Spray Nine/Permatex

What Spray Nine/Permatex does

Spray Nine is a 60+ year-old specialty cleaning brand founded in 1956 as the first company to package a cleaning solution in a spray bottle, creating the ready-to-use spray-on/wipe-off cleaner category. The company is operated as a brand under Permatex, itself a division of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE: ITW), with corporate operations based in Solon, Ohio. Its core technology is a proprietary "Triple Threat" formulation that combines heavy-duty cleaning, degreasing, and disinfection in a single product without bleach or chlorinated solvents, supported by EPA-registered broad-spectrum efficacy claims (including against SARS-CoV-2, HIV-1, MRSA, and Salmonella), USDA approval, and VOC compliance in all 50 U.S. states.

The product portfolio centers on the flagship Spray Nine Heavy Duty Cleaner (sold in sizes from 22 oz to 55 gallons) and extends into Grez-Off biodegradable degreasers, Earth Soap bio-based cleaners, Marine Spray Nine and Marine Grez-Off variants, and specialty SKUs (Mold & Mildew Stain Remover, BBQ Grill Cleaner). The go-to-market model is a multi-channel retail distribution strategy, with products sold through AutoZone, O'Reillys, NAPA, Home Depot, Walmart, Amazon, Advance Auto Parts, and Sherwin Williams, supplemented by a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront at spraynine.com and active social-media presence on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. Customer segments span automotive (professional technicians and DIY consumers), marine (boat owners and marine service professionals), industrial/manufacturing facilities, and consumer/home users, with no individual end-customer concentration flagged in the data. Revenue is generated from one-time physical product sales across this diversified base, with no disclosed pricing, headcount, or revenue figures available.

Name

Spray Nine/Permatex

Legal name

ITW Engine Repair

Website

https://spraynine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Spray Nine is a 60+ year-old specialty cleaning brand, operated under Permatex within Illinois Tool Works (NYSE: ITW), selling heavy-duty cleaners, degreasers, and EPA-registered disinfectants to automotive, marine, industrial, and consumer/DIY customers across North America and Europe through major retail chains and direct e-commerce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Cleaning Products

NAICS

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

SIC

Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840), Specialty Cleaning, Polishing And Sanitation Preparations (2842)

akta.pro primary industry

Hard Surface & Multi-Purpose Cleaners (All-purpose, Floor, Bathroom, Kitchen) (CRADAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

General All-Purpose Cleaners (CRAJAMAA), Kitchen & Countertop Cleaners & Degreasers (CRAJACAA), Kitchen All-Purpose Cleaners & Degreasers (CRAJAMAC), Hand Sanitizers & Antibacterial Personal Care (CRADANAI), Eco-Friendly Specialty Cleaners (Oven, Degreasers, Limescale, Metal) (CRAJAOAK)

Keywords

• Heavy duty cleaners
• Industrial degreasers
• Disinfectant cleaners
• Marine cleaning products
• Biodegradable degreasers

Headquarters

HQ city

Solon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cleaning Product Sales: Physical cleaning and degreasing products sold through retail distribution channels and direct website sales. Products include Heavy Duty Cleaners (multiple sizes from 12oz to 55 gal), Grez-Off Degreasers, Marine Spray Nine, Earth Soap Bio-Based Cleaners, Mold & Mildew Stain Remover, and BBQ Grill Cleaner. Revenue generated from one-time product purchases at various price points.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Spray Nine/Permatex manufactures and sells ready-to-use, multi-purpose cleaning, degreasing, and disinfecting products under the Spray Nine brand. The portfolio spans heavy-duty cleaners, biodegradable degreasers (Grez-Off), marine-specific formulations, bio-based cleaners (Earth Soap), and specialty cleaners for mold/mildew and BBQ grills, sold to both professional users (auto technicians, industrial, marine, military) and consumers (DIY, household) via major retail chains and direct e-commerce.

