PENDLETON — Matt Eldridge had been planning to open a business for a couple of years.

He got it up and running a few weeks ago.

“Then all of a sudden, this covid virus thing broke out, and I thought, ‘Oh, what a time to start a business,” he said.

[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]

What a time, indeed.

He thought at first it couldn’t be worse. But as it turns out — after acting on a hunch and a desire to help his local grocery store — he has discovered a service he could provide that not only puts his new equipment to work but also could help slow the spread of the coronavirus in many places.

The business, X-WASH, was set up to provide exterior cleaning services to residential and commercial customers. It uses a variety of machines and chemicals to remove dirt and grime from surfaces such as roofs, siding, sidewalks and driveways.

X-WASH already had booked some of that type of work when COVID-19 was starting to spread in the United States.

“I kind of saw what was coming, and I ordered some (sanitizer) just in case,” he said.

Then, when he saw how the pandemic was progressing, he extended an offer to Needler’s Fresh Market in Pendleton to clean and sanitize all of its shopping carts and baskets without charge, as a way of helping the community.

“I do live here and I do shop at Needler’s,” he said. “Just sitting here and kind of feeling helpless isn’t doing any good.”

One night last week, Eldridge — who has a full-time job as an estimating manager in the heating, ventilation and cooling system industry — went to the store at about midnight and spent about two hours pressure washing and sanitizing 100 carts and 50 baskets.

The sanitizer he used is approved by U.S.Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency for disinfectant use against, among other things, coronavirus.

Jake Green, Needler’s store director, said Eldridge had previously stopped by the store “out of the blue” to offer his services, and then came to do the work at the ideal time.

“He came in overnight and did it, which was perfect because it didn’t interrupt our business, didn’t get in any customer’s way and allowed him to get every cart in the store,” Green said.

Green said Needler’s already was using a variety of cleaners at the store to help stop caronavirus transmission, including disinfectant wipes on carts, but that a deep cleaning of carts, including the application of a sanitizer, was a definite improvement.

industry standard is to periodically wash carts down with a mild detergent, he said.

“With the way the culture is going to shift, I have a feeling this is going to be the new norm,” Green said.

He said Needler’s, which has one other Madison County store in Elwood, as well as locations in New Palestine, Tipton, Indianapolis, Richmond, Greensburg and Lafayette, is now interested in having Eldridge sanitize the carts at about 10 of its stores.

Green said the cleaning at the Pendleton location was posted to the company Facebook site “to let our customers know that our carts were sanitized.”

One comment, posted by Debbie Savage, read “Fantastic idea, that is greatly appreciated”

“Thank you for all your generosity Matt and Needlers! Maybe some of the other markets will follow!” read another by Sharon Moreillon.

Eldridge said he “absolutely” will be offering sanitizing services going forward. He said he sees uses for it on a variety of outdoor surfaces, including playgrounds, benches and handrails.

It’s been an unexpected kick-start for his business, he said, “unfortunately, for the rest of the world.”