About Level One Service Brands | Our Story

Ever feel like you’ve tried EVERYTHING to get rid of a smell… and nothing works?

Yeah, I know that frustration. Intimately.

Back in 2014, I owned a residential cleaning franchise. Good business, great team. But we kept running into the same wall: customers with odor problems that our regular cleaning methods just couldn’t solve.

Pet urine that kept coming back. Cigarette smoke that had soaked into everything. That musty smell that wouldn’t quit no matter what we tried.

So I did what you probably did – bought every product on the shelf. Enzyme cleaners. “Professional strength” sprays. The expensive stuff they swear will work.

Most of it? Garbage. Covered the smell for a day or two, then right back to square one.

Here’s where my background came in handy.

I’ve got a science degree in microbiology and spent 30 years building medical diagnostics companies. So I started digging into the actual SCIENCE of what was happening with these odor removal methods.

I went back to school, in effect – certifications in mold inspection, odor control, indoor air quality. Studied the commercial odor remediation industry inside and out. And here’s what I found: most products don’t actually eliminate odors at the molecular level. They mask them. Or they use methods that are overkill – expensive, time-consuming, and honestly inconsistent.

I spent 18 months developing something better.

A methodology that actually breaks down the organic compounds causing the odor. Not masking. Not covering up. Actually ELIMINATING them at the source.

Used it professionally for years solving problems other services couldn’t touch.

Then I realized: this same professional-grade approach works incredibly well when simplified for everyday use. Two problems kept coming up in my professional work — and honestly, in my own life. Pet urine and odor in the home. And gear odor for athletes. Both caused by the same underlying chemistry. Both stubbornly resistant to the products people were already trying. That’s what Level One is built to solve.

The athletic gear problem is personal.

I’ve trained in martial arts for most of my adult life — karate (Black Belt by age 25), and more recently, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, earning my blue belt at age 69. Anyone who trains in martial arts knows what I’m talking about. You invest real money in a gi, in gloves, in gear — and no matter how often you wash it or how many sprays you try, the smell builds up over time. The enzymes in most sports sprays don’t perform well in the low-oxygen environment inside a glove or a tightly packed bag. The fragrance sprays mask it for a day. Neither one solves it.

Ray Swanson, Shudokan Karate black belt, early 1980s — *Shudokan Karate, early 1980s*

Ray Swanson training Shudokan Karate, early 1980s — *Training Karate, early 1980s*

My own gym was using a spray that contained essential oils — a common approach. It did mask the smell temporarily, but it left a residue that built up and got sticky over time, and then the smell was even worse. I never had a problem, but for some people there’s also a problem with repeated essential oil exposure on gear you’re pressing against your face and hands during training: essential oil residue accumulates on surfaces over time, and studies have documented that some individuals develop allergic contact dermatitis from repeated essential oil skin contact. For equipment that goes directly against your skin in training, that’s worth knowing.

Ray Swanson receiving BJJ blue belt, November 2024 — *BJJ blue belt promotion, November 2024*

I started testing my professional oxidizer formula on my own BJJ gear and with training partners at my gym. The results were the same as with pet odor — the formula eliminated what the other products just covered up. No fragrance. No residue. No essential oils. That became GearShield™ Athletic Gear Odor Remover.

That’s Level One. What actually works, without the complexity or cost of professional services.

Not another enzyme product making promises. Just proven odor elimination chemistry, getting rid of the problem at the source, no masking. Totally safe to use and perfect for regular people dealing with annoying odor problems.

What Clients Said About Our Work

Ray took the time to explain the process, how it works, and set clear expectations of what was to be done. The final result was better than I could have hoped for. The smoke smell and build up on the walls was totally gone. Ray went above and beyond by communicating with the neighbors and elevating their concerns about the process and made special accommodations for them. I was blown away by the level of service I received and will recommend Level One going forward.
Samuel W.
5-Star Verified Google Review
Ray has worked with us on multiple difficult properties and every time he was honestly above and beyond. He’s been able to identify and get rid of pet urine in carpet, subflooring, and even hardwood floors. Another house had been heavily smoked in for years. Ray worked with us to develop a plan and a budget and when the work was complete the smell was totally gone. Ray is responsive, well-priced, knowledgeable, and tenacious. He’s one of the few contractors who pursues me until the job is done, rather than the usual other way around. I cannot recommend him highly enough!
Gene M.
GC/Property Manager – Raleigh, NC
We have consistently had success with using Level One to address tough smoking and pet odor issues at our properties. Ray and his team are reliable, easy to work with and they always get results! We highly recommend Level One.
Leslie M.
Realtor/Property Manager – Raleigh, NC
We are proud owners of two pugs, but not so proud of their indoor accidents. In the past, we called numerous carpet cleaners, and all claimed they could remove the stain and smell. However, from steam to dry rub carpet cleaning, the dogs continued marking their spot. We called Ray and explained our problem and frustrations. Ray assured us he had a scientific solution. Level One’s solution worked; not only has the smell gone away, but it’s been months and not a single sniff in the areas that had once been sullied by the dogs. I highly recommend Level One for your odor remediation needs!
Shawn M.
Raleigh, NC

Ready to try what actually works?

Pet Odor Solutions Athletic Gear Solutions

Jax, Ray Swanson's German Shepherd — the original test subject for Level One Pet Urine and Odor Remover. — *Jax chillin’ in his favorite spot*

Pippen, Ray Swanson's cat — *Little Pippen is out for a bit of sun*

Jax and Pippen keep me honest – this product has to work in my own home first.

— Ray Swanson, Founder