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Rust-Oleum Introduces Varathane Total Control Gel Stain
Innovative formula combines oil-based performance with water-based convenience
April 29, 2025 – Rust-Oleum, a trusted leader in paints and coatings since 1921, introduces its latest innovation in wood care, Varathane Total Control Gel Stain. This revolutionary product blends the rich color and thick consistency of an oil-based gel stain with the quick-drying, low-odor benefits of a water-based formula.
“Varathane Total Control Gel Stain represents a thoughtful step forward in wood care,” said Mary Pietrucha, interior wood care product manager at Rust-Oleum. “By combining quality with ease of use, we’re giving users the confidence to create exceptional finishes with minimal effort.”
Convenience meets performance
Varathane Total Control Gel Stain masterfully combines the best features of oil- and water-based formulas, offering a user-friendly and versatile experience.
Benefits of an oil-based gel stain:
- Rich, even color for consistent results.
- Thick, no-drip formula, allowing for easy application.
- Versatility across materials, including wood, metal, fiberglass, and more.
- Flexible use for both horizontal and vertical projects.
- Indoor and outdoor capability when paired with the right topcoat.
- High coverage with up to 250 sq. ft. per quart.
With the added advantages of a water-based formula:
- Fast drying with just a one-hour dry time on wood.
- Low odor for a more pleasant indoor staining experience.
- Easy soap and water cleanup.
Versatility for any project
Varathane Total Control Gel Stain makes a broad range of projects more accessible, including cabinets, furniture, doors, and trim. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or tackling your first DIY project, this stain ensures a polished and professional finish without the hassle.
Discover the possibilities
Varathane Total Control Gel Stain is now available at select retailers nationwide and online. For details about available colors, application tips and additional product information, visit RustOleum.com/VarathaneTotalControlGelStain.
Mean Green Multi-Purpose Concentrate Named 2025 Better Homes & Gardens Clean House Awards Winner
- Mean Green Refillable Ultra Powered Concentrate now available nationwide
- Multi-Purpose Cleaner secures top honors in Concentrate category
March 19, 2025 – Anyone seeking a balance between powerful cleaning and more gentle ingredients now have a new option to reach for to achieve a clean that satisfies. Now available nationwide, Mean Green Refillable Ultra Powered Concentrate from Rust-Oleum delivers powerful cleaning while reducing plastic waste, setting a new standard for sustainable home cleaning.
Its unique, patent-pending design keeps things effortless—one chamber holds the cleaning concentrate, and the other is for tap water, so users get the perfect mix every time without messy measuring. Each refillable bottle makes the same amount as four traditional 28-ounce bottles of non-concentrated cleaner. It’s an innovative product that’s simple and saves consumers money.
“Our R&D teams wanted to create more than a cleaner – we needed a complete cleaning system," said Bob McNulty, R&D director at Rust-Oleum. “Mean Green combines uncompromising performance with thoughtful design, giving users a mess-free cleaning solution they can trust to tackle everything from grease to glass.”
Award-winning innovation
This fresh take on cleaning is already earning recognition. The innovative line’s Multi-Purpose Cleaner was named 'Best Concentrate' in the 'Cleaners' category in the 2025 Clean House Awards from Better Homes & Gardens. The April issue of Better Homes & Gardens, featuring this year’s award winners, hits newsstands on March 21, and online on BHG.com here.
Powerful peace of mind
Mean Green’s formulas pack a punch with plant- and mineral-derived cleaning ingredients, giving peace of mind that your home is clean. The formulas are certified by the EPA’s Safer Choice program, and the bottles includes recyclable materials, further underscoring Rust-Oleum’s commitment to exploring sustainable innovations.
Tried, tested and trusted
From greasy stovetops and bathroom soap scum to streak-free glass, Mean Green features a versatile lineup tailored to one’s biggest cleaning tasks:
- Multi-Purpose Cleaner: Removes 100% of grease and grime1 with a refreshing citrus and green tea scent.
- Bathroom Cleaner: Bleach-free formula removes 100% of soap scum2, all while delivering a tropical breeze fragrance.
- Glass Cleaner: Provides a streak-free shine3 without ammonia and delivers a fresh scent.
