Motsenbocker's Lift Off

What Motsenbocker's Lift Off does

Motsenbocker's Lift Off (legal entity Lift Off Inc.) is a U.S.-based manufacturer of environmentally friendly stain, paint, graffiti, and adhesive removal products, founded in 1990 by chemist Gregg A. Motsenbocker and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Stoner, Inc. since September 2015. The company's core technology is built on patented Enviro Science formulations—water-based, biodegradable, low/no-VOC chemistry using molecular bond-breaking mechanisms and probiotic enzyme technology—and is protected by more than 20 patents and registered trademarks. The product portfolio spans three collections (Household, Automotive, DIY & Hardware) with 20+ SKUs priced from $2.99 to $119.99, manufactured at an ISO9001-certified facility in Pennsylvania and compliant with CARB and EPA requirements across all 50 states.

The company generates revenue primarily through direct-to-consumer e-commerce via a Shopify storefront, complemented by retail distribution through DIY stores, regional hardware chains, and big box retailers, plus commercial channels through janitorial distributors and Stoner Decorating Centers. Customer segments span DIY/home consumers, automotive users, contractors and hobbyists, government/municipal accounts (including the National Parks Service and City of Atlanta), transit authorities, amusement parks, and janitorial services—indicating a diversified customer base with no apparent concentration risk. Marketing relies on content marketing (blog with how-to guides), social media, industry trade show demonstrations by the founder, and community service events such as public graffiti removal initiatives.

Pricing follows a unit-based, pay-as-you-go model across individual products, kits ($24.99-$44.99), and digital gift cards ($10-$100), with free shipping on domestic orders over $49. The company has received third-party validation including a 1995 U.S. Department of Commerce Patent and Trademark Office top-five innovator recognition, Scientific Certification Systems 'truly' biodegradable certification, CRI Seal of Approval for carpet safety, and a Consumer Testing Labs 'A' efficacy rating. Founder Gregg Motsenbocker remains actively involved in product development post-acquisition, continuing to consult for major industry players including Sherwin Williams and Ecolab.

Name

Motsenbocker's Lift Off

Legal name

Lift Off Inc.

Website

https://liftoffinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Motsenbocker's Lift Off (Lift Off Inc.) is a U.S. manufacturer of patented, water-based biodegradable stain, paint, graffiti, and adhesive removal products serving DIY consumers, automotive users, contractors, and government/municipal accounts, operating as a subsidiary of Stoner, Inc. since 2015.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Cleaning Products

NAICS

Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561), Soap, Cleaning Compound, and Toilet Preparation Manufacturing (3256), Polish and Other Sanitation Good Manufacturing (325612)

SIC

Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840), Specialty Cleaning, Polishing And Sanitation Preparations (2842), Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Stain Removers & Spot Treatments (Non-laundry) (CRAJAKAJ)

Keywords

• Stain removal products
• Graffiti removal sprays
• Adhesive removers
• Eco-friendly cleaners
• Paint removers

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: Lift Off generates revenue through direct sales of its cleaning and stain removal products via its e-commerce website and retail distribution. Products are sold as one-time purchases at various price points ranging from $2.99 to $119.99 depending on product type and size.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Motsenbocker's Lift Off manufactures and sells water-based, biodegradable specialty cleaning products that remove stains, paints, graffiti, adhesives, and caulks across household, automotive, and DIY/hardware use cases. Products are built on proprietary Enviro Science formulations and patented Bond Breaking Technology that lift stains and paint off intact rather than dissolving them. Sales are delivered via direct e-commerce, retail/diy-store placement, and commercial distribution.

Product overview

Motsenbocker's Lift Off is a manufacturer of environmentally friendly cleaning and surface preparation products organized into three collections: Household (probiotic stain removers, food/grease/ink removers, cleaning wipes), Automotive (adhesive removers, paint strippers, graffiti removers), and DIY & Hardware (paint removers, caulk removers, varnish strippers). The product portfolio centers on two proprietary technologies: patented Enviro Science formulations (water-based, biodegradable, low/no VOC) and Bond Breaking Technology (molecular bond disruption for stain and paint removal). Products are available as individual items, bundled kits, and accessories including microfiber towels. The company was founded in 1990 and acquired by Stoner, Inc. in 2015.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stain Removal Kit A bundled stain-removal kit for consumers tackling common household stains.
• Grease & Oil Stain Remover Removes grease and oil stains from fabric, carpet, and other surfaces for consumers and automotive users.
• Pen Ink & Marker Stain Remover Removes ink, pen, and marker stains from fabrics, hard surfaces, and skin; targeted at households, schools, and offices.
• Food, Drink & Pet Stain Remover Targets food, beverage, and pet stains on carpet, upholstery, and laundry for household consumers.
• Spray Paint & Graffiti Remover Removes spray paint and graffiti from hard surfaces; positioned for consumers, property managers, and municipal users.
• Paint Scuff & Graffiti Remover Removes paint scuffs and graffiti from walls, doors, and other surfaces; for households and commercial facilities.
• Sticker, Tape & Adhesive Remover Lifts sticker residue, tape, and adhesive from hard surfaces, glass, and vehicles; for DIY consumers and commercial users.
• Tape & Label Adhesive Remover Specialized formula for removing tape and label adhesive residues from packaging, equipment, and surfaces.
• Spray Foam & Silicone Caulk Remover Dissolves cured spray foam, silicone, and caulk from tools, surfaces, and skin; aimed at contractors and DIYers.
• Latex Paint Remover Removes wet or dried latex paint from surfaces, brushes, and clothing; for homeowners and DIY painters.
• Paint & Varnish Remover Strips paint and varnish coatings; targeted at refinishing, restoration, and DIY projects.
• Paint Remover Kit Bundled kit of paint-removal products and accessories for full paint-stripping jobs.
• DIY Kit Multi-purpose starter kit combining several Lift Off products for general household DIY use.
• Stain Removal Pens Portable, pen-style stain remover applicators for on-the-go spot treatment of fabric and upholstery.
• Dry Erase & White Board Cleaning Wipes Pre-moistened wipes that clean dry-erase and whiteboards; for classrooms, offices, and home use.
• All Surface Cleaner & Paint Prep General-purpose surface cleaner that prepares surfaces for repainting; used by DIYers and contractors.
• All-Purpose Microfiber Towel Reusable microfiber towel designed for use with Lift Off cleaning formulas and general surface wiping.
• Premium Microfiber Towel Higher-grade reusable microfiber towel paired with the cleaning product line for streak-free results.

