What Kleen-Rite Corp does

Kleen-Rite Corporation is a US wholesale distributor of car wash equipment, parts, and consumables, founded in 1959 and operating for over 65 years as a family-owned business with 51–100 employees. The company serves professional car wash operators across self-serve, touchless, and tunnel segments, and adjacent verticals including pressure washing, auto detailing, dog wash, laundromat, and lighting. Its catalog spans 40+ categories covering pumps (CAT, Flojet, General Pump, Giant), soaps and chemicals (Simoniz, JBS), commercial vacuums, vending and retail products (Little Trees, Armor All), bay accessories, pressure wash equipment, and OEM replacement parts for PDQ LaserWash systems; proprietary sub-brands include Kleen-Rite Timers, the Kleen-Shine private-label detailing chemical line, and Towels by Doctor Joe. Underlying technology is conventional third-party e-commerce infrastructure with no proprietary platform; differentiation sits in catalog breadth, manufacturer relationships, and aggregator sourcing.

The business model is B2B wholesale distribution to a fragmented long-tail of SMB and mid-market car wash operators. Revenue is generated through one-time unit-priced sales via the kleen-ritecorp.com storefront, phone ordering (800-233-3873), and requested print catalogs, with free shipping triggered at 40/80 lb box weights or $750/$1250/$2500 order thresholds. A loyalty rewards program (10 points per $1, Club/VIP tiers, Kleen-Kash redemptions) and the KR Stock mobile app drive repeat purchases, while a third-party FinancePartners integration enables equipment financing. Geographic scope is US Lower 48, with no disclosed international footprint. Distribution is direct only — no retail storefronts or third-party dealer channel. Marketing is multi-channel: e-commerce, email promotions, organic social (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok), the Kleen-Rite Radio podcast, and a blog/resource library. The company carries BBB A+ accreditation and holds no disclosed patents, partnerships beyond minor finance and vending vendors, or institutional investor ownership.

Name

Kleen-Rite Corp

Legal name

Kleen-Rite Corporation

Website

https://kleen-ritecorp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kleen-Rite Corporation is a US wholesale distributor of car wash equipment, parts, and consumables, founded in 1959 and family-owned, serving professional car wash operators and adjacent verticals including pressure washing, detailing, and laundromat across the US Lower 48.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lancaster

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Car Wash Supplies Distribution: Revenue generated through direct wholesale distribution of car wash equipment, parts, supplies, and chemicals to professional car wash operators. Products include pumps, vending machines, soaps, chemicals, vacuum systems, pressure washers, and accessories. Sells at low distributor prices with free shipping thresholds. Offers equipment financing through third-party partner.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kleen-Rite Corporation is a B2B wholesale distributor that supplies professional car wash operators with car wash equipment, parts, chemicals, soaps, pumps, vacuum systems, pressure washing gear, vending products, bay accessories, and auto detailing supplies. The catalog spans 40+ categories and includes private-label lines (Kleen-Shine, Towels by Doctor Joe) plus proprietary Kleen-Rite Timers, supplemented by the KR Stock mobile app and a tiered loyalty rewards program.

Product overview

Kleen-Rite Corp is a wholesale supplier of car wash equipment, supplies, and parts founded in 1959, serving professional car wash businesses for self-serve, touchless, and tunnel operations. The core offering is its broad product portfolio spanning car wash pumps, soaps and chemicals, bay accessories, vacuums, pressure wash equipment, vending and retail products, auto detailing supplies, and specialty categories (dog wash, laundry, lighting, PPE). The portfolio includes proprietary sub-brands Kleen-Rite Timers, Kleen-Shine (economical detailing chemicals), and Towels by Doctor Joe, alongside the KR Stock App mobile management tool and a Loyalty Rewards Program. The company operates the Express Tunnel product line for high-volume tunnel car washes and stocks OEM replacement parts for PDQ automatic car wash systems (LaserWash series). Top third-party brands carried include CAT Pumps, Flojet, Giant Pumps, Simoniz, Armor All, and Little Trees. The business model centers on wholesale distributor pricing with free shipping on qualifying orders and a tiered loyalty rewards program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kleen-Rite Kleen-Shine: Proprietary line of detailing chemicals developed by Kleen-Rite for professional detailers, offering affordability, versatility, and quality at competitive prices compared to brand name products.
• Towels by Doctor Joe
• KR Stock App