“Mean Green is the best of both worlds – strong and effective, yet free from harsh chemicals,” added McNulty.
Whether you’re revamping your cleaning routine or taking your first step toward eco-efficient products, Mean Green makes it easy. Explore the future of cleaning at www.meangreen.com.
[1] Based on ASTM D4488-A6 on hard, non-porous surfaces after 2 passes
[2] Based on ASTM D5343 on hard, non-porous surfaces after ~20 cycles
[3] Based on HCPA DCC-09 on glass panels
Safety Trailblazers Honored with Inaugural Impact Awards
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 10, 2025) - HeroWear, an occupational exosuit provider, announced its inaugural safety achievement awards for companies that have implemented exceptional programs with the Apex 2 exosuit. Established partners Rust-Oleum, URM Foods, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), and SA2050 were recognized by HeroWear with achievement awards in three categories: Safety Impact, Operations Impact, and Outstanding Partner.
“Since 2019, we’ve been working with the world’s leading companies to solve one of the most consequential, complex problems: Back injuries and strain,” said HeroWear Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Mark Harris. “All of our partners have committed to making their teams' lives better, and we want to recognize these innovative organizations. These organizations have set themselves apart in their pursuit of safety for people around the world — not just in testing and piloting these devices, but in their dedication to sustained deployments that can really make a difference in workers’ lives.”
HeroWear recognized the following individuals and companies for their outstanding leadership in the rapidly growing field of exoskeleton/exosuit use:
Safety Impact Achievement Award: Cory Mitchnick, Rust-Oleum
Rust-Oleum Director of Distribution, Cory Mitchnick, was awarded the Safety Impact Achievement Award for outstanding leadership in improving the lives of workers in their organization. The company successfully implemented HeroWear Apex 2 exosuits across three distribution centers, equipping hundreds of employees with wearable ergonomic support. This initiative has led to a remarkable safety milestone with one site having zero back-related injuries among permanent employees for over 750 consecutive days, representing more than 280,000 injury-free work hours.
“We have always prioritized the safety and well-being of our teams. Cory’s leadership in the deployment of these exosuits has been monumental for us in reaching even higher safety standards and dramatically reducing injuries in our warehouses,” said Rust-Oleum Vice President of Distribution and Freight, Barry Horner. “Cory has worked on this project methodically since 2022 to ensure Rust-Oleum workers are safe, and he is more than deserving of this recognition for how he has successfully implemented the exosuits.”
Operations Impact Achievement Award: Sean Lacey, Royal Australian Air Force
HeroWear awarded the Operations Impact Achievement Award to RAAF combat support group leader, Wing Commander Sean Lacey. After suffering a back injury early in his own career, Wing Commander Lacey dedicated himself to injury prevention by designing and implementing a program that would ensure access to innovative wearable safety technology across RAAF and the broader Australian Defence Force. Wing Commander Lacey has been the driving force behind the design, implementation, and change management strategy for introducing exosuits across the Air Force. Through his expertise and dedication, this innovation will contribute to the prevention of musculoskeletal injuries among our service men and women, delivering benefits well into the future.
HeroWear Director of Client Services Jennifer Jones said, “Working with Wing Commander Lacey was an inspiring experience, and his leadership was instrumental in ensuring this solution could be deployed to as many service members as possible.”
