Why Cars Are More Cluttered After They’re Cleaned

Who would have ever thought? Carwashes, typically known for selling pine-scented air fresheners and cold drinks, have gone cultural. A few of the region’s more diversified sudhouses are below.

If you’re yearning for a frog-topped Indonesian herbal medicine box or a silver dragon candelabra, look no farther than the Madison Car Wash. “I wanted to differentiate myself from the other carwashes,” says owner Kal Ammari, who travels with his fashion designer wife, Nereida, to Indonesia to sweeten the inventory. Besides offering carwash staples such as leopard-skin steering wheel grips, greeting cards and belly-button rings, he has carved wood mirrors and hand-painted masks. “Wait till you see what is coming for Christmas,” says Ammari, who is plotting a cavalcade of bath soaps and incense.

7617 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood.

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Bob Bush, owner of Downtown Car Wash, offers his customers a selection of L.A. Times best-sellers, along with such literary gems as “Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay” and Chris Santilli’s “The Naked Truth About Hedonism II.” You also can enjoy popcorn and coffee or visit the shoeshine stand along with (it seems) half of the LAPD.

811 W. Olympic Blvd. (at Figueroa), Los Angeles.

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Art and franchise mix like soap and water at the Santa Palm, currently exhibiting the work of L.A. artist Beau Bradford, whose Warhol-esque photo silk-screen portraits grace the end of the viewing hallway. “It’s the most high-end carwash in the world,” says Bradford, whose large panels go for $10,000. Who’s going to buy a piece of art at a carwash? “A lot of interior decorators, collectors and directors drive through,” says Bradford, who says the set design department on Reese Witherspoon’s upcoming “Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde” approached him regarding a possible commission after a visit to the Santa Palm. “That wouldn’t happen at any other carwash,” he adds.

8787 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood.

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Finally, on the other side of the hill, Ventura Hand Wash is breaking new ground in roadside aromatherapy with its mulberry, pina colada or vanilla sprays.

13320 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks.