Scrub Daddy Shark Tank Update – Shark Tank Season 4
Aaron Krause introduced a simple smiling Scrub Daddy sponge on Shark Tank Season 4. After landing a deal on Shark Tank, Scrub Daddy became one of the show’s biggest success stories.
Aaron Krause appeared on Shark Tank Season 4, Episode 7, and pitched his product Scrub Daddy—a patented and proprietary scrubbing sponge that changes texture based on water temperature. Whether it’s dishes or patio furniture, Scrub Daddy tackles all sorts of household cleaning tasks.
While running a successful automotive aftermarket business, Aaron originally developed the Scrub Daddy sponge to clean auto mechanics’ hands. But one day, after trying it at home, he discovered it was equally effective in cleaning the kitchen. Recognizing its broader potential, he rebranded it as a household cleaning product—and even made it onto QVC.
With a winning demonstration and a catchy smile, Krause aimed to scrub the Sharks into investing. See if he got the deal on Shark Tank!
Check out other Shark Tank Season 4 Episodes
About Scrub Daddy
| Category | Details |
| Founder | Aaron Krause |
| Product Type | Smiling sponge scrub |
| Funding (Pre-Shark Tank) | Self Funded |
| Deal Status | Deal Secured with Shark Lori Greiner |
| Investment Asked | $100,000 for 10% equity |
| Deal Outcome | $200,000 for 20% equity |
The Scrub Daddy is an innovative smiling sponge made from a high-tech polymer that becomes firm in cold water for tough scrubbing and soft in warm water for gentler cleaning.
Founder Aaron Krause demonstrated how the scrub works on grease and how little effort it requires, from rubbing it on utensils to showing how easy it is to clean by simply dipping it in water.
He made sure to show how his product changes texture, becoming hard or soft based on the water temperature. After a very “infomercial-like” pitch, Aaron faced the Sharks in what soon became a feeding frenzy!
Scrub Daddy Shark Tank Pitch
During the pitch, Lori Greiner asked Aaron where Scrub Daddy had been sold so far. To her surprise, he revealed it was only in five local supermarkets in Philadelphia, but it had also done three separate successful airings on QVC. Aaron added that he owned the Scrub Daddy domain name, secured a trademark, held one patent, and had two more pending.
What Makes Scrub Daddy Sponge Unique?
Scrub Daddy is one of the most successful Shark Tank businesses. The Scrub Daddy sponge changes its texture based on the water temperature, becoming soft in warm water and firm in cold water. The FlexTexture foam material used in the product makes it long-lasting.
The design stands out with the yellow-colored smiling face, which isn’t just cute but also functional. The eyes provide grip for fingers, and the mouth cleans utensils easily. Other features of Scrub Daddy include:
- Safe to use on various surfaces, making it useful for versatile cleaning.
- Tackles greasy pans (non-stick pans), stubborn stains, and more with ease.
- Odor-free even after several uses, and remains fresh.
Did Scrub Daddy Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
While Lori was intrigued, Robert and Daymond weren’t so sure the product could make it in a retail environment. Robert was the first to drop out, followed by Mark Cuban, saying he didn’t see the fit.
Kevin saw an opportunity. He offered $100,000 for 50% equity. Aaron laughed and playfully replied, “You’re out,” rejecting the offer on the spot.
Daymond stepped up next. He offered $50,000 for 15% equity, but only if Lori would partner with him and put up the other $50,000 for another 15% equity. But Lori had other plans. She told Aaron she instantly knew if a product was “a hero or a zero,” and Scrub Daddy was a hero.
With that, Lori told Daymond she didn’t need him. She went solo, offering $100,000 for 30% equity.
Kevin came back in again with a royalty deal. He offered $100,000 with no equity but wanted a $0.50 royalty per unit sold until he recouped his investment, then a $0.10 royalty per unit in perpetuity.
The pitch turned into a bidding war. Daymond came back with $150,000 for 25% equity. Lori held steady with her $100,000 offer but lowered her equity ask. When things got intense, Robert stepped in to summarize the offers to help Aaron keep track.
