How to Clean and Mount a Mars Validator
Kleen-Rite and its customers were lucky to have Tom Allen teach us about car wash operations for many years before his passing. We get a ton of calls asking how…
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Car Washes Offer Free Washes for Veterans Day!
Grace for Vets is a non-profit organization with the goal to unite the car wash industry to honor those who have served, or are serving, their country. Each year on…
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Time for Upgrades: Choose Kleen-Rite Deluxe Coin Boxes
When you arrive at the self-serve car wash, one of the first interactions you have is with the coin box. This small yet essential piece of equipment is used to…
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Mad About Mud – The Mud Stopper!
If you read the last Kleen-Scene, you may have met Todd Perkins in our article about his Vacuum Prospector product. This ingenious device makes it easy to collect coins and…
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Business Expansion: Cantele Car Wash
What do memorial headstones, tent rentals, and car washes all have in common? They’re all part of the history of Cantele Car Wash, which recently opened its second location within…
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Celebrating Anderson’s Car Wash Spin-Lite Tunnel Renovation
Anderson’s Car Wash celebrated 53 years at their Dover, Pennsylvania location in a huge way, with a major renovation. Second-generation owner Cheryl Anderson Martin and her husband Ken worked diligently…
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Dosatron Modular Low-Pressure Systems
Over the past 30 years, Dosatron International has been fortunate to develop a respected brand within the carwash community around the world. Used by many of the Top 50 carwashes…
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Interior Detailing and the Coronavirus
The professional detailer has always dealt with cleaning surfaces prior to applying vinyl dressings. But what about disinfecting – the removal of what could be deadly pathogens within the interior?…
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Lilly Brush – The Auto Pet Hair Detailer
As much as we love our pets, their hair can be insidious. Pet hair gets everywhere, and it is impossible to get rid of. Go on a two-week road trip…
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Hey Jay! What’s New in Car Wash Chemicals?
Here we are in 2020! Hope you are all enjoying a busy and prosperous New Year! Here at Kleen-Rite we are always staying on top of what’s new in Car…
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NEW PRODUCT: Inkfish Inspired® 6″ Round Foam Brush
Innovation isn’t always about creating completely new products with an earth-shattering radical concept. Sometimes the best new products arethe ones that simply add some ingenious tweaks to an existing product.…
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Master Class Recap: In-Bay Automatic Chemicals
Kleen-Rite held a series of educational seminars called the “Car Wash Operator Master Class: Your Tools for Success!” This completely free event was held on November 13th, 2019 at the…
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By: Dr. Joe Gartland, Towelologist
Since the earliest days of professional car washing, towels have played an important role in automotive appearance. Over time, the industry has changed and so have the towels. Technology and…
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Shop – Earn – Save with Kleen-Rite Rewards!
The Kleen-Rite Rewards Club has been saving Kleen-Rite customers tons of cash since it started in Spring 2019. Check out what some of our customers are saying about earning the points and rewards, and how its helping them see savings every time they buy from Kleen-Rite!
The Vacuum Prospector
Stop Digging in the Dirt. Pan for gold with the Vacuum Prospector! Show of hands – have you been picking through the debris from your vacuums, pulling out lost valuables…
Read MoreHow to Service, Clean, and Rebuild a Hydrominder
Kleen-Rite and its customers were lucky to have Tom Allen teach us about car wash operations for many years before his passing. This is a re-post of one of his…
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Operator Spotlight: Johnny’s Car Wash
Twelve years ago, Nancy Luciani operated a precast concrete business. Interested in expanding her business opportunities, she explored possible options for a plot of available land next to her existing…
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Hog’s Hair vs. Synthetic Bristles for Foam Brushes
If you’ve shopped for car wash foam brushes, you’ve probably noticed that bristle type is one of the most important details when it comes to choosing your brushes. The choice…
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Kleen-Rite Rewards Program FAQs
The purpose of this blog is to answer questions that we’ve been getting about the new Kleen-Rite Rewards Club. How do I sign up for the Kleen-Rite Rewards program? Your…
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Consolidate to Minimize Shipping Costs
This purpose of this post is to share a detailed answer to a question we’ve been getting from our customers. Gary Frey, Kleen-Rite National Sales Manager, offered his insight on…
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Shipping Cost Questions
Kleen-Rite Vice President Keith Lutz recently sent this letter to all of our email subscribers, addressing some questions and concerns regarding shipping: Dear customers, I wanted to let all our…
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Lighting Up Loganville
Recently, Kleen-Rite visited the Loganville Car Wash in Loganville, PA. Our purpose was to check out the impressive multi-color LED light setup in the touchless automatic bay to take some…
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Celebrating Kleen-Rite’s 60th Anniversary
Kleen-Rite is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2019. In honor of this milestone, we wanted to take a closer look at the company and dig into what has made it…
Read MoreRotary Switch Refresher
We were lucky to have Tom Allen teach us all these years about car wash operations. Here is a repost of one of his more popular teachings. Most car washes…
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Kleen-Rite Corp. Acquires Towels by Doctor Joe!
