Ep. 26 (Unlocking and Tightening Up Revenue Centers) Welcome back for Episode 26 of the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast! In this installment, Marc and Phil break down some of the ways to focus on individual revenue centers to maximize their value. In the same way they encourage operators to do a S.W.O.T. analysis of their entire site, they urge operators to take that same analytical mindset and apply it to each revenue center with an honest, critical approach. Marc and Phil offer some practical ways this can be done, including real-life examples of successful changes they made to their car washes. From the positioning of equipment and aesthetic upgrades to offering the right chemicals and modern payment options, they hone in on the nuances that separate the best car washes from the average ones. It’s all about the customer experience! Listen to their conversation and start thinking about the ways YOU can optimize your revenue centers. Thanks to Laurel for sponsoring this episode! Kleen-Rite offers an extensive selection of Laurel vending machines so you can find the perfect units for your car wash.

Shop Laurel Vending Machines:

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/c-566-laurel-metal-products.aspx

Double Vinyl hose assemblies:

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/search.aspx?searchterm=double+vinyl+hose

Reach Kleen-Rite at 800-233-3873 or visit https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com!

Follow us on social media!

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Ep. 25 (Talking IBAs with Mark Tentis from OPW) For episode 25 of the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast, Marc and Phil welcome guest Mark Tentis, Vice President Global Sales and Service at OPW Vehicle Wash Solutions. If you aren’t familiar, OPW is the larger company behind some of the best names in the car wash industry, including: PDQ, Belanger, Transchem, and more. Tentis is a wealth of car wash knowledge, particularly when it comes to in-bay automatic wash systems (IBAs).

Their conversation is incredibly helpful to anybody considering adding an IBA to their facility - whether starting fresh or replacing an old, outdated system. Tentis expertly explains the main differences between friction and touchless IBAs, touching on the benefits and drawbacks of both styles. The ensuing discussion covers topics like water usage, ROI, regional differences, and other items you should be updating when you install a new IBA to maximize revenue.

Thanks to Little Trees for sponsoring this episode! Browse Kleen-Rite's huge Little Trees selection and stock up today on the most popular air fresheners on the market.

Buy Little Trees:

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/c-46-little-trees-by-car-freshner.aspx

Shop PDQ Parts:

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/c-270-pdq-replacement-parts.aspx

Shop Belanger Parts:

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/c-1737-belanger-replacement-parts.aspx

Shop Turtle Wax Pro Chemicals (Transchem):

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/c-1953-turtle-wax-pro.aspx

0:00 Intro

0:36 Mark Tentis Industry Experience

1:44 Self-Serve and IBAs Working Hand-in Hand

4:02 Friction vs Touchless Basics

15:24 IBA Water Usage

19:38 ROI Discussion

20:56 Other Site Improvements

24:01 Regional Differences

32:08 Making the IBA Investment

35:04 Branded Chemistry

37:21 Final Thoughts on IBAs

41:00 Outro

Reach Kleen-Rite at 800-233-3873 or visit https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com!

Follow us on social media!

Facebook -   / kleenritecorp 

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Twitter/X - https://x.com/KleenRiteCorp

Ep. 24 (2026 ICA Car Wash Show Recap)Marc and Phil are still feeling the excitement from the 2026 ICA Car Wash Show! So, for Kleen-Rite Episode 24, they do a quick recap of the event from their perspective. They talk a bit about how the show reflects the state of the car wash industry, with self-serve and IBAs getting more attention than in recent years. Since face-to-face time with operators is an invaluable part of attending a show, they share some of the common discussion topics they encountered with attendees. Lastly, they mention a couple things on the show floor that piqued their interest.

With the overwhelmingly positive feelings from the ICA show, the guys are going to carry that enthusiasm into the fall for Kleen-Rite’s 2026 Learn More, Earn More Expo!

Register for the expo at the link below (registration opens on June 15, 2026):

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/learn-more-earn-more-2026-kleen-rite-car-wash-expo-seminars-day-2-tickets-1986091688705

Visit the ICA Car Wash Show on the web and start planning for next year!

https://thecarwashshow.com/

Shop KR Equipment:

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/c-1-equipment.aspx

If you have any questions, comments, or stories, feel free to email us at [email protected] – we would love to hear from you.

Reach Kleen-Rite at 800-233-3873 or visit https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com!

Follow us on social media!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kleenritecorp

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kleenritecorp/

Tiktok- https://www.tiktok.com/@kleenritecorp

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kleenritecorp/

Twitter/X - https://x.com/KleenRiteCorp

We love hearing operator success stories! In episode 23, Kleen-Rite radio welcomes Cameron Alleman of Mermaid Car Wash. In a relatively small amount of time in the industry, Cameron has grown the Mermaid chain to 12 locations in Central Pennsylvania. Whether it’s running them or chatting about them, he loves everything car wash. So, he makes for an excellent candidate to sit down for a conversation with Marc and Phil. From early business experience running a chicken barbecue operation, through trade school, and now being the owner-operator of a mid-sized car wash chain, hear Cameron’s interesting story!

