MEET THE JOBURG ENTREPRENEURS RETHINKING THE CAR WASH TO SAVE WATER

QuickIn Car Wash founders Jerry Mthembu and Cyril Ndebele are showing how small businesses can make sustainability part of everyday commerce without compromising on the quality customers expect.

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – QuickIn Car Wash is proving that using less water does not mean compromising on the same spotless shine, only making the process more sustainable.

Founded by entrepreneurs Jerry Mthembu and Cyril Ndebele, the proudly South African waterless car wash operates from Victoria Yards in Johannesburg and is rethinking how an everyday service can contribute to water conservation.

At the heart of the model is QuickIn’s locally manufactured waterless car cleanser, developed and produced in-house by the business. Used alongside biodegradable car-care products, the cleanser allows QuickIn to clean and shine vehicles without relying on the conventional hose-based wash.

Their approach comes at a time when water conservation remains a pressing issue for both Johannesburg and South Africa.

South Africa receives an average of approximately 465mm of rainfall annually, compared with a global average of approximately 860mm, according to the Department of Water and Sanitation. Johannesburg is also working to reduce water consumption, with the city targeting consumption of 1,550 megalitres per day and calling on residents, institutions and businesses to adopt water-saving practices.

For Jerry Mthembu and Cyril Ndebele, the challenge presented an opportunity to rethink something as ordinary as washing a car.

“South Africans understand that water is a precious resource, but we also wanted to show that sustainability doesn’t have to mean compromising on the service or result you receive,” says Jerry Mthembu, Co-Founder of QuickIn Car Wash.

“We can deliver the clean, glossy finish customers expect while using a model that is far more conscious about water. Less water, same shine, just more sustainable.”

SMALL BUSINESS, BIG OPPORTUNITY

The potential impact becomes clearer when considering how much water conventional vehicle washing can require.

An international peer-reviewed study monitoring 3,667 vehicle washes found an average water consumption of approximately 158 litres for a saloon car and 197 litres for an SUV, illustrating the significant volumes of freshwater that conventional vehicle washing can require.

QuickIn’s model removes the need for a conventional hose-based wash. Central to the process is the business’s own proudly South African waterless car cleanser, which QuickIn manufactures in-house. Used alongside biodegradable car-care products, the cleanser enables the business to deliver the clean, glossy finish customers expect while reducing its reliance on water.

The business is also an example of how sustainability can be implemented at small-business level, rather than remaining the preserve of major corporate environmental programmes.

“Sustainability has to become part of how we do everyday things,” says Cyril Ndebele, Co-Founder of QuickIn Car Wash.

“As entrepreneurs, we saw an opportunity to build a business that provides a service people need while being more responsible about how we use our natural resources. If there is a better way to do something, we believe it is worth pursuing.”

With Johannesburg’s warmer months approaching and continued pressure on water resources, the founders believe businesses of every size have an opportunity to consider how their operations can contribute to water conservation.

For QuickIn, that starts one car at a time.

ABOUT QUICKIN CAR WASH

QuickIn Car Wash is a proudly South African waterless car wash founded by entrepreneurs Jerry and Cyril. Based at Parking Lot 6, Victoria Yards in Johannesburg, QuickIn provides waterless vehicle-cleaning services using its locally manufactured, in-house waterless car cleanser alongside biodegradable car-care products. The business is built around quality, convenience and sustainability.