In 1994, Kendall Harter didn’t set out to build a household brand. He set out to solve a problem. While working as a professional pilot in West Texas, he identified an overlooked challenge affecting households throughout the region—hard water deposits that left dishes cloudy, glassware spotted, and appliances coated with mineral buildup.

Determined to find a better solution, he developed a simple but highly effective product in his garage. The result was Lemi Shine, a citric acid-based innovation that would go on to become America’s best-selling dishwasher additive. More importantly, it helped create an entirely new category of products designed specifically to combat the effects of hard water on dishes, glassware, dishwashers and more.

More than thirty years later, Kendall still approaches product development the same way he did in 1994—start with a real problem, listen to the customer, and don’t stop until the solution works. While technology and consumer habits have evolved, his philosophy has remained unchanged. 

If a product doesn’t genuinely improve the customer’s experience, it doesn’t belong on the shelf. That commitment to performance, trust, and customer satisfaction continues to guide every product he develops today.