Why We’re Here: The Story Behind Wash Works Supply

Some stories start with a big plan.

Ours started with two friends, a lot of mistakes, and one simple goal — to make sure no one

in this industry ever has to struggle alone the way we did.

From Friendship to Partnership

Nate and I have been friends since high school — 2004. We’ve been through everything

together: growing up, getting married, starting families, and chasing the dream of building

something of our own. Back in 2011, we knew we wanted to start a business but didn’t

know what it would be.

My dad, a lifelong entrepreneur, gave me advice I’ll never forget:

“Find something in high demand and low supply.”

At the time, it felt like vague wisdom, but it stuck with me.

I was working as a logistics coordinator for an electrical company, and Nate was a line

technician for Comcast. We both knew deep down that wasn’t our purpose. We wanted

freedom — to be our own bosses and build something from scratch.

The Start of Pressure Washing

One day we came across the idea of pressure washing. It seemed simple enough — you just

clean things with pressure, right? Well… we learned the hard way that it’s not that simple!

We bought a 3.5 GPM, 3000 PSI hot water pressure washer, a 24’ extension pole, and

thought we were unstoppable. We blasted siding, decks — even wood — with full pressure.

Let’s just say we did a lot more harm than good in those early days.

We didn’t know what a downstream injector was. We didn’t know about proper techniques

or chemicals. We were just two guys trying to figure it out. And when we turned to local

supply stores for help, they treated us like we were wasting their time. Contractors weren’t

their focus — big industrial accounts were.

That experience stuck with us.

Learning the Hard Way

Eventually, we met a local washer who introduced us to something called soft washing. It

was a game changer — and it showed us how much we didn’t know.

Nate dove into education. He went to the SoftWash Academy, attended The Huge

Convention, talked to other pros, and soaked up every bit of knowledge he could. I started

building rigs — welding hose reels, fabricating ladder racks, and plumbing entire systems.

He learned the washing side. I learned the build side. Together, we started to understand

what it took to do this the right way.

But the road wasn’t easy. We made every mistake possible — twice. We burned surfaces,

used the wrong nozzles, bought the wrong equipment… but every time we failed, we fixed it.

And every time we fixed it, we got better.

The Turning Point

By 2019, Nate went full-time in pressure washing while juggling life with a wife and two

little girls. I worked at Ferrari, still helping him whenever I could. The dream never died —

it just evolved.

Fast forward to 2022. Nate’s company was thriving. I had purchased my father’s long-

standing snow removal business — a company he built back in 1980. Carrying on his legacy

gave me new purpose and reminded me why we started all this in the first place.

Then one day, Nate and I realized the timing was finally right. We had the experience, the

network, and most importantly — the mission.

We were going to open a store for the people like us: the ones who started with a dream, a

pressure washer, and a thousand questions.

The Birth of Wash Works Supply

In October of 2023, we opened the doors to Wash Works Supply in Schaumburg, Illinois.

It wasn’t easy. Vendors didn’t want to take a chance on a new store. We struggled to get

inventory, accounts, and credit lines. But a few amazing people believed in us — and that’s

all it took.

From that moment, we made a promise:

We’d build a store by washers, for washers.

We’d focus on education, support, and community.

We’d make sure no contractor ever felt as lost as we did starting out.

Our Mission Today

We’re not here just to sell parts or machines. We’re here to build relationships, educate new

contractors, and raise the standard for the entire industry.

If you walk through our doors, you’re not just a customer — you’re part of the same journey

we started over a decade ago.

Wash Works Supply exists because two friends believed this industry deserved better —

and we’re here to make sure you get exactly that.

—

Anthony & Nate

Founders, Wash Works Supply

“Built by Washers, for Washers.”