Outstanding Partner Award: Michael Schaefer, SA2050
Chief Executive Officer of SA2050 — an organization whose mission is to bring groundbreaking technologies to Australia — Michael Schaefer, was awarded the Outstanding Partner Award for his steadfast support in bringing the Apex 2 to the RAAF and supporting the development and kickoff of their training and deployment programs. He has consistently shared HeroWear’s goal of supporting workers and has brought these solutions to customers in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
About HeroWear
HeroWear designs and manufactures exosuits that reduce injury risk, improve quality of life, and boost productivity for workers in physically demanding jobs across the globe. Born in Vanderbilt University labs, HeroWear's customizable exosuits help thousands of workers in industries including logistics, manufacturing, warehousing, food & beverage, retail, and more. Read the data and results from these and other HeroWear customers at https://herowearexo.com/apex2-customer-case-study/
About Rust-Oleum
For more than a century, Rust-Oleum® has been a global leader in manufacturing innovative coatings that empower do-it-yourselfers and professionals alike across categories including small project paints, cleaners, primers, automotive, industrial, high-performance coatings, wood care and abrasives. Its wide breadth of brands and products include such trusted names as Rust-Oleum®, Stops Rust®, Painter’s Touch®, Universal®, EpoxyShield®, Varathane®, Zinsser®, Watco®, MultiSpec®, X-I-M®, The Pink Stuff®, Krud Kutter®, RockSolid®, Ready Seal ®, Wipe New®, Testors®, Seal-Krete®, Mean Green®, Modern Masters®, Moldex®, Whink®, Miracle Sealants®, Roto-Rooter®, Concrobium®, and Gator® Finishing Products. Visit rustoleum.com for more information. Follow Rust-Oleum on LinkedIn, Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram.
About the Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) mission is to prepare Air power in order to enable the integrated force in competition and conflict. Air Force brings technical, tactical and operational excellence into everything and uses the best combination of people and technology to achieve the RAAF mission. RAAF's purpose is to defend Australia and its national interests in order to advance Australia’s security and prosperity.
About SA2050
SA2050 is an Australian-based organization dedicated to accelerating the adoption of breakthrough technologies by bridging US innovation with Australian implementation. SA2050 exists to bridge breakthrough technologies with Australian implementation, ensuring innovation translates into real-world solutions. By connecting global innovators with local industries and government, SA2050 helps reduce risks, shorten deployment timelines, and deliver measurable environmental and business impact. Every partnership contributes to Australia’s progress toward a more sustainable and innovative future by 2050.
Bringing vibrant stories to life in Kenosha through murals
Imagine walking downtown and suddenly coming across a massive Kraken or stunning images of pike leaping from the waters of Lake Michigan.
In Kenosha, Wisconsin, these vibrant images are now part of the city’s latest attractions, adding character and personality to the area.
It’s all part of Rust-Oleum’s Spray It Forward mural program, which aims to help transform blank walls into powerful art. The company has committed to donating products for the creation of up to 10 murals across the U.S. by the end of the year.
As part of a collaboration with the Kenosha Murals Project, the organization and community recently celebrated the power of art, and a nearly 5,000-square foot mural titled “The Place of the Pike.”
To learn more about Rust-Oleum's Spray It Forward mural program and how to get involved, visit rustoleum.com/SprayItForward.
If you’d like to discover more about Wisconsin’s first “Spray It Forward” mural, hear from mural artists Julio Loyola and Leanna Chipana about how RUST-O spray paint allowed them to dream big while creating these unforgettable murals.
Spray Painting Made Simple
Spray painting is one of the easiest ways to transform a project, yet the same question always comes up: “Am I doing this right?”
At this year’s 127 Yard Sale, which spans 690 miles from Michigan to Alabama, DIYers and bargain hunters were asking us that same thing. As the Official Spray Paint of Summer and presenting sponsor of the event, we are excited to show rather than just tell how it’s done.
We put together a quick video that proves how small steps can take your project from average to amazing. We cover the essentials: cleaning, sanding and prepping your piece; spraying in light, even layers; and letting coats dry fully before adding more, all while transforming a side table found along the World’s Longest Yard Sale route in Van Wert, OH.
For anyone new to spray painting or hesitant to try, our new Low Odor Premium Spray Paint is featured in this video as the perfect go-to. It doesn’t smell like traditional spray paint and is water-based for easy soap-and-water cleanup when wet. Plus, it doesn’t require drying between coats, making the process even simpler. It makes the process approachable and stress-free so you can focus on the fun of creating.
We’ll share more tips and inspiration based on the questions we hear most, from fixing drips and rough patches to choosing the right paint for tricky surfaces and tackling challenges like humidity or small spaces.
Whether you are upcycling a yard sale find, refreshing furniture or finally tackling that project you have been putting off, Rust-Oleum is here to help you #SprayNewLife into your ideas.
Watch the first video now and see how the right technique can transform your next (or first!) DIY project: Video 1
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