Cares Laboratory develops Vamoosh, a range of innovative laundry and household cleaning products designed to solve everyday problems through science-led formulations and patented technologies. The company launched its first Vamoosh product in 2017 and has since expanded internationally across major retailers, including a 2026 launch into Target stores in the United States. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Cares Laboratory Founder and Chairman Tom Abbey to learn more.
Tom Abbey’s Background
When asked about his background, Abbey shared:
I’ve spent my career working for myself, specialising in chemical formulations mainly in the FMCG sector, dyes and screen-printing industry. I have always focused on innovation and trying to stand out from the competition.
How The Company Started
When asked how the idea for the company came together, Abbey explained:
10 years ago, having purchased 2 washing machines, one for our dogs and one for the family, I recognised a need for a solution to the hairy problem.
I connected with a colleague who was working in the laundry industry and decided the idea was good enough to set up a new business. We spent 2 years in the laboratory at my former business working on a solution.
We recognised an opportunity to bring an unseen innovation into the laundry and household cleaning category looking at unsolved problems. From the very beginning, our focus was on developing problem-solving products that addressed everyday household frustrations through innovation, rather than simply creating “another cleaning product.”
We saw a gap in the market for effective, science-led solutions that consumers could immediately see the benefit of, and that vision still drives the business today.
What started as a small idea built on industry expertise and ambition has since grown into an internationally recognised company, with patented technologies, award-winning products, and distribution across major retailers both in the UK and overseas.
Favorite Memory
When asked about his favorite memory working for the company so far, Abbey said:
One of my proudest memories was winning the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation in 2022. It was an incredible moment for the business and a real reflection of the hard work, passion, and innovation that has gone into building Cares Laboratory over the years.
Being invited to Buckingham Palace and having the opportunity to meet King Charles and Princess Anne was a truly unforgettable experience. To see a product and technology that started from an idea based on fur-covered laundry frustrations receive recognition at that level was incredibly rewarding, not just personally, but for the whole team behind the business.
This week we won the King’s Award for International Trade, so that is up there too.
Core Products And Features
When asked about the company’s core products and features, Abbey detailed:
Our core product range sits within the cleaning and laundry categories, with a strong focus on innovation and solving everyday household problems using clean chemistry in a way that competitors haven’t traditionally addressed.
Some of our most recognised products include Vamoosh Pet Hair Dissolver, which was developed as the world’s first washing machine Pet Hair Dissolver, our Washing Machine Cleaner, which is uniquely designed to dissolve hair as well as clean the machine, our biodegradable Plughole Unblocker, and Wash & Dye, which helps restore and renew faded clothing directly in the washing machine.
Across the wider range, the common theme is innovation. We aim to create products with clear, unique USPs that genuinely stand out in the market, whether that’s through patented technology, sustainability benefits, convenience, or solving problems that consumers often feel haven’t been properly addressed before.
Rather than following trends, we focus on developing products that offer something meaningfully different and deliver visible results for consumers.
Navigating Industry Challenges
When asked about recent challenges in the sector and how the company has overcome them, Abbey explained:
We face continuous challenges, whether that’s changing consumer trends, increasing competition, rising costs, or the pace of innovation needed within the industry. However, one of the company’s greatest strengths is the team we have built around the business.
We have a very focused, dedicated, and solutions-driven team, and that collaborative approach is what allows us to navigate challenges successfully. Rather than seeing obstacles as setbacks, we tend to view them as opportunities to adapt, improve, and innovate further.
As a business built on innovation, flexibility is incredibly important to us. Being able to react quickly, work closely across departments, and maintain a strong shared vision has helped us continue to grow and develop, even during more challenging periods.
How The Technology Has Evolved
When asked how the company’s technology has evolved since launching, Abbey noted:
Since launching, our technology has continued to evolve through constant research, development, and a commitment to improving product performance. Innovation has always been at the heart of the business, so we are continually looking at ways to maximise effectiveness, enhance the user experience, and stay ahead of changing consumer needs.
Over the years, that has included refining formulations, improving performance, exploring more sustainable solutions, and developing entirely new technologies and applications within the cleaning and laundry sector. A good example of this is how our patented hair-dissolving technology has continued to develop across multiple products and categories.
Innovation has always been central to the business, and we are constantly exploring new ideas, technologies, and product opportunities within the cleaning and laundry sector.
Alongside improving performance, a major focus for us is identifying everyday household problems that haven’t been properly solved and developing entirely new products to address them.
Key Company Milestones
When asked about some of the company’s most significant milestones, Abbey highlighted:
We’ve been fortunate to achieve many significant milestones throughout our journey, many of which have played an important role in shaping the growth of the business and the Vamoosh brand.
In 2017, we launched our very first product, Pet Hair Dissolver, with Pets at Home as our first retail stockist. That was a huge moment for us, as it marked the beginning of bringing a completely new concept to market.
