With more than 100,000 washes to date, Joe Reighard has only one mission in his operation at Soapy Joe's Car Wash, 115 Broad St., in Montoursville: keeping your car clean.
The entrepreneur opened his car washing station in March 2003, he said, during a time when the area was in need for more self-serve car washing places.
It was an investment that he believed could coincide with his full-time construction job.
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"It was the easiest thing to do and keep at a full-time job," he said. "It's nice. It's a hands-off business, but you put more into it than you realize."
Reighard said he likes to keep a clean image at the facility by landscaping around and in the lot, as well as making sure the washing stalls stay clean.
The owner said all the water that flows into the drains is filtered at the water treatment plant, and doesn't run directly into storm drains, which can be hazardous to the natural bodies of water that empty into the Chesapeake Bay.
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GREG HAYES/Sun-Gazette
Soapy Joe?s Car Wash, 115 Broad St., in Montoursville opened in March 2003, and has helped wash away dirt on more than 100,000 cars since then, according to owner Joe Reighard.
Also, one thing that Reighard believes makes his operation so unique is that it doesn't require the need for employees. It is completely self-serving, which Reighard thinks is a great aspect for the business, as that prevents any friction that can potentially occur in an employee-customer relationship.
Soapy Joe's has three car washing stations and one drive-through automatic wash that cleans and dries a car in four minutes and 10 seconds, the owner said.
Reighard said he has the fastest automatic friction wash that, despite what many car owners' fear, will not destroy objects on the exterior of automobiles.
"There's sensors that know where to put pressure and not to put pressure," Reighard said, adding the sensors register the more sensitive areas on the car.
For instance, the foam bristles slow their rotations as it nears the side mirrors.
The bristles also don't trap dirt from one vehicle to the next, as they are self-cleaning.
The automatic washer can also clean the undercarriage of vehicles that's laced with a rust inhibitor, and the water used to clean the cars is filtered through a "reverse osmosis" method that bars any layer of residue or film from forming after cleaning, he added.
There are four options to choose from before entering the automatic washing stall, that range between $6 and $10. Gift certificates and prepaid accounts are also available.
There are plenty of change and vending machines filled with tools that are at the customers' disposal - like air fresheners, glass cleaners and Armor-All wipes - to help in the cleaning process.
Reighard's most recent investment was a machine that cleans floor mats - for just a $1, customers can slip their car mats into a machine that thoroughly washes the mats.
Customers have the opportunity to shampoo and vacuum the inside of their cars as well.
One of the busiest times for the car wash is between December and March, Reighard said, as salt and cinder from the roads during snowstorms seems to constitute a time for drivers to keep their cars dirt-free.
One of the advantages of Soapy Joe's is its availability. The car washing venue is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Reighard said, and is well-lit and well-patrolled by borough police.
