Inspiration to Innvovation

Hello! My name is John Dick and I am the creator of Plug & Scrub.  I live in Heber Springs, Arkansas with my wife, Amanda, and our son, Clifton.  I also have a daughter named Stacy and a granddaughter named Ellie.

In 2021 my wife started her career as a teacher and I became a stay at home dad. Clifton, our son, is nonverbal and Autistic. Having two working parents was difficult with his needs and doctor’s visits, so one of us needed to be home.  While at home one day, I was trying to help our son do dishes and I realized how difficult it was with his sensory and motor development.  He wasn’t able to hold a dish brush and a plate to wash dishes. Clifton grabbed the dish brush and sink stopper and hit them together. Watching this, a light bulb came on - attaching a dish brush to the sink drain stopper! That is when I started to create the Plug & Scrub.

I knew that something was needed that could be entirely one handed.  Something that could be stationary in the sink so a person could wash their dishes.   I started to create drawings of what I wanted.  I wanted a brush that could attach to a sink drain stopper and sit in the sink.  After many trial and errors the Plug & Scrub was created. 

It has a brush head, a detachable handle, and a sink drain stopper that has attachment pieces.    I worked hard with many amazing individuals to create this product. Everything but the brush heads and rubber gasket, was created in my house on a 3D Printer.

In June 2022, I was selected to travel to Little Rock, Arkansas and participate in the Pitch ‘N Pint.  This was my first time talking to an audience other than family about Plug & Scrub. 

Out of 13 contestants picked, I placed 3rd!  This event cemented in my mind how important Plug & Scrub can be to society. 

We are excited to help bring independence and confidence to families all across the world.