Taking a shine to Bainbridge

Published 2:00 pm Wednesday, August 13, 2003

A good car wash isn’t as simple as a pail of soapy water and a brush, says Mike Brooks, a professional in the field.

And that’s especially so with the new clear-coat but easy-scratch finishes.

“The so-called touchless car washes can’t get your car clean unless you start with a broom dipped in soap,” he said, “but a brush on wet dirt scratches the finishes.”

That method, previously used at the Madison Avenue Car Wash on Bainbridge Island, sent a number of island drivers to Poulsbo, where Brooks had operated what he calls a “soft-touch” system using high-density foam-rubber brushes.

The patrons were happy, he said, but wished they didn’t have to drive so far: “A lot of customers said they needed a good car wash on Bainbridge Island.”

Opportunity arose recently. The former operator of the Madison Avenue facility, who had taken over three years ago, needed to replace his equipment.

He instead sold to Brooks, who has installed what he calls the most up-to-date facility in the West Sound.

“We had a choice of four machines, and put in the most advanced,” he said. “These machines have been installed at over 400 Mercedes-Benz dealerships, and are suitable for the high-end cars on Bainbridge Island.”

The system uses a preliminary bath to lubricate the dirt and separate it from the vehicle’s surface.

The so-called “wash-tek” brushes, made in Italy, remove the dirt, then a new dryer unit finishes the job.

“The customers will notice better drying, and that their car is shinier and cleaner,” Brooks said of the equipment, which began operating last week. “And it is impossible to scratch the finish.”

Another benefit from the new system is that it reduces water requirements by one third.

By Brooks’ estimates, the operation will save 576,000 gallons of water a year, enough to provide for 12-15 houses.

“We are an Envirostar company, and we take a lot of pride in that,” he said, referring to the environmentally friendly certification awarded by the Kitsap County Health District.

Further equipment upgrades are planned for this week and next. New vacuums will be installed, as will a carpet shampooing unit, both customer-operated.

There will also be a mat-cleaning machine, an air-freshener spray and a vending machine to dispense various car-interior goodies.

Prices range from a basic wash for $6, which Brooks says is an improvement over the $6 wash with the old equipment, to $14 for the “top of the line,” which will add a high-pressure wash in the middle of the cycle – suitable, he said, for very dirty cars or those encased in seasonal pollen.

The combination wash is also a good option for vehicles with luggage racks on the roof, which prevent the brushes from reaching the vehicle tops.

Those who are particularly meticulous or who don’t want to do any of it themselves can opt for “detailing” work, starting at roughly $50.

“It’s individually priced, depending on whether there is dog hair, spilled coffee or whatever,” Brooks said.

Hours will be from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays, and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays, Brooks said.

A New York native, Brooks moved from the San Francisco Bay area to Poulsbo five years ago so he and his wife could be closer to a grown daughter.

Learning that he had too much energy to retire, Brooks went to work for Home Depot, then bought the Poulsbo car wash.

His business philosophy, he said, is service-based.

“We are going to treat the customer better than we would expect to be treated,” he said.