Lori clarified that she actually meant to offer $150,000, matching Daymond. Daymond quickly one-upped her again, offering $175,000 for 25%. Lori fired back with $200,000, all without Aaron saying a word.
Daymond then backed out with a grin, joking that he just made Aaron an extra $100,000 simply to outbid Lori. Kevin tried once more to push his royalty deal, but the back-and-forth started to frustrate Lori.
She turned to Aaron and told him that if he didn’t accept her offer right then, she’d walk away. Aaron countered, asking if she would do the deal at 20%. Lori agreed. Finally, the deal was closed at $200,000 for 20% equity.
What Happened to Scrub Daddy After Shark Tank?
After the Shark Tank appearance, Scrub Daddy saw a major increase in their website traffic, sales, and social media. The deal valued his company at $1 million. With a 10% yearly growth rate, the estimated net worth of Scrub Daddy as of 2025 is over $200 million.
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Since airing, Scrub Daddy has been featured on QVC multiple times, selling out each time. With thousands of retail outlets, Aaron got what he was looking for from the Shark Tank: help with retail distribution. He said Lori and he have become friends, and Aaron and his wife socialize with Lori and her husband.
Aaron sent some sample reviews to the Shark Tank, and one of them said, “It works as advertised! The first one I opened lasted from October through February before it needed replacing. It tackles just about any cleaning task in my kitchen. I gave one to my mother and she loved it too!”
Beyond the Tank
Scrub Daddy was dubbed one of the most successful Shark Tank products ever, with sales approaching $20 million!
Aaron and Lori appear together again in Beyond the Tank episode 201. As of January 5, 2016, sales are over $75 million!
With sales of over $150 million, Scrub Daddy gets another update in episode 907. They are officially the biggest money maker in Shark Tank history.
In February 2020, the company appeared in The Shark Tank Greatest of All Time Special in the “greatest money makers” segment. With $268 million in sales, they were second to Bombas, which has $330 million in sales.
As of June 2021, the company was still in business and was gaining sales. It was hard to find a store that doesn’t carry them. In August 2022, Scrub Daddy introduced Halloween-themed sponges in the shape of Frankenstein, pumpkins, and ghosts. Lifetime sales had topped $300 million at this point, with no signs of slowing down.
More Updates
The company gets yet another update segment in Season 14, Episode 13. The company did a deal with Lori ten years ago. In the update segment, Aaron reveals that the company has 273 employees, 160 different products, and is sold in over 257,000 retail locations. By that time, it’s done $670 million in retail sales and was one of the top 5 highest-grossing companies in Shark Tank history.
Before Shark Tank, Scrub Daddy sponges were made in Germany. Now, they’re made in the USA at factories in Tennessee and New Jersey. The factories are powered entirely by solar energy, and the company has so much excess power that they power homes in the surrounding neighborhood. Aaron also signed a deal with Unilever, which will give Scrub Daddy global distribution.
Lori compliments Aaron’s inventiveness and his environmental consciousness. The Shark Tank experience has allowed Aaron to travel the world, spreading the “Scrub Daddy smile.”
In October 2023, Scrub Daddy was the third highest-selling Shark Tank product, with $926 million in lifetime sales. The company hired JPMorgan Chase in March 2024 to explore the potential sale of the business.
Where Can You Buy It?
To buy Scrub Daddy sponges, check out their official website. You can also find the product on Amazon. Check out their social media for additional information: Facebook / Twitter.
Quick Summary
- Scrub Daddy is an efficient scrub that gets all kinds of grease off the utensils.
- It changes textures based on the temperature of the water so that you can regulate its toughness.
- Aaron Krause closed the deal with Lori.
Also read: Scrub Daddy High Tech Scrubber Cleans Up
Also read: Aaron Krause Scrub Daddy Pre-Show Interview
Check out the other companies featured on Shark Tank Season 4, Episode 7, alongside Scrub Daddy.
