Sudz provides free cleaning for healthcare workers

For those of you who have family or friends who are medical workers, it’s easy to understand, with our recent pandemic, that these fine folks are working tirelessly to ensure the safety of not only their patients, but their loved ones as well as themselves.

And it hasn’t been easy.

That’s why Craig Gilham, owner of Sudz Car Wash, set upon the task of showing his appreciation for these brave workers.

Originally from Australia, Gilham moved to Gonzales in 2002 to train cutting horses. In 2015, he set out to further his ambitions by purchasing the Apache Car Wash before changing the name to Sudz Car Wash.

Since developing his business, Gilham has responded to the COVED-19 pandemic by providing free cleaning services to local medical workers’ vehicles, not only as an example of his concern for their personal safety but also a gesture of appreciation for their hard work during these times of need.

“While other businesses were experiencing reductions in business activity, I was thinking of expansion and how I could help somebody, because the carwash was still an essential business,” Gilham said.

Gilham’s game plan was to figure out a way to help the Gonzales community with a concept called NuVinCARES, a program designed to give back to communities and support the heroic healthcare employees at local hospitals who tirelessly work in uncertain and at-risk environments. By treating their vehicles with the most effective technology in the automotive industry, the program allows them to stay committed to their patients and then safely “decompress in a healthy vehicle when returning back home to their families,” to quote the visionary.

“By using NuVinAir-patented cleaning process and proprietary product line powered by chlorine dioxide, NuVinAir patented ReStore and ReFresh treatments are used to clean the air and remove contaminants, odor, and pollutants inside your vehicle by dispelling a dry, hygienic vapor that travels throughout the vehicle, reaching places that sprays and Sudz employees not only cleaned the vehicles to make them road ready, but they also performed a deep reconditioning of the interior, thoroughly wiping down the interior with cleansing wipes and vacuuming all floors and carpeted areas — all at no cost to the healthcare workers,” Gilham said.

The program started on April 24 before concluding appointment settings on May 7.

“We will be finishing up the last of the appointments this week with a total of about 85 vehicles cleaned and treated,” Gilham said. He also noted that donations to the project totaled some $10,000.

“My team worked hard six days a week for the past three-and-a-half weeks, providing a pickup and delivery service from the [Gonzales] hospital,” he said.

Gilham added that Sudz will continue to provide NuVinAir Restore and Refresh treatments at a 20 percent discount until the COVID-19 pandemic is under control, and that if people sign up to become an “EverWash” member they get their first month half off by using the promo code “craig1.”

“All EverWash members get a 20 percent discount to any detailing service,” Gilham said.

Gonzales Healthcare Systems Foundation Executive Director Kelly Lindner expressed her profound appreciation for Gilham and Sudz’s efforts by saying, “Craig and his business offered to clean, detail and use their new Nuvinair system to purify the air in the cars of the hospital staff, that is anyone who was interested.

“We were overwhelmed by the offer and several employees took advantage of it. Being on the front lines of this pandemic, it is comforting that businesses in our community offer to help us in so many ways.

“Craig’s offer allowed so many who live behind a mask all day to breathe air (when they leave the hospital or other locations) and know the air they breathe is beyond clean.

“To say SUDZ is a breath of fresh air is an understatement. The Gonzales Healthcare Systems Foundation and Gonzales Healthcare Systems staff are very appreciative for Craig’s generosity,” Lindner said.