In October 2018, Kleen-Rite acquired Towels by Doctor Joe®. We welcome Doctor Joe customers to the Kleen-Rite family. Kleen-Rite is the exclusive seller of Towels by Doctor Joe® and customers…
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Spray Gun Repair Kits: Fix Before Buying New!
So, you have an understanding of the important specs when it comes to spray guns. You’ve checked out different models and figured out the most comfortable models for you, your…
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The Basics of Buying Spray Guns
If you’re a new owner of a car wash or a pressure washing business then you’ll want to learn the attributes that are important when buying spray guns. Even if…
Read MoreFloat Valve Repair
At times, a Roberts float valve will begin to leak or not shut off completely. If you come in in the morning and your tank is overflowing, that is a…
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How To Maintain Vacuums
Cleaning filter bags. No car wash operator wants to lose or frustrate customers because of a weak vacuum with bad suction. If you’re having vacuum performance issues and problems with…
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Weep vs. Non-Weep Spray Guns
What’s the difference between weep and non-weep spray guns? Weep style guns are designed with an orifice cut out of the bottom that allows a small amount of water to…
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Ditch the Drums!
As a car wash operator, you know that space is at a premium. There is always so much equipment and soap to store that it can seem like a never-ending…
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Sensors Reliably Perform in the Harshest Environments
High temperature and moisture levels inside a car wash pose many challenges to traditional equipment. As a result, heavy-duty solutions are required to withstand the environment of a self-serve car…
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Tugger’s New Tips: Read R.O. Membrane Instructions Carefully!
Tugger Burke works in the technical department here at Kleen-Rite and always has helpful tips for car wash owners. In this post, Tugger points out some important things to remember…
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FAQ: Kleen-Rite Kits
The purpose of this blog post is to share a detailed answer to a question that we’ve been getting recently from customers. Gary Frey, Kleen-Rite National Sales Manager, offered his…
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LED=ROI: A Closer Look at LED Lighting
LED Lighting and Energy Efficiency at the Car Wash Car wash operators are really seeing the benefits of switching to LED lighting at their wash. The advantages simply can’t be…
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Brightening Up A Car Wash With Color LEDs!
Color LED Lights and the Car Wash Industry One of the hottest trends at car washes is to add color LED lighting to different wash process stages. Operators are seeing…
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Oral History: Steve Bulboff’s Shammy Shine!
Steve Bulboff wanted to buy a house. The 20 year old truck driver was paging through MLS listings in 1979 when he saw something completely different – a car wash.…
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Car Wash Safety Checklist
Car Wash Safety Tips Car washes can be dangerous places if you aren’t careful and prepared. Think about all of the potentially harmful things you can encounter at a car…
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Parker Engineering: Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions
We sat down with Linda Parker, of Parker Engineering & Manufacturing, to discuss answers to some of Parker’s most frequently asked questions! Parker Engineering makes many trusted coin acceptors and…
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Taking a Fresh Look at your Coin Boxes!
Coin Box Information Coin boxes are an essential part of any self-serve car wash bay. In the practical sense, they’re the physical devices that allow your customers to pay, start…
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General Pump Platinum Emperor Pumps: Breakthrough Innovation!