Shortly after, in 2018, Lynsey Crombie (Queen of Clean) discovered the brand, and we’ve since built a fantastic long-term relationship with her. She has supported several of our product launches across social media and has featured products such as Pet Hair Dissolver and Dishwasher Cleaner on national television, including This Morning.
Around the same time, Mrs Hinch recommended Pet Hair Dissolver to her audience of millions, only two years after the brand launched, which gave the business incredible exposure at a key stage of growth.
In 2019, we secured a launch with B&M, which has since become one of our largest retail accounts and a hugely important partner for the business.
Product innovation has also driven many key milestones. In 2021, we launched our Washing Machine Cleaner, the only washing machine cleaner designed to dissolve hair whilst also delivering a deep clean to the machine. Alongside this, we continued expanding our intellectual property portfolio and secured more than 15 patents across Europe.
Another milestone we are particularly proud of is becoming charity partners with Support Dogs in 2023. Since then, we have raised over £27,000 to support their incredible work and even have our own Support Dogs puppy, Mooshie, who has become a much-loved part of the brand.
In 2024, Pet Hair Dissolver received recognition from Good Housekeeping, further validating the innovation behind the product. The same year also saw the launch of our biodegradable Plughole Unblocker, developed to dissolve hair effectively without the use of harsh chemicals.
2025 was another exciting year for innovation and brand growth. We launched our first limited edition Washing Machine Cleaner scent, Tropical Paradise, which performed so successfully that it led to the creation of additional seasonal fragrances including Spiced Apple, with further limited editions continuing to launch.
In January 2025, we also celebrated selling over 10 million Pet Hair Dissolver sachets, a huge achievement for the business.
In 2026, we introduced Hair Shield™ Fabric Conditioner, bringing entirely new technology into the fabric conditioner category by helping hair wipe away more easily from fabrics.
The same year also marked a major international milestone as we launched into Target stores across the United States. This represents a significant step forward in our global growth strategy and is expected to become one of our largest export markets moving forward.
Most recently, we were incredibly proud to receive the King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade, recognising the company’s continued growth and success overseas.
Retail Success Stories
When asked about specific customer and retail success stories, Abbey shared:
Two standout success stories for us have been our partnerships with B&M and Target, both of which have played a major role in the growth of the brand.
Launching into B&M in 2019 was a significant milestone for the business and helped introduce Vamoosh to a much wider consumer audience across the UK.
The success of the range within stores has allowed the partnership to continue growing year after year, with B&M now becoming one of our largest retail accounts.
More recently, launching into Target stores across the United States in 2026 has been a huge step forward for the business internationally. Seeing our products move from a UK innovation into a major US retailer has been incredibly rewarding and represents a major opportunity for future growth, with the US expected to become one of our largest export markets moving forward.
For us, these partnerships reflect strong consumer demand, retailer confidence in the brand, and the continued success of innovative products that solve everyday problems for customers.
Funding And Growth
When asked about funding and revenue metrics, Abbey revealed:
We have been fortunate that the business has grown organically, and to date, we have not required external funding.
However, once awareness of the products and technology began to grow, the business gained strong momentum. Since those first two years, we have consistently achieved a minimum of 30% year-on-year growth, driven by continued innovation, expanding retail partnerships, and increasing international demand for the brand.
Total Addressable Market
When asked about the total addressable market the company is pursuing, Abbey assessed:
That’s a very difficult figure to define precisely, as we operate across multiple categories within both the global laundry and household cleaning markets, which are extremely large and continually growing sectors.
From our perspective, the opportunity is significant because we focus on creating innovative products within everyday household categories that consumers use regularly.
With continued expansion across retail, international markets, and new product development, we believe the long-term potential for the business is substantial, potentially reaching into the hundreds of millions.
Competitive Differentiation
When asked what differentiates the company from its competition, Abbey explained:
What differentiates us from many competitors is our focus on genuine innovation. We don’t create products that simply follow what already exists in the market, our aim has always been to develop solutions that are innovative, effective, and solve real everyday problems for consumers.
A major part of that is research, development, and investing in patented technology to help protect the innovations we create. Over the years, this approach has allowed us to bring completely new concepts into the laundry and cleaning sectors, rather than following trends.
As a business, we have always wanted the brand to stand out from the crowd, whether that’s through unique product technology, sustainability, performance, or creating products consumers haven’t seen before. That mindset continues to drive everything we do as a company.
Future Goals
When discussing the company’s future goals, Abbey said:
One of our biggest current focuses is continuing to grow the brand internationally, particularly following our recent launch into Target stores across the USA. We see the US market as a major opportunity for the business and have very high hopes for securing additional listings with other major retailers in the future.
Alongside international expansion, innovation and NPD remain a huge priority for us. We currently have six new products in development across the cleaning and laundry categories, all designed around the same philosophy of bringing something innovative and new to the market.
Our long-term goal is to continue building Vamoosh into a globally recognized innovation-led brand, expanding into new categories and markets whilst continuing to develop products that solve everyday household problems in unique and effective ways.
