VacDaddy: Auto Cleaning for How You Live, Not for a Car Show

Harlan's Practical Car Cleaning Service Makes Vehicle Maintenance Accessible to Everyone

When Alejandro "Al" Stark was cleaning his own car one day, a simple question crossed his mind: "Would anybody pay for something like this?" That moment of curiosity in April 2024 sparked what would become VacDaddy, Harlan's practical auto cleaning service that's now entering its second successful season.

From Personal Project to Community Business

The origin of VacDaddy is refreshingly straightforward. After receiving a shop vac as a Christmas gift, Stark found himself tackling the accumulated crumbs, trash, and clutter in his family vehicle.

"I was pulling out all the trash and the clutter and vacuuming under the seats, all the crumbs and everything," Stark recalls. "I was like, 'Man, I'd pay for somebody to clean up my car. I wonder if there's other people who feel the same way.'"

That simple question led to brainstorming, self-branding, and eventually launching a business that's now serving families throughout Shelby County. While Stark maintains his primary career in remote business development for a healthcare company, VacDaddy has become a growing passion project for both him and his wife, Rhiannon, who recently joined as a co-founder and partner.

Practical Cleaning for Everyday Life

VacDaddy's philosophy is evident in its slogan: "We clean for how you live, not for a car show." This principle guides everything about the business, from its pricing structure to its service approach.

"I don't want people to expect us to have this showroom level when they open their car doors," Stark explains. "We're keeping it real simple. It's cleaning for how you live, not for a car show."

The business offers three straightforward packages:

• Basic Package ($30): Decluttering, trash removal, and vacuuming to give your vehicle a nice reset
• Signature Package ($50): Everything in the basic package plus an interior wipe-down with quality cleaners and a deodorizing treatment
• Deep Clean Package ($75): For tougher messes, including dry steam treatment, enzyme application for breaking down stains, and interior window cleaning

For an additional $10, VacDaddy offers a convenient pickup and return service. "If you're at work and you want your car cleaned, or if you're going out to eat, or even if you're just having a lazy day at home, I'll come pick up your vehicle, take it back to our place, clean it, and then bring it back refreshed," says Stark.

Connecting with the Community

Having moved to Harlan about three years ago, the Starks have embraced the community and found the auto cleaning business to be an excellent way to deepen those connections.

"Working with the community in Harlan has flipped things around for me," Stark shares. "Now I'm engaging with all of my neighbors and the people that we see daily in the community. Everybody's becoming a familiar face. That was really what it was about for us, too—we wanted to be bigger members of our community."

The business primarily serves families dealing with the inevitable messes that come with children, commuters, and people preparing their vehicles for sale or trade-in. Stark estimates that about 60% of his customers are families dealing with crumbs, spills, and accumulated clutter.

What continues to surprise Stark is how appreciative customers are when they see the transformation. "We return these cars that maybe haven't been cleaned for a couple years or they've really been through it," he explains. "Then these customers will open up their doors and they'll send me a text message back like, 'Wow, this looks amazing. It looks so different.'"

Future Growth and Expansion

Currently operating from their home on Victoria Street, the Starks have plans to expand. They hope to secure a commercial garage space in Harlan by winter 2025, allowing them to serve customers year-round and potentially add staff.

"Our five-year plan is to have it expanded in a way where we're bringing on help in the future, too," says Stark.

The business is also working to streamline its processes as Rhiannon becomes more involved. 'For the future, I'm starting to dig more into efficient processes,' Stark explains. 'My goal is for VacDaddy to be quick, efficient, clean.'

Stark's enthusiasm for the business is evident when he talks about what aspect he enjoys most: "I'm VacDaddy. It's the vacuuming, man. I don't know why, but it's so satisfying to just get all those crunchy bits up out of the floors."

More Than Just a Business

For Stark, VacDaddy represents something beyond a simple service or side hustle—it's about independence and creativity.

"It's all about breaking out of the mold for us," he reflects. "I've been working corporately for over five years, and it's very easy to feel like you're that cog in a machine. The best way, in my opinion, to set yourself up for future security is to own your own thing, because I'm not going to fire myself."

The business also gives the Starks an opportunity to express their personality. "We're goofy people. We want to bring that over to our brand," Stark says, noting that they enjoy creating humorous content for their social media presence.

With seasonal promotions planned throughout the year, including upcoming Mother's Day and Father's Day specials featuring raffles and partnerships with other local businesses, VacDaddy continues to find new ways to serve and engage with the Harlan community.

A Clean Car, A Happy Community

What started as a simple question has grown into a thriving local business that fills a practical need in Harlan. VacDaddy embodies the entrepreneurial spirit that helps small communities flourish—accessible, practical, and genuine. As the Starks continue to build their business while deepening their roots in Shelby County, they're proving that sometimes the most successful ventures are those that solve everyday problems with a personal touch. "Imagine what the community would look and feel like if everyone was just doing the things that made them the happiest," reflects Stark. Through VacDaddy, he's doing exactly that, one clean car at a time.

To schedule a cleaning, visit the VacDaddy Facebook page at or book directly through their Calendly scheduling link. For more information, call Al at (719) 300-9033. VacDaddy serves all of Shelby County with appointments available from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, with same-day appointments often available. Follow them on Facebook to stay updated on seasonal specials and promotions.