General Pump, a world leader in plunger pump development, merges innovation in technology with the Platinum Emperor (PEHT) pump line. Many features of these pumps make them uniquely qualified to…
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Laurel Metal Products: 5 Questions from Vending Machine Owners
Listening to what other operators have to say about their car wash equipment and products is a great way to learn without having to make your own mistakes. Check out…
Read MoreTugger’s New Tips: Hydrominder Quick Fix
Tugger Burke works in the technical department here at Kleen-Rite and always has helpful tips for car wash owners. Here, Tugger offers a tip to deal with a Hydrominder that…
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How to Install a Reusable Hose Fitting
Tom Allen, Senior Technician at Kleen-Rite for over 35 years, has learned just bout everything car wash related. Here, Tom offers his insight and know-how to explain the process of…
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Beyond the Gate: Entering a New World of Self-Serve Success
As a car wash operator, you already know that vacuums and vending machines are a great value add. But what if those add-ons were included in the cost of a…
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Tips for Touch-Free Automatics: Produce Great-Looking Cars And Lower Your Cost Per Car
Kleen-Rite is a proud seller of Trans-Mate Inc. car wash chemicals and products! Michael Ilacqua from Trans-Mate shared some valuable advice on cutting costs in your touch-free automatic without sacrificing…
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Dosatron Injectors
Dosatron is the original inventor of the water-powered dosing pump. There are many benefits of retrofitting to Dosatron. Each chemical injector will save space and reduce equipment needs. Since it…
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Light Up Your Profits with Vacuum Topper Signs!
Many customers have found Kleen-Rite’s lighted vacuum topper signs to be a perfect way to boost revenue and visual appeal at their car wash. Easy to install, our vacuum topper signs…
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Promote Your Business With Custom Air Fresheners
Take a look around – most drivers have an air freshener dangling from their rear view mirror. Take advantage of this fact by advertising your car wash on customized fresheners!…
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Setting Up Your Dog Wash for Success!
A woman washes her dog in one of the easy-access wash stations. Ten years ago, the idea of a dog wash was a novelty, but it’s becoming more and more…
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Car Wash Rehab: Chalfont Magic Touch Gets a New Life
The car wash, formerly known as T.L.C. Wash, was an abandoned shell. Magic Touch car wash had seen better days. Once an active car wash, a fire gutted the place,…
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Flojet G57 Positive Displacement Air Pumps: A Favorite in the Car Wash Industry
Flojet offers one of the most trusted small air-operated diaphragm pump models in the car wash business in their G57 Series pumps. Model G57, engineered by ITT, are designed to…
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Device Cleaning Cards
Don’t let malfunctioning credit card readers or bill acceptors disrupt your business. 78% of POS devices sent in for service only need cleaning! Cleaning cards are easy to use for…
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Reduce Corrosion with Stainless Steel Hose Fittings!
Kleen-Rite now offers a wide selection of stainless steel hose fittings! Our selection includes bushings, elbows, and nipples. Why Stainless? Stainless steel is a durable, corrosion-resistant metal. It is a…
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Comparing Automatics: Touchless, Friction, Express, Full-Service, and More!
Car wash owners constantly brainstorm the best way to run their business. They learn what their customers want from a car wash and figuring out the cheapest way to deliver…
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Car Wash Signs Checklist
Do you have all the car wash bay signs you need? It’s important that customers feel at ease when they pull up to use your car wash. If they don’t…
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Different Types of Car Wash Brushes
Don’t underestimate the importance of your self-serve car wash brushes. It is what the customer sees and touches when they come to your wash. If the quality of the brush…
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Types of Car Detailing Pads
Which Buffing Pad Works Best for Your Application? We use car detailing pads, also known as buffing pads, in the auto detailing industry to polish car paint, apply wax, and…
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Mytee Detailing Products Comparison
Which Mytee Product is Right for My Business? Buying equipment for your auto detailing business is an investment. Mytee Products offers top-of-the-line auto detailing equipment, from extractors to upholstery tools.…
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Kleen-Rite Custom Order Hoses!