Thanks to Little Trees for sponsoring this episode! Browse Kleen-Rite's huge Little Trees selection and stock up today on the most popular air fresheners on the market.

Buy Little Trees:

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/c-46-little-trees-by-car-freshner.aspx

Shop KR Equipment:

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/c-1-equipment.aspx

If you have any questions, comments, or stories, feel free to email us at [email protected] – we would love to hear from you.

Visit Mermaid on the Web:

https://www.mermaidcarwashpa.com/

Ep. 22 (Car Wash Lighting with G&G’s Erin Noonan) In episode 22 of the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast, hosts Marc and Phil are joined by Erin Noonan, Marketing Director at G&G Lighting. The quality of lighting and the impact it has had on the car wash world has exploded in the last 5-10 years, with LEDs quickly becoming a staple of the industry. And of course, G&G has been at the forefront of that. Listen to this great conversation with Erin and learn how G&G can take your facility to the next level!

Erin starts by giving some history on G&G and their close connection to the car wash community. The conversation then moves into how lighting has evolved from serving a basic function into becoming a full-blown marketing tool. From impressive curb appeal and better visibility to improved safety and enhanced customer experience, the opportunities are real! They finish with details about installation, customization, the expert technical service provided, and G&G’s new subscription-based management system.

Explore G&G Lighting

ColorWash:

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/c-1932-g-g-colorwash.aspx

Edge Powered by ColorWash:

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/c-1949-g-g-edge-powered-by-colorwash.aspx

Color Effect Lights:

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/c-1523-g-g-led-color-effect-lights.aspx

Thanks to Little Trees for sponsoring this episode! Browse Kleen-Rite's huge Little Trees selection and stock up today on the most popular air fresheners on the market.

Buy Little Trees:

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/c-46-little-trees-by-car-freshner.aspx

Shop KR Equipment:

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/c-1-equipment.aspx

If you have any questions, comments, or stories, feel free to email us at [email protected] – we would love to hear from you.

If you have any questions, comments, or stories, feel free to email us at [email protected] – we would love to hear from you.

Reach Kleen-Rite at 800-233-3873 or visit https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com!

Follow us on social media!

Facebook -   / kleenritecorp 

Instagram -   / kleenritecorp 

Tiktok-   / kleenritecorp 

LinkedIn -   / kleenritecorp 

Twitter/X - https://x.com/KleenRiteCorp

Ep. 21 (Using AI at Your Car Wash)

Welcome to episode 21 of the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast! The topic of AI is almost unavoidable these days. So, plenty of car wash owners are curious how they can take advantage of it and make it part of their “toolbox” to improve their business. With this in mind, Marc and Phil thought it would be valuable to have a conversation about it.

The guys cover some basics on how AI functions and discuss some of the ways they’ve used it to help in their own operations. They share thoughts on how to responsibly and safely use the technology, what the future may hold, and some specific ideas on how AI can be used to improve efficiency at your wash.

Thanks to Little Trees for sponsoring this episode! Browse Kleen-Rite's huge Little Trees selection and stock up today on the most popular air fresheners on the market.

Buy Little Trees:

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/c-46-little-trees-by-car-freshner.aspx

Shop KR Equipment:

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/c-1-equipment.aspx

If you have any questions, comments, or stories, feel free to email us at [email protected] – we would love to hear from you.

Reach Kleen-Rite at 800-233-3873 or visit https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com!

Follow us on social media!

Facebook -   / kleenritecorp 

Instagram -   / kleenritecorp 

Tiktok-   / kleenritecorp 

LinkedIn -   / kleenritecorp 

Twitter/X - https://x.com/KleenRiteCorp

Ep. 20 (Self-Serve Optimism and Innovation with Keith Lutz) It’s episode 20 of the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast! Marc and Phil are still brimming with excitement after their recent car wash visits and the SCWA show. Kleen-Rite VP Keith Lutz joins them for a talk about the promising state of the self-serve car wash segment. It’s all about optimism! Thanks to Little Trees for sponsoring this episode! Browse Kleen-Rite's huge Little Trees selection and stock up today on the most popular air fresheners on the market.

In the episode they discuss how the community feel of the self-serve segment is growing to an even larger scale. Successful operators are more willing than ever to share what works for them, from equipment to procedural methods and everything in between. Plus, equipment manufacturers are innovating and applying modern technology to better serve operators. The guys share some of the positive changes they have made, note how Kleen-Rite is actively involved in supporting the self-serve space, and speak on how they’ve personally witnessed success stories of customers who choose to truly commit and invest in their business.

Buy Little Trees:

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/c-46-little-trees-by-car-freshner.aspx

Shop KR Equipment:

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/c-1-equipment.aspx

If you have any questions, comments, or stories, feel free to email us at [email protected] – we would love to hear from you.

Reach Kleen-Rite at 800-233-3873 or visit https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com!