Products and services

• Car Wash Equipment Core Catalog Wholesale car wash equipment and supplies for professional self-serve, touchless, and tunnel operators, including coin boxes, credit card payment systems, pump stands, low pressure systems, triple foam systems, RO/spot-free systems, water softeners, reclaim systems, air compressors, heaters, and freeze control systems.
• Pumps Wholesale car wash pumps including plunger, centrifugal, piston, air-operated, and electric-powered models from brands such as CAT Pumps, Flojet, General Pump, Giant Pump, Sta-Rite, Procon, Shurflo, Hypro, Yamada, Graco, Hydra-Cell, Aro, Sandpiper, Versa-Matic, and Arimitsu.
• Soaps & Chemicals Commercial cleaning chemicals and car wash soaps including pre-soaks, conditioners, wintertime chemicals, chemical dispensers, proportioners, and injectors from brands such as Simoniz, JBS, Trans-Mate, National, Dosatron, and Hydro Systems.
• Bay Accessories Self-serve car wash bay accessories including booms, brushes, spray guns, coin boxes, wands, tire inflators, weep mizer systems, mat clamps, plumbing accessories, locks, and inflatable advertising.
• Commercial Car Wash Vacuums Commercial vacuum systems, vacuum motors, parts, and accessories for car washes including central vacuums, standalone units, wet/dry vacuums, combination units, fragrance and shampoo machines, air dryers, and canopies.
• Pressure Wash Equipment Commercial pressure washing equipment including gas and electric pressure washers, hoses, wands, pumps, surface cleaners, foam cannons, chemical injectors, sewer jetter nozzles, and pressure washing chemicals.
• Vending & Retail Products Car wash vending supplies and retail products including air fresheners, towels, vending machines (mechanical, electronic, drop shelf, credit card ready), car care retail products, floor mats, mud flaps, and give-away products.
• Auto Detailing Supplies Professional auto detailing products including chemicals, orbital polishers, brushes, clay bars, extractors, squeegees, towels, and equipment such as Tornador tools, foam cannons, and steam cleaners; includes the Kleen-Shine private-label chemical line and bulk case purchasing.
• Express Tunnel Car Wash Products Specialized equipment and supplies for express tunnel car wash operations including tunnel pumps, conveyor parts, brush replacements, foam generators, drying systems, and tunnel-specific chemicals.
• PDQ Car Wash Replacement Parts OEM replacement parts for PDQ automatic car wash systems including LaserWash ProTouch Tandem, LaserWash 360, LaserWash M5, LaserWash ProTouch Icon, LaserWash 4000, and LaserWash G5 models.
• Dog Wash Products Dedicated dog wash supplies including tub and equipment, soaps and treatments, decals and signs, and dog-specific vending products for operators adding a pet wash bay.
• Laundry Products Laundromat supplies including changers, bill breakers, commercial coin and bill counters, vending machines, laundry carts, Simoniz liquid and powdered detergents, and janitorial supplies.
• Kleen-Rite Loyalty Rewards Program Free wholesale-buyer loyalty rewards club where members earn 10 points per dollar spent, receive an introductory 5,000 bonus points, and progress through Club and VIP tiers that unlock free-shipping thresholds and Kleen-Kash discount redemptions.
• KR Stock Mobile App Mobile application for car wash operators available on iOS and Android that supports inventory tracking, order management, and access to the Kleen-Rite Loyalty Rewards program on the go.
• Kleen-Rite Timers Proprietary timer products manufactured or branded by Kleen-Rite for car wash pay stations and automatic systems.
• Kleen-Shine Private Label Detailing Chemicals Economical private-label detailing chemical line including One Step High Shine Cleaner Polish, Tire & Trim Water Based Dressing, and Extractor Kleen Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner, priced approximately 20% below comparable brand-name products.