Did you know that Kleen-Rite makes custom hose assemblies? With decades of experience, our professional hose department creates made-to-order hoses and fittings on a daily basis. It’s a service we…
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How To Change a Car Wash Foamy Brush
A worn foamy brush that needs to be replaced ASAP! Tom Allen, our Senior Technician, recommends you change your entire self-serve foamy brush assembly twice a year: once in the…
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Tis The Season for Holiday Giving
It’s been a busy month at Kleen-Rite! Our company and employees have been working hard to give back to the community on top of performing their regular work, and it’s…
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FAQ: Taking Care of RO Membranes
Kleen-Rite National Sales Manager Gary Frey gets a lot of great questions about RO membranes. These items are highly important in a water-quality centric business such as a car wash,…
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Caring for Vacuum Filter Bags: The Experts Explain!
Are the vacuums at your car wash used heavily? Do you see customers treating them less gently than they should, or sucking up potentially damaging items like nails and rocks?…
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DEMA Injector Maintenance
DEMA Injector Maintenance Made Easy When winter brings icy, slushy roads, your customers will be clamoring for a bay to wash muck off of their vehicles. This makes fall the…
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Vac Topper Sign Series
Unique Opportunity for Advertising, Instructions, and Messages Use your existing vacuum setup to increase revenue and light up your lot with the Vac Topper and Vac Topper Sign Inserts! It…
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Products to Clean Stains in Your Car
Do you know how to clean stains in your car? Despite best efforts, spills, stains, and smudges can easily accumulate while driving around on a day to day basis. Whether…
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High Security Coin Boxes
High-security coin boxes are at the center of car wash cash handling. As described, they secure cash and coins from theft, and make it easier for customers to pay. Safekeeping…
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What Kind of Car Wash Towels Should You Use?
Hey everyone, Chelsea Knows here and today I want to talk about the features and benefits on a number of Car Wash Towels. Paper Car Wash Towels Thin, absorbent, and…
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Car Wash Tunnel Roller and Chain Maintenance
Conveyor tunnels are generally one of the greatest revenue generators at high-volume car washes. Your conveyor is the means by which cars move through your wash, so it’s important to…
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Monster Soap Special is back!
Welcome back the Monster Soap Special! Save big throughout the months of April, May, and June. Kleen-Rite’s annual Monster Soap Special allows you to buy three ultra-concentrate soaps and get one…
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Three Locations, One Kleen Purpose
A Winning Idea Car wash owner Harold McKonly started Kleen-Rite in 1959. He noticed a supply need among operators, and worked to fill the gaps. Thanks to his leadership, Kleen-Rite…
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Welcome to Harleysville Car Wash
Harleysville, Pennsylvania has 8,795 residents and a great car wash. The Harleysville Car Wash is the realization of owner Larry D. Landes’ dream. “I just always had this feeling of…
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Manor Car Wash
Chris Woelfle started out with an interest in cars. After working as a fabricator welder, Woelfle bought a Sunoco gas station in 1985. Eventually, he added one car wash bay…
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Wintertime at the Wash
Wintertime can be the busiest time of year for us car wash operators. Snow, salt, and road grime is our friend for the next few months. Now is the time…
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Mosmatic Swivels More Reliability That You Can Handle
Dependable Mosmatic Swivels They say it’s the little things that go a long way, and our Mosmatic swivels prove that to be true. These products offer a long service life…
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LAMB Motors – Electric Vacuum Motors
Vacuums are a great addition to car wash services, and good vacuum motors are crucial to success! AMETEK Lamb vacuum motors are affordable, practical, and one of the best motors…
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Home Washing vs. Professional Car Washing
There is always that misconception that hand washing your car at home is better than going to an actual car wash. But in reality it is the other way around.…
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ShurFlo Pumps; Reliable and Dependable
Founded in 1968, ShurFlo pumps have been nothing but innovative, responsive and above all lucrative. Designed at its upmost potential, ShurFlo pumps worked efficiently every time they are used. They stand…
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J.E. Adams newly found features in Vacuums
J.E. Adams Industries have been around for over 40 years and continue to produce high-quality self-serve car wash equipment, pressure washing products, and mist cooling solutions. As they are not currently…
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How to know what Car Air Fragrance you really need
Now that we have figured out the science of the sense of smell and what it does to your brain, let’s focus more on the fragrances itself and what various…
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IT’S NEWERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
It’s Bigger, it’s Better, IT’S NEWERRRRR!!!!! Come Check out our new Kleen-rite website promo video for our upcoming new and improved Kleen-Rite Website. Better than before and fantastically different!
