Car Wash Systems

Car Wash Systems

Several different kinds of car wash systems exist, including self-serve, automated, and full service, in which workers clean and detail the car manually. Each type of wash system requires different equipment and components. Car owners can also elect to add a variety of extras to their wash, including a wax coat, carpet shampooing, leather conditioning, and tire detailing.

Self-serve systems have a large bay with a pressure sprayer and foaming scrub brush. They are usually coin-operated; the number of quarters inserted determines the duration of the wash. Coin-operated vacuums are usually available onsite and can be used to clean the interior and upholstery. In comparison, automatic car washes are a popular system in which cars are driven into the wash bay and either guided into the washing equipment by conveyors or the equipment moves around the stationary vehicle. Automatic car washes can be one of two varieties, either touchless or cloth friction. Full service systems clean both the interior and the exterior of the vehicle and often include detailing.

Car washes can greatly extend the life of a vehicle. Caustic materials, such as road salt spread on winter roads, can corrode the vehicle's exterior and rust the undercarriage. Most car washes use special soap designed to protect the paint finish. There has recently been increasing pressure on the car wash industry to use environmentally friendly chemicals and to conserve water.