Quantifiable outcome

• Removes 15 coats of paint in 15 minutes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Stoner, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2015Since September 2015, Motsenbocker's Lift Off has been owned and operated by Stoner, Inc., a third-generation, family-owned manufacturer of trusted brands such as Invisible Glass and Stoner Car Care. Stoner, Inc. also owned and operated Stoner Decorating Centers, distributing supplies to paint and wallpaper contractors for over 30 years. Founder Gregg Motsenbocker demonstrates products at industry trade shows as part of Stoner, Inc.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Citristrip: Citristrip is a W.M. Barr-owned brand of safer, citrus-based paint and varnish strippers sold at hardware stores and home centers. It competes head-on with Lift Off's Paint & Varnish Remover and Automotive Paint Stripper in the safer-chemistry paint-stripping niche and shares the same eco-positioning and DIY/hardware channels.
• Simple Green: Simple Green is a leading non-toxic, biodegradable cleaner brand selling all-purpose, industrial, and specialty cleaning products. It overlaps with Lift Off's eco-positioned Enviro Science formulations across household and automotive SKUs, and both target environmentally conscious consumers seeking safer chemistry alternatives.
• CLR (Jelmar): CLR (Calcium, Lime, Rust remover) is Jelmar's flagship specialty-cleaning brand sold across grocery, hardware, and big-box retail. Both brands compete for the specialty-cleaner shelf and rely on problem-specific formulations rather than all-purpose cleaners, making CLR a comparable niche-positioned consumer cleaning brand.
• Krud Kutter: Krud Kutter, a Sunnyside Corp brand, offers surface prep and specialty cleaning products including paint prep, graffiti removers, and adhesive removers. It competes with Lift Off across DIY/hardware retail shelves and shares the eco-friendly positioning narrative around water-based, safer chemistry.
• Goof Off: Goof Off (Barr Brands/Denca) markets heavy-duty paint overspray, adhesive, and graffiti removers for DIY and contractor use. Its product set maps almost one-to-one with Lift Off's Spray Paint & Graffiti Remover, Paint Scuff Remover, and Latex Paint Remover, making it one of Lift Off's closest specialty-cleaner competitors.
• Goo Gone: Goo Gone is a household-name sticker, tape, and adhesive remover brand owned by Magic American/Homax, sold across mass retail and online. It is directly comparable to Lift Off's Sticker, Tape & Adhesive Remover line, serving the same DIY/consumer pain point (residue removal without damaging surfaces) through similar D2C-plus-retail distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Zep Inc. Zep is a large commercial and institutional cleaning-products manufacturer offering graffiti removers, degreasers, and specialty cleaners to janitorial, transit, and government accounts. Lift Off's transit authority and janitorial distributor customers overlap with Zep's core end markets, positioning Zep as an incumbent alternative rather than a direct consumer-channel rival.
• SC Johnson (Professional): SC Johnson's Professional line (including SC Johnson Professional, formerly Dr. Johnson's, Deb, and Zenuicity) sells institutional and household cleaners globally. It dwarfs Lift Off in scale and competes indirectly through mass-market household cleaners and contractor-grade surface preparation products that overlap with Lift Off's stain-removal and paint-prep SKU families.
• 3M (Adhesive Removers and Cleaners): 3M offers industrial and consumer adhesive removers (e.g., 3M General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner) used in automotive, marine, and contractor settings. It competes with Lift Off's Sticker/Tape/Adhesive remover family but operates on a far broader industrial-chemicals portfolio with significantly greater R&D and channel scale.
• WD-40 Specialist: WD-40 Company's Specialist line includes heavy-duty cleaners, degreasers, and adhesive removers sold across automotive, hardware, and industrial channels. While WD-40 is broader in scope, its Specialist sub-brand directly overlaps with Lift Off's automotive cleaning and surface-prep products and dwarfs Lift Off on distribution and marketing spend.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LiftOffInc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Motsenbocker's Lift Off