Is Formula 409 a subsidiary of The Clorox Company?

Formula 409 is a wholly-owned brand within The Clorox Company's Health and Wellness segment. It is not a separately incorporated company. All product development, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution decisions are made by Clorox's corporate leadership in Oakland, California.

Is Formula 409 publicly traded?

Formula 409 is not publicly traded as a separate entity. Parent company The Clorox Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker CLX. Clorox has a market capitalization of approximately $14 billion as of 2025.

When was Formula 409 founded?

Formula 409 was created in 1957 by Morris D. Rouff and his partners in Michigan. The name comes from the fact that the 409th formula they tested was the first to meet their cleaning performance standards. The brand was acquired by Reckitt & Colman and later by The Clorox Company in 1990.

Who created Formula 409?

Formula 409 was created by Morris D. Rouff and a team of chemists working in Michigan. They tested 408 formulas before arriving at the 409th formula, which became the product's namesake. The product was originally sold door-to-door before gaining national retail distribution.

What is Formula 409's market position?

Formula 409 holds an estimated 15% to 20% share of the U.S. multi-purpose spray cleaner market as of 2025. The brand's primary competitors include Windex, Lysol, and store-brand cleaners. Formula 409 is priced in the budget to mid-range segment at approximately $4 to $6 per 32-ounce spray bottle.

Was Formula 409 discontinued?

Formula 409 was not discontinued. In early 2020, the product temporarily disappeared from store shelves and Clorox's website, leading to speculation about discontinuation. The shortage was caused by supply chain disruptions and increased demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. Formula 409 returned to retail shelves by late 2020 with updated packaging.

Household & Consumer Goods

Who Owns Formula 409?

Q: Where is Formula 409 made?

Formula 409 products are manufactured at Clorox facilities in the United States, primarily in Georgia. The brand does not manufacture products internationally. Formula 409 is sold primarily in the United States with limited distribution in Canada.

Formula 409 is a wholly-owned brand of The Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX), acquired in 1990 from Reckitt & Colman. Formula 409 was created in 1957 by Morris D. Rouff and his partners in Michigan, who named it after the 409th formula they tested. Clorox is headquartered in Oakland, California, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker CLX. Formula 409 products include all-purpose cleaners, degreasers, and disinfectants sold primarily in the United States.

Parent Company

The Clorox Company

Acquired

1990

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

Oakland, California, USA

Formula 409 Timeline

1913

The Clorox Company

Parent company established in Oakland, California, USA

Company Founded

1957

Formula 409

Founded by Morris D. Rouff

Founded

1990

Acquired by The Clorox Company

The Clorox Company acquired Formula 409

Acquired

budgetmass marketUnited StatesOfficial Website

Who Owns Formula 409?

Parent Company: The Clorox Company
Ownership Type: Wholly owned
Acquisition Year: 1990
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock Ticker: NYSE: CLX

Brand	Parent Company	Ownership Type
Formula 409	The Clorox Company	Wholly owned

Where to Buy

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Formula 409 on Amazon

History of Formula 409

Founded: 1957
Founders: Morris D. Rouff
Acquired by The Clorox Company: 1990

Formula 409 was created in 1957 by Morris D. Rouff and a team of chemists working in a small laboratory in Michigan. The team was attempting to develop an effective all-purpose cleaner that could cut through grease and grime on multiple surfaces. According to the brand's origin story, the team tested 408 formulas that did not meet their standards before arriving at the 409th formula, which achieved the cleaning performance they were seeking. The name "Formula 409" was chosen to reflect this development process.

The product was initially sold door-to-door and through independent distributors in the Midwest. The original Formula 409 was a liquid cleaner sold in bottles, designed to be diluted with water for use on kitchen surfaces, bathroom fixtures, and automotive parts. Its ability to cut through grease made it popular with both households and automotive repair shops.

In the 1960s, Formula 409 gained national distribution through grocery stores and hardware stores. The brand was acquired by Reckitt & Colman, a British consumer goods company, which expanded distribution and introduced aerosol and spray bottle formats. The spray bottle format, introduced in the 1970s, significantly increased the product's convenience and helped drive sales growth.

In 1990, The Clorox Company acquired Formula 409 from Reckitt & Colman. The acquisition gave Clorox a strong position in the multi-purpose spray cleaner category, complementing its existing bleach and disinfectant products. Under Clorox's ownership, Formula 409 expanded its product line to include specialized variants including Formula 409 Antibacterial Kitchen, Formula 409 Glass & Surface, and Formula 409 Grease & Grime.