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The Next Best Thing
You come to a car wash and vacuum your mats, buff out your tires, and of course wash your car but what if you could come and wash your dog…
Read MoreService your own CAT Pump 5CP212OW
Toms Way – Fixing your Cat Pump 5cp2120w In this video, Tom will show you how to service a Cat Pump 5CP2120W. As a car wash owner, you know it…
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Increase your Car Wash Ticket Sales
Have your customer loyalty under control? Now it is time to increase your revenue and ticket sales! Kyle Doyle goes on to explain that the increasing average of…
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Marketing your Car Wash Right
We all know that starting a car wash business can be an exciting time. In your mind, you have this great idea all thought out and maybe even the…
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Less water, more money
Press Release: Columbia, PA, Jan. 8, 2016 Kleen-Rite Corp announced the latest innovation in spray nozzles and the way to save more money. Rising Water and sewer bills are always…
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Auto Air Fresheners: a case study in car smells
Picture this, you just got out of work and your running late for a date that happens to be in an hour. So you hop into your car and…
Read MoreFree Car Wash for American Veterans this November 11th, 2015
Grace for Vets An organization started in Pennsylvania by a car wash operator named Mike Mountz, attempts to honor American veterans every year by giving free car washes to any…
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Shurflo Pump
Here are some tips on trouble shooting your Shurflo pump while most of these tips apply to the Shurflo 12 volt & 24 volt diaphragm pumps some these trouble shooting…
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Self Serve Car Wash Equipment – Tire Shine
Simoniz Self Serve Car Wash Tire Shine Manor Auto: Lancaster, PA. Recently we visited the car wash of Chris Woelfle at Manor Auto. Chris purchased and installed the Simoniz…
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Flojet Pumps for Every Application
This is the time of year when Flojet Pumps are used the most in many different applications. Whether you are using 12 volt Flojet pumps for agriculture sprayers, rv pumps, marine…
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Car Wash Equipment: Pit Cleaning is getting easier
Sludge Pit!!! Just the sound of the word sludge pit conjures up images of a smelly, gooey, black oozing substance in most people’s minds. But for carwash operators, it’s more…
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Little Tree Air Fresheners Wholesale
As warmer weather is upon us remember to stock up on all your Little Tree Air freshener supplies. One of the most popular car air fresheners of all time is…
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How to Increase Your Car Wash Profits
The end-goal of any car wash (or any business for that matter) is making money. Giving your customers more options not only keeps them coming back but gives you more…
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Kleen-Rite Founder Awarded Car Wash Hall of Fame
Harold McKonly Kleen-Rite founder Harold McKonly was honored posthumously into the Car Wash Hall of Fame this past April. The award was presented at the International Car Wash Association’s Annual…
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Online Car Wash Radio Show
New ideas and innovation may happen, while we are going through everyday life and solving our individual business problems. Listening to other owners’ stories of how they got through…
Read MoreKleen-Rite Car Wash Tradeshow Expo a Great Time for Operators!
We had such a great time at our Learn More, Earn More Car Wash Expo this past November. Car wash operator’s from all over the country converged on our headquarters…
Read MoreKleen-Rite Exihibiting at the 2014 Northeast Car Wash Show
Kleen-Rite will be exhibiting this September 15 through the 17th at the 2014 Northeast Car Wash Show at the trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, NJ. This three day event…
Read MoreGet Your Car Wash ready for Winter
Winter is coming, and it’s time to prepare for the freezing temperatures. There are various steps to be taken to winterize your car wash. The following is a list of…
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