Follow us on social media!

Facebook -   / kleenritecorp 

Instagram -   / kleenritecorp 

Tiktok-   / kleenritecorp 

LinkedIn -   / kleenritecorp 

Twitter/X - https://x.com/KleenRiteCorp

Ep.19 (Car Wash Industry Excitement in 2026)Welcome back to the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast! Marc and Phil were very busy in early 2026. They briefly shifted away from recording episodes for a couple months, but they’re excited to make a return with episode 19. The guys start with a quick recap of what they’ve been up to so far this year. In addition to the Southwest Car Wash Association show and Kleen-Rite BBQ in Texas, they visited two customers that recently made major upgrades to their facilities – Buddy’s Car Wash in Alabaster, Alabama and The Wash Stop in Largo, Florida. Check out the links below to watch videos from their visits! Next, Marc and Phil talk about the excitement and positive outlook they’re seeing at the industry events they’ve attended. Specifically, they’re seeing growing enthusiasm from operators in the self-serve and IBA spaces. From being engaged at car wash shows and networking with other operators to revamping old locations and updating operational procedures, there has been a major rejuvenation in these segments!

Thanks to Little Trees for sponsoring this episode! Browse Kleen-Rite's huge Little Trees selection and stock up today on the most popular air fresheners on the market!

Shop Little Trees:

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/c-46-little-trees-by-car-freshner.aspx

Buddy’s Car Wash Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0XvtyWHH94

The Wash Stop Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sydVSToiIE0

If you have any questions, comments, or stories, feel free to email us at [email protected] – we would love to hear from you.

Reach Kleen-Rite at 800-233-3873 or visit https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com!

Follow us on social media! Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kleenritecorp

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kleenritecorp/

Tiktok- https://www.tiktok.com/@kleenritecorp

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kleenritecorp/

Twitter/X - https://x.com/KleenRiteCorp

Ep. 18 (Operator Mindset: Decrease Maintenance with QCW Bearings) Using quality, well-designed replacement parts is a great way to make your car wash maintenance easier. It sounds simple but it’s frequently overlooked. Operators often choose less expensive products or neglect to stay abreast of new options, not realizing they could save significant time and energy with a superior component.

In episode 18, Marc and Phil explore this idea using IPTCI QCW bearings as an example. They’re joined by Ryan Linke from Solve Industrial Motion Group – the company behind these exceptional bearings. They discuss some of the features of QCW (Quadseal Car Wash) Bearings, with the most important highlight being their “lubed for life” design. They maintain proper lubrication without needing to be regreased, eliminating a messy, tedious task from the operator’s to-do list.

Listen to the entire episode to hear more about the QCW line, plus some valuable general knowledge about bearings. Thanks to Solve Industrial Motion Group for sponsoring this episode, and to Ryan for contributing to the conversation!

Shop IPTCI Bearings and Flanges:

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/c-1321-bearings-flanges.aspx#/filter:manufacturer:IPTCI

This is the fifth and final episode in the Kleen-Rite Radio Operator Mindset series. The goal of the series is to help owner-operators escape the “good enough” and “I’ll do it myself” rut by implementing systems, leveraging outside services, and building sustainable operational routines that drive growth. Like, subscribe, comment, and stay tuned for future episodes!

If you have any questions, comments, or stories, feel free to email us at [email protected] – we would love to hear from you.

Reach Kleen-Rite at 800-233-3873 or visit https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com!

Follow us on social media!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kleenritecorp

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kleenritecorp/

Tiktok- https://www.tiktok.com/@kleenritecorp

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kleenritecorp/

Twitter/X - https://x.com/KleenRiteCorp

Ep. 17 (Operator Mindset: The People System) Do you have a solid network of experts that can provide specialized help when your car wash needs it? In episode 17, Kleen-Rite Radio hosts Marc and Phil discuss what they call the “The People System.” This is an extension of the conversation they had in episode 14 about getting outside help. It’s all about creating a reliable group of distributors, landscapers, plumbers, electricians, bookkeepers, and other resources to help you maximize efficiency. As always, they share some of their personal experience and talk about what this looks at their own washes. This is an important topic to the guys, and they love motivating operators to get out of the “I need to do everything” mentality. Thanks to Solve Industrial Motion Group – manufacturer of IPTCI bearings – for sponsoring this episode. This is the fourth episode in the Kleen-Rite Radio Operator Mindset series. The goal of the series is to help owner-operators escape the “good enough” and “I’ll do it myself” rut by implementing systems, leveraging outside services, and building sustainable operational routines that drive growth. Like, subscribe, comment, and stay tuned for future episodes! If you have any questions, comments, or stories, feel free to email us at [email protected] – we would love to hear from you. Reach Kleen-Rite at 800-233-3873 or visit https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com! Follow us on social media! Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kleenritecorp Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kleenritecorp/ Tiktok- https://www.tiktok.com/@kleenritecorp LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kleenritecorp/ Twitter/X - https://x.com/KleenRiteCorp