In early 2020, Formula 409 temporarily disappeared from store shelves and from Clorox's website, leading to consumer speculation that the product had been discontinued. Clorox did not issue an official announcement about the product's status. The shortage was later attributed to supply chain disruptions and increased demand for cleaning products during the COVID-19 pandemic. Formula 409 returned to retail shelves by late 2020 with updated packaging.

As of 2025, Formula 409 sells approximately 10 to 15 product variants including all-purpose cleaners, antibacterial cleaners, glass cleaners, and degreasers. The brand is sold primarily in the United States through retailers including Walmart, Target, Kroger, and Amazon. Formula 409 does not have a significant international presence, as Clorox focuses its international cleaning products marketing on the Clorox brand name.

About The Clorox Company

What does The Clorox Company own?
The Clorox Company owns a portfolio of consumer brands including Clorox bleach and cleaning products, Purell hand sanitizer, Glad trash bags, Pine-Sol cleaner, Burt's Bees personal care, Hidden Valley Ranch dressing, Kingsford charcoal, Brita water filtration, Fresh Step cat litter, and Liquid-Plumr drain cleaner. The company also markets professional products under the CloroxPro and Clorox Healthcare brands.

Is The Clorox Company publicly traded?
Yes, The Clorox Company trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CLX. The company has been publicly traded since 1928 and is a component of the S&P 500. Ownership is distributed among institutional investors including Vanguard Group and BlackRock.

Who founded The Clorox Company?
The Clorox Company was founded in 1913 in Oakland, California by five entrepreneurs: Archibald Taft, Edward Hughes, Charles Husband, William Hussey, and Rufus Myers. They established the Electro-Alkaline Company to produce bleach using electrolysis of brine from San Francisco Bay.

Where is The Clorox Company headquartered?
The Clorox Company is headquartered in Oakland, California, USA. The company has maintained its headquarters in Oakland since its founding in 1913, making it one of the oldest companies still based in the city.

How many brands does The Clorox Company own?
The Clorox Company owns approximately 15 primary brands across cleaning, household, lifestyle, and personal care categories. The company's portfolio expanded in April 2026 with the acquisition of GOJO Industries, adding the Purell brand.

Who owns The Clorox Company?
The Clorox Company is an independent publicly traded corporation with no controlling shareholder or parent organization. Shares are widely held by institutional investors, mutual funds, and individual shareholders. Major institutional holders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street.

What is The Clorox Company's annual revenue?
For fiscal year 2026, which ended June 30, 2026, The Clorox Company reported net sales of $6.72 billion, a 5% decrease from FY2025 net sales of $7.1 billion. The decline was primarily driven by ERP transition-related inventory drawdowns. The company projects FY2027 net sales growth of 13% to 14%.

Has The Clorox Company made major acquisitions recently?
In January 2026, Clorox announced the acquisition of GOJO Industries, maker of Purell hand sanitizer, for $2.25 billion in cash. The deal closed on April 1, 2026. GOJO has approximately $800 million in annual sales and expands Clorox's health and hygiene portfolio to more than half of total net sales.

Founded: 1913
Headquarters: Oakland, California, USA
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock: NYSE: CLX
Revenue: approximately $6.72 billion (FY2026)
Employees: Approximately 7,600

Visit The Clorox Company website

View full company profile for The Clorox Company

Where Is Formula 409 Made / Based?

Headquarters: Oakland, California, USA
Manufacturing / Operations: United States

Formula 409 Categories & Tags

Multi Purpose Cleaner Degreaser Household Cleaning Clorox Cleaning Products

Formula 409 Sustainability & Ethics

Formula 409 does not hold independently verified sustainability certifications specific to the brand. The brand's environmental initiatives are reported through The Clorox Company's corporate sustainability disclosures.

Clorox has set corporate-level sustainability goals including 100% renewable electricity in the U.S. and Canada, a 50% reduction in virgin plastic and fiber packaging by 2030, and net-zero emissions by 2050. Formula 409-specific progress against these targets is not separately reported in Clorox's sustainability disclosures.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), an independent nonprofit organization, has evaluated Formula 409 products in its Guide to Healthy Cleaning. EWG ratings for Formula 409 products have ranged from C to D grades, citing concerns about certain ingredients including surfactants and preservatives. These ratings are independently verified and not self-reported by the brand.

