Kleen-Rite sets November dates for free car wash training expo
The distributor's Learn More, Earn More Expo returns to Columbia, Pennsylvania, on November 11, 2026, with a paid bus tour and keynote event the day before.
By The Car Wash News Staff
3 min read
Kleen-Rite will hold its annual Learn More, Earn More Expo on November 11, 2026, in Columbia, Pennsylvania, according to reporting from the International Carwash Association. The distributor bills the gathering as the industry's only free car wash training event, and registration is already open.
The main expo runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and packs a full day of programming into one location. Attendees get access to manufacturer exhibits from more than 60 vendors, equipment displays, breakout educational seminars, and networking time with peers and suppliers. A catered barbecue lunch is included, and the day closes with door prize drawings.
A paid preview day
Kleen-Rite is pairing the free expo with a companion event the day before called The Car Wash Experience, held November 10 from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at a nearby Columbia address. That day carries a $40 registration fee plus an Eventbrite service charge.
The preview day is built around a bus tour of local car washes, giving operators a firsthand look at working sites. It also features a keynote from Eric Wulf, chief executive of the International Carwash Association, along with an expert panel discussion and a reserved question-and-answer session. A light lunch is served. Kleen-Rite frames the day as a chance to pick up operational insights that can improve profitability.
Both events take place in Columbia, Pennsylvania, where Kleen-Rite is headquartered. The company describes itself as the largest family-owned car wash distributor in the country and has supplied the industry for more than 60 years, carrying repair parts, pumps, towels, soaps, and other equipment along with products for the pressure washing and auto detailing segments.
What attendees can expect
The two-day format gives operators a low-cost way to combine education, product research, and networking in a single trip. The free main expo lowers the barrier for smaller operators and staff who might not otherwise attend a national trade show, while the paid preview day offers a deeper dive through site visits and structured discussion.
Registration for both days is handled separately through Eventbrite. The free expo requires a ticket to reserve a spot, and the preview day charges the $40 fee at signup.
Why it matters for operators
Supplier-hosted training events are one of the most affordable ways for wash owners and their teams to sharpen operations without a large travel budget. A free expo with more than 60 vendors under one roof lets operators compare chemicals, equipment, and parts side by side while talking directly to the people who make them. That kind of access can shorten the research cycle on a planned equipment upgrade or help troubleshoot a persistent maintenance headache.
The bus tour on the paid preview day is worth weighing for operators who learn best by seeing real sites in action. Walking working washes and hearing how other operators handle throughput, chemistry, and layout can surface practical ideas that seminars alone miss. For a $40 fee, the site visits, keynote, and panel represent a modest investment if the schedule allows an extra travel day.
Operators considering attendance should register early, since free tickets tend to move quickly, and plan staffing so key team members can travel to Columbia in November.
