Car washing is a high-volume business, weather permitting

Rain is usually seen as good thing in the middle of summer, as flowers need watering and crops need a boost.

But for local car washing and detailing companies, the first sign of rain means a slow day.

"Last couple weeks, we've been doing about 60 to 80 [car details]," said Joe Russell of Waterworks Car Wash and Detail Center in Cape Girardeau. "It's pretty fair, it keeps us busy, keeps us going. But when it rains, it really puts a damper on us."

Russell has worked at Waterworks since 2010. He's helping the owner train two new managers before Russell settles into retirement.

Russell said the busiest time for a car-washing business depends on the weather, and with the rough winter Southeast Missouri encountered last year, they're still trying to catch up.

Dedrick Williams cleans and polishes the interior of a vehicle as Joseph Bixler cleans the glass on the exterior at Waterworks Car Wash in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Waterworks runs mostly on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more extensive detailing jobs, people can make an appointment, Russell said. The basic wash is $10. With full detailing, that can cost up to $105, plus any additional services a customer requests.

Late spring and early summer is the busiest time, Russell said, servicing 80 to 100 cars a day. But he remembers a time in 2010 when the craziest day involved 238 cars.

People come in and tell Russell: "I want to get my car detailed." But to him, that could mean basically anything.

Before the doors even opened Thursday, a customer came in to set up a detailing appointment, and Russell took the extra time to explain what each service was. Between washing, waxing, vacuuming, degreasing, cleaning windows and shampooing, people have many options.

Waterworks is just one venue in Cape Girardeau when it comes to car cleanliness.

For those who don't want to spend time with a personal touch, there's Cape Auto Spa off Kingshighway. The three-minute express washer is one of the quickest options, and it purports to be environmentally friendly, too.

Owner Boyce Church is proud of his all "green" carwash, which he said is the only one in Cape Girardeau. The carwash runs on solar power, uses recycled water and biodegradable soaps and wax.

When asked why Church puts the extra effort into his business, he replied simply: "Because it's important."

The carwash recently switched to solar energy, and Church is optimistic about it saving him money in the future. He said his electric bill will be a third of the average price because of the solar energy.

In coming months he also plans to add a monthly rate to get a vehicle cleaned. Customers can buy a $20 to $28 package that allows them to clean cars up to once a day for an entire month. Varying prices would allow for the different services at the carwash.

Boyce said people can buy a reloadable card or put a bar code sticker on their windshields, which the carwash will automatically scan.

This isn't the only operation Church plans to put into effect, because all of his business strategies revolve around time, service and convenience.

"Time is money, and I don't have a lot of time to waste," Church said.

It is an express wash that takes only three minutes to use, compared to the other washes, where it takes eight minutes. Church estimated he washes 150 cars a day, the busiest times being from October to March.

He is also looking into detailing, which he hopes to invest in soon. Church said he plans to offer a 15-minute detailing service. It won't be an extensive process, but for those who want a quick wash and vacuum, he said it will be affordable.

smaue@semissourian.com

388-3644