Formula 409 products are packaged in plastic spray bottles and refill bottles. The bottles are made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which are recyclable in most U.S. municipal recycling programs. However, Clorox does not report the percentage of Formula 409 packaging that is actually recycled by consumers.

Clorox has achieved zero-waste-to-landfill status at more than 30 of its manufacturing facilities worldwide. Formula 409 manufacturing facilities in Georgia are included in this program. These figures are self-reported by Clorox and have not been independently audited by a third party.

No independently verified cruelty-free or vegan certifications apply to Formula 409. The brand's products are cleaning chemicals, not personal care items, so these certifications are less relevant. However, Clorox does not test Formula 409 products on animals, as animal testing for cleaning products is not required by U.S. regulations.

Awards & Recognition

No independently verified awards or recognitions specific to Formula 409 have been documented as of 2025. The brand's parent company, The Clorox Company, has received corporate-level sustainability recognition including being ranked #1 on Barron's 100 Most Sustainable Companies list in 2020 and 2021. These awards apply to Clorox as a whole, not to Formula 409 specifically.

The Environmental Working Group's Guide to Healthy Cleaning provides independent ratings for Formula 409 products, with grades ranging from C to D. These are product evaluations, not awards.

Formula 409 Recalls & Controversies

2020 Product Disappearance: In early 2020, Formula 409 temporarily disappeared from store shelves and from Clorox's website. Several websites reported that the product had been discontinued, though Clorox did not issue an official announcement. The shortage was later attributed to supply chain disruptions and surging demand for cleaning products during the COVID-19 pandemic. Formula 409 returned to shelves by late 2020 with updated packaging. The incident caused consumer confusion and concern about the brand's future.

Environmental Working Group Ratings: The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has rated Formula 409 products in its Guide to Healthy Cleaning, assigning grades of C to D on an A-to-F scale. The ratings cite concerns about certain ingredients, including specific surfactants and preservatives that the EWG considers potentially harmful to human health or the environment. Clorox has not publicly responded to these specific ratings for Formula 409, though the company has stated its commitment to ingredient transparency and product safety.

Chemical Safety Concerns: Formula 409 contains chemicals including alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (ADBAC), a disinfectant that has been studied for potential health effects. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has registered ADBAC as an antimicrobial pesticide for use in household cleaning products. Some consumer advocacy groups have called for stricter regulation of quaternary ammonium compounds, though they remain approved for household use by the EPA.

Competition from Eco-Friendly Brands: Formula 409 has faced criticism from environmental advocates who prefer plant-based cleaning products. Brands including Mrs. Meyer's, Method, and Seventh Generation have gained market share by marketing natural ingredients and environmentally friendly packaging. Formula 409 has not introduced a natural or eco-friendly variant, which some consumers view as a lack of environmental responsibility.

Packaging Waste Concerns: Formula 409's plastic spray bottles contribute to plastic waste. While the bottles are recyclable, environmental advocates have noted that a significant percentage of plastic waste is not actually recycled. Clorox has introduced refill sizes for Formula 409 to reduce packaging waste, but the brand has not implemented a bottle take-back or reuse program.

Formula 409 Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

+Access to Clorox's manufacturing infrastructure and supply chain in the United States
+Distribution through Clorox's established retail relationships with Walmart, Target, and major grocery chains
+Part of a cleaning products portfolio alongside Clorox Bleach and Pine-Sol, enabling cross-promotion
+Clorox's research and development resources support product formulation improvements
+Strong brand recognition with over 65 years of consumer presence in the U.S. market

Considerations

-Limited international presence, as Clorox focuses international marketing on the Clorox brand name
-Growing competition from eco-friendly cleaning brands including Mrs. Meyer's, Method, and Seventh Generation
-Store-brand cleaners at Walmart and Target offer lower prices and erode market share
-Formula 409 does not offer a natural or plant-based product variant
-The 2020 temporary disappearance damaged consumer confidence in product availability

Frequently Asked Questions About Formula 409

Sources & Further Reading

Competitors to Formula 409

These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.

Brand	Parent Company	Country	Founded	Market Position	Primary Market	Gender Target
Pine-SolSister Brand	Clorox	USA	1929	Mass market	United states	All Genders
Cascade	Procter Gamble	USA	1953	Mass market	Global	All-ages
Mr. Clean	Procter Gamble	USA	1958	Mass market	United states	All Genders