Suds2Go is both a water bottle and a dispenser for foaming soap. In reality, the soap unit is built with the lid of a bottle of water. The plastic bottle has a valve that slows the flow so you can rinse your hands.
Soap and water don’t combine, so you can also drink from it. If you’re somewhere without soap and water, you’re good to go. Soap and water are much better than sanitizer because it gets rid of more than just bacteria. It also gets rid of dirt and grease.
It was invented by Gabe and Cindy Trevizo because they led an active lifestyle and spent mostly outdoors, and they struggled with finding bathrooms to clean their hands. The company officially started through Kickstarter funding, where they managed to raise $12,567.
They were already shipping through their website to customers before coming to Shark Tank. A starter kit of Suds2Go sold for $96 with everything from two bottles, two soap dispensers, hand soap, and towels.
After the initial purchase, a refill would cost you $4.99. They came to Shark Tank because they wanted to expand distribution. During the pandemic, the company had already expanded enough to introduce another product called the Suds2Go cap- that’s supposed to fit on top of any regular water bottle to convert it into the same kind of hand-washing system.
Are They Still an Active Company?
Yes, the company is active and still in business.
How Did the Shark Tank Pitch Go?
The couple came to Shark Tank seeking an investment of $200,000 for a 10% stake in their company. They started the pitch by explaining the concept behind the water bottle and how they felt that soap and water does a better job at disinfection than traditional sanitizers. They handed out samples to the Sharks so that they could look at them more closely.
They talked about their own personal history and how they’d struggled during the financial crisis of 2008. They added that they’d always considered Shark Tank an inspiration to their struggle. Then it was time for them to share their sales with the Sharks. Just through the website alone, they’d managed to generate almost $392,000 in revenue. But they were struggling with distribution and other management issues.
Then it was time for the Sharks to respond. They were actually quite impressed with the sales, so they were willing to extend an offer. Kevin was tempted, but he ended up backing out because he said that he’d already invested in similar companies. But he definitely agreed with the fact that it was a good product, followed by Mr. Wonderful, who wasn’t really interested in the product.
Mark was unwilling to get involved because he said that there were already a lot of startups out there, and he didn’t think the two had the drive they needed to get the business going. Daymond was the first to make an offer. He wanted a 22.5% stake for $200,000.
Robert countered this offer with a better one. He offered $200,000 for 15% equity. The couple was obviously drawn to this offer since it would allow them to keep more equity in their company. And they accepted Robert’s offer. Even though the offer hasn’t fully gone through, the company continued to grow and expand after leaving Shark Tank. And it’s a favorite among people who like to camp and take part in outdoor activities.
They’re currently making $392,000 in sales over a single quarter and even made $1 million during the pandemic.
Our Review of Suds2Go
We decided to try out this foam soap dispenser bottle to see how it would fare in practice.
The good news is that the bottle has everything in one place. The valves are separated so it can be used as a water bottle too. It utilizes two BPA-free valves that can also moderate the flow of water. All you have to do is push the cap down when you’re done. It’s simple to use and it’s useful especially with the pandemic. The packaging is recyclable and they donate to charity for every purchase.
The bad news is that it’s quite expensive as compared to a hand sanitizer plus you might run into an issue if you run out of water, when you need it for both washing and drinking.
Pros and Cons of Suds2Go
Pros of Suds2Go
- BPA-free valves
- Convenient to carry
- Lightweight
- Keeps your hands clean
- Recyclable packaging
Cons of Suds
- Might need two people to work on the system
- Not enough capacity for water.
Who Is Suds2Go for?
This portable hand-washing system is mainly aimed at parents or people who travel frequently and struggle to find a bathroom while hiking or camping.
Are There Any Alternatives?
The product is unique for being portable and lightweight but there are other hand-washing carrier alternatives on the market.
The Igloo 5 Gallon Handwash Sanitize Station is one good alternative to Suds2Go. It can carry a lot more water than Suds2Go but it’s also a heavier industrial-grade station. All you have to do is add water to the jug and fill the soap dispenser. It’s also got an advanced elbow push-level system you can use to turn the water flow on so you don’t have to get your hands dirty.
Unlike Suds2Go, it’s better suited to camping or hiking activities since you can wash it up to 40 times.
Our Final Thoughts
Suds2Go is a good portable foaming soap hand-wash, especially during the time of the pandemic when it’s hard to know if bathrooms are clean. Plus it’s lightweight and BPA-free so it’s environmentally friendly and perfect for use by a single person. However, it’s also quite expensive and can’t really hold a lot of water so you might run out of water if you try to use it for both drinking and washing your hands. Plus traditional hand sanitizers are much cheaper and preferable.
On top of that, there are industrial-grade hand washing systems that are better suited to camping and other outdoor activities.
