit">{{Cite news |last=Whitney |first=Alyse |date=12 January 2017 |title=The One Shark Tank Product Actually Worth Buying |agency=Bon Appétit |url=http://www.bonappetit.com/story/scrub-daddy-sponge-shark-tank-review |access-date=2 February 2017 |archive-date=3 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203080024/http://www.bonappetit.com/story/scrub-daddy-sponge-shark-tank-review |url-status=live }}</ref> In Season 14 Episode 13, it was reported that Scrub Daddy in 10 years has 273 employees, 160 products, sold in 257,000 retail locations, and is a top 3 grossing company in ''Shark Tank'' history, having sold more than $926 million in retail sales as of May 2023.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=8 Most Successful Products From "Shark Tank" |url=https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/082415/10-most-successful-products-shark-tank.asp |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=Investopedia |language=en}}</ref>
As of 2024, Scrub Daddy had the third highest revenue of any product successfully pitched on the ABC reality show ''Shark Tank''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=8 Most Successful Products From "Shark Tank" |url=https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/082415/10-most-successful-products-shark-tank.asp |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=Investopedia |language=en}}</ref>
== Products == === Scrub Daddy === Scrub Daddy sponges are composed of a proprietary polycaprolactone thermoplastic polyurethane foam marketed as FlexTexture.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chemedx.org/blog/scrub-daddy-science|title=Scrub Daddy Science | Chemical Education Xchange|date=3 January 2018|access-date=6 May 2022|archive-date=26 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626200407/https://www.chemedx.org/blog/scrub-daddy-science|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="scrubdaddyph 2025">{{Cite Instagram |user=scrubdaddyph |postid=DRJ53JSkgVz |title=Our official statement… … from a little yellow polycaprolactone thermoplastic polyurethane foam 🤭 |date=17 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite patent |country=US |number=20140075699A1 |inventor=Aaron C. Krause |title=Thermochromic Foam Cleaning Pad and Process for Making the Same |pubdate=20 March 2014 |fdate=14 September 2012 |assign1=Scrub Daddy Inc |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US20140075699A1/en}}</ref><ref>{{cite patent |country=US |number=US20160213221A1 |invent1=Aaron C. Krause |invent2=John O'Brien |title=Scrubbing or scouring pad |pubdate=28 July 2016 |fdate=16 March 2016 |assign1=Scrub Daddy Inc |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US20140075699A1/en}}</ref> This specific polymer blend allows the sponge to alter its physical properties based on water temperature, remaining firm in cold water and becoming softer in warm water. The original Scrub Daddy is a yellow circular scrubber with a smiling face punched into it. Krause has two patents on its design.<ref name="gma" />
=== Other products === The brand consists of more than 20 products,<ref>{{Cite web|title=One of Shark Tank's Best Selling Dishwashing Products of All-Time is Only $7|url=https://www.intheknow.com/post/scrub-daddy-shark-tank/|date=2020-03-09|website=In The Know|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-29|archive-date=2021-02-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216101535/https://www.intheknow.com/post/scrub-daddy-shark-tank/|url-status=live}}</ref> including scouring pads, dual-sided sponges, sink organizers, soap dispensers and household erasers.<ref name="bustle" /><ref name="philly">{{cite news|last1=Mastrull|first1=Diane|title=Big Daddy|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/diane-mastrull/20140630_Big_Daddy.html|accessdate=2 February 2017|agency=Philly.com|publisher=The Inquirer|date=30 June 2014|archive-date=3 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203161745/http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/diane-mastrull/20140630_Big_Daddy.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="philly0">{{cite news|last1=Takiff|first1=Jonathan|title=Gizmo Guy: Home Grown|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20160313_Gizmo_Guy__Home_Grown.html|accessdate=2 February 2017|agency=Philly.com|publisher=The Inquirer|date=13 March 2016|archive-date=3 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203160908/http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20160313_Gizmo_Guy__Home_Grown.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nymag">{{cite news|last1=Schwartzberg|first1=Lauren|title=An All-Purpose Sponge That's Better Than Your Average Scotch-Brite|url=http://nymag.com/thecut/2016/04/better-all-purpose-sponge.html|accessdate=2 February 2017|publisher=New York Magazine|date=2 May 2016|archive-date=3 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203085418/http://nymag.com/thecut/2016/04/better-all-purpose-sponge.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It also has a brand called '''Scrub Mommy''', featuring a traditional sponge attached to the typical scrub daddy surface, introduced in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-27 |title=What to know about Scrub Daddy, the brand that makes cleaning fun |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/select/shopping/scrub-daddy-sponges-ncna1303149 |access-date=2025-08-07 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Sanchez Farez |first1=Kevin |title=Scrub Daddy’s famous sponge was rejected by a Fortune 500 company and forgotten in a box for years. It’s now a $220 million empire |url=https://fortune.com/2024/02/02/scrub-daddy-founder-interview-shark-tank-success-story/ |website=Fortune |access-date=4 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250724200902/https://fortune.com/2024/02/02/scrub-daddy-founder-interview-shark-tank-success-story/ |archive-date=24 July 2025 |date=2 February 2024}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://scrubdaddy.com/ Official website]
{{Shark Tank |state=collapsed}}
Category:American inventions Category:Cleaning product brands Category:American companies established in 2012 Category:Shark Tank Category:Products introduced in 2012