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 Kleenriteradio@kleenrite.com – we would love to hear from you.

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

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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 Kleenriteradio@kleenrite.com – 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 Kleenriteradio@kleenrite.com – 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 Kleenriteradio@kleenrite.com – 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 Kleenriteradio@kleenrite.com – 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. 16 (Operator Mindset: Preventative Maintenance)Want to get out of the repair rut? In episode 16 of the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast, Marc and Phil have an in-depth discussion about maintenance strategies that help you predict and avoid breakdowns instead of reacting to them. It starts with taking an honest assessment of your facility and viewing things from a different angle to see what you might be overlooking. It may even be helpful to have a distributor or technician come in and give you a complete overview of your site. The guys point out crucial habits like keeping a maintenance calendar or schedule, breaking down maintenance into segments, and documenting all the work done at your site with notes and pictures. They go through an extensive list of items they address consistently to avoid larger problems in the future, like conducting scheduled oil changes, regularly replacing hoses to avoid wasteful air and water leaks, committing to frequent cleaning, and much more. Listen and transform from a reactive operator to a prepared one! Thanks to Solve Industrial Motion Group – manufacturer of IPTCI bearings – for sponsoring this episode.

This is the third 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 Kleenriteradio@kleenrite.com – 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. 15 (Operator Mindset: Building Consistency) Pick up some valuable advice to make your car wash operation more consistent! In episode 15 of the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast, Marc and Phil share some simple but important lessons they’ve learned about quick maintenance, daily behaviors, and small changes that make a big difference to customers. Hear about their personal experience with things you may sometimes overlook – taking a smart approach to litter and trash cans, updating vac hoses, posting clear and effective signage, and maintaining an overall attractive appearance. Build a culture of consistency at your wash to reach new levels of success! Thanks to Solve Industrial Motion Group – manufacturer of IPTCI bearings – for sponsoring this episode.

This is the second 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 Kleenriteradio@kleenrite.com – 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. 14 (Operator Mindset: Getting Outside Help) Episode 14 of the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast targets a dilemma that every car wash owner wrestles with – when is it time to get outside help for major repairs or installations? Phil and Marc have experienced this conundrum themselves as hands-on operators and problem solvers. When does do-it-yourself become inefficient and actually cost you money? How does this negatively affect the customer experience? Would hiring a distributor, electrician, plumber, or other professional free you up to address different important issues? The guys share some of their own experiences and insights to help you navigate these questions. Thanks to Solve Industrial Motion Group – manufacturer of IPTCI bearings – for sponsoring this episode! This episode kicks off 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 Kleenriteradio@kleenrite.com – 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