‘It’s that season:’ Saskatoon sisters say any day is good for a car wash, even during spring melt

For the sisters behind JJ’s car wash, hearing someone say they only wash their car once a year makes them shudder.

Jacoba and Jamille Taylor are sisters who own and operate JJ’s Express Oil Change and Car Wash, located on 51st Street in Saskatoon.

“That’s not the best thing to do,” Jamille said, making a face to match her sentiment — animated concern.

“(Washing your car) protects it,” Jacoba chimed in.

Jamille compared a car wash, even during this slushy season, to washing your hair. It’s something you can go a bit of time without doing but doing that maintenance keeps it clean and nourishes it.

How often do the Taylors believe someone should wash their car?

“All the time,” they said together.

They say it’s a busy season for them. Even though many people feel washing their cars now is a waste, they say the monthly membership they offer has kept business steady. For a set fee, customers can clean their cars as many times in a month as they like.

Plus, with each three-minute-and-20-second wash comes a free mat cleaning and vacuum.

“With the slushy season, we have noticed that it’s kind of like the moment you drive out of here, your car’s dirty again,” Jamille said.

But that hasn’t really slowed down business for them.

“The cars that are coming in are the ones where you can’t see out of the windows at all and you’re like … ‘I just need to get a car wash, I don’t care if it gets dirty again,’ ” Jamille laughed.

Their one-of-a-kind car wash has a long conveyor belt instead of a more traditional pulley system to bring cars through the wash. Flashing neon lights and friendly staff greet and guide customers when they pull into the wash, where they are soon enveloped inside their vehicles by colourful foam and playful smells from the cleaners.

To make sure they tackle all the grime a customer’s car brings, each car’s front and back is sprayed down by employees as the car is ushered into the wash.

With the spring melt making some people question the benefit of a wash right now, Jacoba said the wax they offer with their Supreme Sparkle wash is great at protecting cars against dirt.

“It just sits on it, it doesn’t stick,” she explained.

They also offer an undercarriage sprayer to ward off grime that could damage a vehicle.

Because of the fun environment at their business, Jacoba said families will often use their wash. She especially loves to see the kids come dressed for an underwater adventure.

They have all their snorkel gear on like they’re going to get wet,” she chuckled.

“It’s that time of season. The oil change is busy, come for a car wash, use the vacuums, grab a Starbucks,” the sisters laughed together.