• Towels by Doctor Joe Branded towel line including body drying towels, detailing towels, glass cleaning towels, ceramic coating towels, applicators and mitts, bleach-safe towels, microfiber towel cleaner, and specialty towels for window washers, medical, veterinary, salon, and janitorial use.
• In-Bay Vending Challenge Promotional Deal Package Promotional deal package featuring a Laurel Window-Front Vending Machine with decal and 25 vending kits at promotional pricing, with a 100% money-back guarantee valid for 1 year; available April 1 – June 30, 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5X return on average vending reported by operators using window venders in best bays
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Carwash Solutions: National Carwash Solutions is a leading US distributor and manufacturer of car wash equipment, parts, and chemicals serving professional operators. It directly overlaps Kleen-Rite in wholesale distribution of pumps, chemicals, and tunnel equipment to the same customer base.
• Sonny's Enterprises: Sonny's is one of the largest manufacturers and suppliers of conveyor car wash equipment, parts, and chemicals globally. It competes head-to-head with Kleen-Rite in tunnel and express car wash equipment, chemicals, and aftermarket parts.
• DRB Systems (DRB Tunnel Solutions): DRB Systems provides tunnel car wash equipment, chemistry, and site management technology to professional operators. It overlaps Kleen-Rite in tunnel equipment, chemicals, and the operator-facing software layer (akin to Kleen-Rite's KR Stock app).
• Washworld Inc. Washworld designs and manufactures touchless and express car wash equipment and distributes related chemistry and parts. It is a comparable supplier to professional car wash operators in the equipment and consumables categories that Kleen-Rite serves.
• Mark VII Equipment Inc. Mark VII manufactures vehicle wash equipment and distributes parts, chemistry, and accessories. It competes with Kleen-Rite in self-serve and in-bay automatic equipment, plus the consumables and parts that operators reorder from these suppliers.
• PDQ Manufacturing: PDQ manufactures LaserWash touchless in-bay automatics; Kleen-Rite is a stocking distributor of PDQ OEM replacement parts. As a manufacturer-distributor pair in the same channel, PDQ is a directly comparable counterparty and competitor for parts and equipment revenue.
• CarWash.com: CarWash.com is an online retailer of car wash supplies, equipment, and parts targeting professional operators. It overlaps Kleen-Rite's e-commerce-led wholesale model across chemicals, parts, and accessories.

Broad incumbents

• Auto Wax Aniline (Armor All Professional): Auto Wax Aniline manufactures Armor All Professional and other detailing chemicals, which Kleen-Rite resells. As a chemical manufacturer, it is both a supplier and a broad incumbent whose direct relationships with operators can compete with Kleen-Rite's distribution value.
• Simoniz USA: Simoniz manufactures car wash chemistry and janitorial products distributed through wholesale channels including Kleen-Rite. As a brand-name chemical supplier with both manufacturing and direct distribution, it is a broader incumbent in the chemistry category Kleen-Rite serves.

Emerging players

• Adam's Polishes: Adam's Polishes is a fast-growing detailing chemicals and accessories brand sold direct-to-consumer and to detailers. It overlaps Kleen-Rite's detail-supplies segment and represents the direct-to-operator threat that compresses traditional wholesale channels like Kleen-Rite's.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KleenRiteCorp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/KleenRiteCorporation?sub_confirmation=1
• Facebookfacebook.com/kleenritecorp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/kleenritecorp
• Instagraminstagram.com/kleenritecorp
• TikToktiktok.com/@kleenritecorp?_t=8YCVCUrS5SU&_r=1

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kleen-Rite Corp