North Kingstown student, Eli Kuzminsky, shines with new business – Brendan Higgins

by Brendan Higgins, contributing writer

We all know the old saying, “These kids today…they don’t want to work!” While that may or may not be true, Eli Kuzminsky, of North Kingstown, is proving that theory to be false. The undertaking of starting a new business is a daunting task for anyone. What makes this story unique is this young man is just 17 years old and a junior at North Kingstown High School.

The name of his company is EK Auto Detailing. Kuzminsky provides a mobile service that comes right to your door. He offers a full menu for any vehicle, including RV’s and motorcycles. When I sat with Kuzminsky to listen to his story I was instantly impressed with his poise and sincerity. What unfolded during the interview was both informative and inspiring.   

Kuzminsky was born in Middletown. He grew up living on Aquidneck Island. His father, Robert Souza, passed away when he was in the fifth grade. Kuzminsky grew up living with his mother, Karensa Kuzminsky, and his older brother, Luke Christian. When he was a child Kuzminsky quickly realized he liked to roll up his sleeves and test himself.

He explained, “I’m into mechanics and how things work. When I was in preschool the first book I ever read was my mom’s car owner’s manual. I like to analyze systems and try to figure out how to improve them. I like the field of engineering. I’ve always been into cars. When I was a kid I was not allowed to work on them, so I cleaned them. In time, my dad taught me how to change a tire and do an oil change. When I was 8 years old I was already detailing my mom’s car. I would look at videos on how to do it correctly without damaging the car. Washing and detailing are different. I learned about restoring paint and removing scratches. As a kid I was very interested in this. With the interior I learned what products were good and which ones to stay away from. Some products do not clean they just leave a greasy residue.”

Kuzminsky was extremely thorough sharing his impressive knowledge of vehicle detailing. He began detailing cars for family and friends at a very young age. That was where it all started for him. He changed cabin air filters helping people save money as opposed to going to the dealer and paying top dollar. He also had a rack full of cleaning supplies.

EK Auto Detailing is a mobile service bringing the entire operation to the customer. If a customer is looking for the full interior/exterior experience, the process covers every conceivable service available.

Kuzminsky explained, “I will show up in the morning and get right to work. A typical interior takes me about 3 hours. I work from the trunk forward. I start with a thorough vacuuming. Then I use my extractor for stain removal. Next I use my steam cleaner for plastic surfaces. There is only one chemical I use as a multi-purpose cleaner for cars. It smells good and is not harsh on the surface. I have various brushes and scrubbers for more difficult areas. Everything from the floor to the headliner is addressed and detailed. I do the same for the leather seats. I have a conditioning product if they are badly faded. I have a drill brush for cup holders. I don’t miss a spot. That includes under the seats. Every button on the dash is addressed. This is where the brushes come in handy.

Then there’s the steering wheel. People have no idea how disgusting the steering wheel can get. Leather is not supposed to look shiny. It’s supposed to look matte. I typically need to work a little longer on the steering wheel and the shifter. The dashboard is pretty straight forward. The floor mats I usually do last. If they are rubber mats I put some product on the mat then scrub it around with my drill brush. Then I use my wet vac to remove the standing water and finally use a microfiber towel to fully dry it off. They always come out looking great. I also do door jams. The space between the door and the sill. This area is always dirty, and I make sure I detail it. This is the first thing you see when you open your car door. When it comes to windows you really don’t need a lot of product. It’s mostly removing streaks and hand prints. I do have a safe glass cleaner if needed. My approach is to use as little chemicals as possible to get the job done. I care about people’s health. I always ask customers if they have any allergens to specific things. Oder removal is part of the process. This involves more use of my steamer.”

If I had conducted my interview with Kuzminsky over the phone I would have never known he was a high school student. His level of maturity and professionalism impressed me. He clearly cares about the quality of his work.

Kuzminsky continued with his presentation taking me through the exterior service. “First I make sure all the windows are closed, and the doors are properly shut. Then I pick up the wiper blades. Then I gently power wash the entire vehicle. I rinse it thoroughly. I use a foam cannon to spray the soap solution all over the vehicle. Then I grab my microfiber mitts and begin my 2-bucket method. One bucket has the same cleaning solution I use in the foam cannon and the other bucket has clean water. These buckets have a grit guard at the bottom. This keeps the dirt at the bottom of the bucket. Next I put my mitt in the clean water and scrub the car, panel by panel. As I finish a panel I flip the mitt over making sure I always use the clean side of the mitt. Then I rinse off the car. Then I dry it.

If it’s a basic service I have a spray wax I spray on then rinse off. If the customer wants a paint decontamination and wax I use a clay bar and mitt and iron remover spray. This removes years of contamination that washing will never remove. In the near future I will be offering a ceramic coating. This is an alternative to wax. It requires less maintenance, and you have to wash your car less. I also offer paint correction. In addition, I clean the wheels. This is the only area I use a harsh chemical on the customers vehicle. I also apply a nice tire shine. Any black trim on the vehicle I use a restorer product. This works especially well on Jeeps. They always come out looking new and will last as long as a year. Once a customer has this process performed on their vehicle, they would only need a maintenance wash moving forward. EK Auto Detailing has a package for everyone ranging from an express service to an executive service.”

I spoke with Eli’s mother, Karensa. Needless to say, she is proud of her son and his ambitious nature. She said, “Eli is trustworthy. He is devoted to everything that he does. I told him he needed to pay for his own car insurance. He also has done most of the repairs on his own car. These are a few of the reasons he became motivated to start his own business. He researches everything out. He has invested a lot of money in tools and products. He helps me a lot. He installed a garage door opener. He fixed an electrical problem. He is very confident. He watches do-it-yourself YouTube videos. When he was a kid I walked outside, and he had taken the back seat out of my car. He said he wanted to know where the gas tank was. He is fearless when it comes to figuring out how to fix things that are broken.”

Eli Kuzminsky has a full plate. In addition to being a full time student he is also an Eagle Scout candidate. He spends most of his spare time with his girlfriend, Mariam Bility. Kuzminsky also enjoys riding dirt bikes, ATV’s and working on his car. He is also building a racing go-cart. He explained, “We put a harbor freight predator 305 engine on this old go cart frame. We made improvements to it. We upgraded the seat and modified the engine. We are rebuilding it. We upgraded the tires so it can steer better and accelerate faster. Theoretically, it will now have a top speed of 70 mph.”  

Eli Kuzminsky has a strong work ethic. The proof is in the finished product. You can visit his Facebook page to see before and after photos. Auto detailing makes a great gift. You can set up an appointment by emailing  [email protected] or call (401) 439-3809.

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To read all stories by Brendan, here, go to: https://rinewstoday.com/brendan-higgins

Brendan Higgins, writer and author, RIPTA bus driver, former professional wrestler (Knuckles Nelson), and North Kingstown resident.

We welcome Brendan back after a hiatus as a contributing writer to RINewsToday.

To read a story about Brendan, from our sports department, go to: https://rinewstoday.com/knuckles-nelson-waking-up-from-the-wrestling-ring-to-the-yoga-mat-john-cardullo/

Higgins is the author of “Waking Up: From the Wrestling Ring to the Yoga Mat

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