Who Owns Pine-Sol? The Major Brand Behind This Popular Cleaner

If you remember spokesperson Diane Amos shouting "That's the power of Pine-Sol, baby!" in '90s commercials and love the iconic pine scent, chances are you have a bottle of Pine-Sol in your cleaning cabinet. When this all-purpose cleaner was created by chemist Harry A. Cole in 1929, its main use was for scrubbing heavy-duty grease and dirt and disinfecting surfaces. Today, there are many different unexpected ways you can use Pine-Sol around the house, ranging from freshening up dirty laundry to repelling unwanted yard pests, making this seemingly single-purpose product incredibly versatile.

The Pine‑Sol product line belongs to The Clorox Company, which also owns other cleaning supplies like Clorox bleach, Formula 409, Tilex, and Liquid‑Plumr. The Clorox Company bought the Pine‑Sol line, in conjunction with Combat insecticides, in 1990 from American Cyanamid Company for a whopping $465 million. Today, it's not just the piney scent that keeps Pine-Sol customers happy. The brand has expanded its lineup with a variety of fragrances, including Tropical Breeze and Cherry Blossom, if the classic pine scent isn't your favorite. Even though this product is part of the Clorox family, it is important to remember not to mix Pine‑Sol with Clorox bleach, ammonia, or other harsh chemicals because combining them can produce dangerous, toxic gases that could cause severe breathing problems.

Avoiding toxic household cleaner combinations is key to keeping your home safe. Always read the safety warnings on the back of the bottle, especially when you are working in enclosed spaces like small bathrooms or laundry rooms.

Back in the 20th century, this cleaner used real pine oil to get its signature smell and natural cleaning strength. In 2014, The Clorox Company changed the formula to synthetic pine scents, since real pine oil was difficult to source. This caused significant outcry from loyal customers, since homeowners missed the classic scent. The company continued selling limited quantities of the classic formulation online, but it was discontinued in 2024. Despite the change, Pine-Sol has held onto its spot on grocery store shelves and remained one of the most recognizable cleaners in American homes.

There is one important distinction to note — not all Pine-Sol products work the same way. Only the Original Pine-Sol is an EPA-registered disinfectant, meaning that it kills germs when used at strength. The newer versions, like Lavender Clean and Lemon Fresh, work differently — they don't kill bacteria and viruses because they're formulated without the active antimicrobial ingredients found in the original. Instead, they're meant strictly for everyday surface cleaning and cutting through odors. If you want to disinfect with Original Pine-Sol, pour it on at full strength and let it sit wet on the surface for a full 10 minutes before you wipe it clean or rinse. Skipping this required contact time is one of the biggest mistakes you're making when cleaning with Pine-Sol.