Product overview

Spray Nine/Permatex offers a portfolio of specialty cleaning products centered around the flagship Spray Nine® Heavy Duty Cleaner brand. The core product line includes Spray Nine® Heavy Duty Cleaner in multiple sizes (22 oz, 32 oz, 1 Gal, 5 Gal, 55 Gal), which serves as a multi-purpose cleaner, degreaser, and disinfectant. The portfolio extends to marine-specific variants (Marine Spray Nine® Heavy-Duty Cleaner and Marine Grez-Off®), biodegradable formulations (Grez-Off® Heavy Duty Degreaser and Earth Soap® Bio-Based Cleaner), and specialty cleaners (Spray Nine® Mold & Mildew Stain Remover and Spray Nine® BBQ Grill Cleaner). Products are organized into four main categories: Degreasers, Disinfectants, Biodegradable Formula, and Specialty Cleaners. The company pioneered ready-to-use spray-on/wipe-off cleaners in 1956 and has over 60 years of experience serving automotive, industrial, marine, and household markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Grez-Off: Award-winning heavy duty degreaser with biodegradable formula
• Marine Spray Nine
• Earth Soap
• Spray Nine BBQ Grill Cleaner
• Spray Nine Mold & Mildew Stain Remover

Products and services

• Spray Nine Heavy Duty Cleaner A multi-purpose heavy-duty cleaner, degreaser, and disinfectant featuring the proprietary Triple Threat formula. Cleans, degreases, and disinfects surfaces; kills 99.9% of germs in 10 seconds, viruses in 30 seconds, and bacteria in 45 seconds; controls mold and mildew and prevents mold growth for 7 days. Available in multiple sizes from 22 oz to 55 gal.
• Marine Spray Nine Heavy-Duty Cleaner A multi-purpose cleaner and disinfectant specifically formulated for marine applications. Works above and below deck to eliminate bacterial odors, control mold and mildew on vinyl, carpets and hard surfaces, and removes stains and yellowing. Rated #1 Vinyl Cleaner by Powerboat Reports and Top Rate General Cleaner by Practical Sailor.
• Grez-Off Heavy Duty Degreaser A professional strength, biodegradable degreaser with award-winning grease-busting power. Uses powerful water-soluble solvents with fast-acting surfactants to penetrate and remove grease and grime. USDA approved and VOC compliant in all 50 states. Non-flammable with no fumes or unpleasant odors.
• Marine Grez-Off Heavy Duty Degreaser A biodegradable, non-solvent heavy-duty degreaser designed for marine environments. Easily cuts through oil, grease and grime on inboard and outboard motors, bilges, machinery and dock equipment. VOC compliant, non-flammable and non-combustible.
• Earth Soap Bio-Based Cleaner An environmentally friendly, biodegradable industrial strength cleaner and degreaser. A bio-based safe alternative to solvent and caustic cleaning products. Features corrosion-inhibiting formula suitable for use in traditional and heated parts washers (up to 180°F). Removes dirt, grease, carbon, oil, adhesives, soot, and smoke stains.
• Spray Nine Mold & Mildew Stain Remover A specialty cleaner designed to remove mold and mildew stains and prevent growth for 7 days. Disinfects hard non-porous surfaces in 45 seconds. Cuts through stubborn grease, grime and hard-to-remove stains without bleach or harsh chemicals.
• Spray Nine BBQ Grill Cleaner A heavy-duty cleaner and hard surface disinfectant specifically designed for BBQ grills. Dissolves grease, fat and burnt-on food quickly and easily. Kills germs and bacteria including Salmonella and E. coli, and controls mold and mildew.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 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.

• Illinois Tool Works Inc. (Parent Company)coreOthersSpray Nine is a division of Permatex, which is a division of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW). ITW Engine Repair operates the Spray Nine website and manages the brand. This is a corporate parent-subsidiary relationship.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SprayNine
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@spraynine9155
• Facebookfacebook.com/SprayNine
• Instagraminstagram.com/spraynineofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spray-nine-corporation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Spray Nine/Permatex