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NEDERLAND — Luis Guevara lives his life one dirty car at a time.

The Venezuelan native owns and operates Extreme Detail Hand Wash with locations in Nederland, Lumberton and Bridge City, but his career started off as simply a helping hand.

“I started washing cars in 2008,” Guevara said. “I was working for a car wash across from the mall and working at Jason’s Deli full time.”

Guevara quit his job at Jason’s Deli after a couple months to work full time washing cars. As a way to scrounge up some extra cash, Guevara started his own mobile car washing system on the weekends.

Just as thing were looking up, he was fired from his day job. Six months down the road his trailer was stolen.

“It was the best thing that could have happened to me, because right after that one of my clients encouraged me to open my first location in Port Neches on Saba Lane,” Guevara said. “Not long after that, my company expanded and moved to Nall Street.”

In 2017, right before Hurricane Harvey, Guevara bought his current location,

1420 FM 365 Nederland, and what started off as a way to make extra income turned into a full fledged American Dream.

“I got fired,” Guevara said. “I didn’t have any other choice than to go chase the money. I didn’t think I’d ever own my own business or for it to turn out this successful, but it did and all because I followed my passion.”

Guevara’s passion is bringing dirty, trashy cars back to life.

“I love everything about it,” he said. “From taking the bugs off a car that is dirty and removing dog hair that most people hate to ridding the stains of seats and removing scratches. It’s just the satisfaction of seeing a customer’s face, asking ‘Is that my car?’ That is what drives me the most.”

Extreme Detail provides services for cars, golf carts, boats, trailers, side by sides, food trucks, helicopters, Lamborghinis and one time even a bicycle.

For Guevara, the dirtier the job, the better.

“I like the dirty cars,” he said. “I like the daily people because the cars build a memory inside if you drop the chocolate milk inside and it leaves a stain or that nugget that falls right in the middle of your seat that you can’t get out. I know it sounds crazy but it’s cool to see those everyday stories.”

One of Guevara’s favorites stories includes washing 67 cars in five hours with five employees for healthcare workers at the Medical Center fighting COVID-19.

Jimmy Denzlinger, Information Technology Director for the Southeast Texas Medical Center, said it was a blessing to see his car clean after a long day at work.

“It’s a little bit of normalcy,” Denzlinger said. “It’s just a nice feeling to come outside and your car is completely spotless. It’s good to know that people still care about each other. It’s just a selfless example of the goodness and humanity you don’t see every day and it really made a difference.”

Guevara said it was the least he could do.

“These workers don’t have time to clean their own cars,” he said. “I realized this was my only gift. I wanted to give it to them and do what I can to serve.”

Guevara said he is very thankful for his customers and loyal employees that have made his business a success.

“I am very thankful for anyone has supported my family these last 13 years I’ve been in business,” he said. “These customers paid for my daughter’s ballet, my son’s soccer classes and I’m just so grateful for every single customer. I’m thankful for first, God, second, my wife, and my employees and customers. I wouldn’t be who I am today without them.”

Extreme Detail Hand Wash provides wash services from express cleaning to an outside wash. Detailing services include basic quality detailing to carpet and seat shampoo, leather treatment, chrome cleaning, new Carnauba wax and more.

For more information, visit extremedetailhandwash.com or the Facebook page.

To book services at the Nederland location, call 409-729-2585.