Commercial Car Washing
A car wash is a place used to clean the exteriors and, at times, the interiors of various motor vehicles. Car wash facilities can either be self-served, semi-automated or fully automated with attendants that clean the car while it waits. There are many types of car washes including general car washes, custom car washes, classic car washes, and car wash facilities for specialty vehicles such as race cars, hot rods, exotic cars and trucks, and restoration vehicles.

General car washes run on a timed cycle that allows them to complete one complete washing cycle. The cycle begins by using a high-pressure jetting system to remove surface dirt and oil, then cool water and soap are spraying on the car to help remove any remaining dirt and residue from the cleaning process. The exterior surfaces are thoroughly wetted with the water; a detergent mixture is then applied to help remove the remaining grime from the surface of the vehicle, and finally, the high-pressure jetting system is used to complete the cleaning process. Commercial car washes utilize a variety of different equipment including pressure washers, power washers, electric dryers, hot water heaters, rotary scrubbers, power scrubbers, and air compressors to help remove dirt, debris, and grease from the surfaces of your vehicle.
Custom car washes are typically self-contained units that use a variety of different accessories including pressure washers, power washers, electric dryers, electric floor washers, hot water heaters, rotary scrubbers, and air compressors to help remove dirt, debris, and grease from your vehicle’s exterior. Some of the more popular and common accessories used in custom car washes include carpet cleaners, power washers, dryers, and polishers. The most commonly found materials in many car washes are vinyl, aluminum, copper, stainless steel, rubber, and foam. The use of adhesives and cleaners in these types of units is not usually necessary, but it can help to create the unique appearance that you desire.
Many car wash facilities offer “self-service” washing stations. Self-service washing stations allow you to wash your own vehicle at no extra charge. This type of service is becoming more popular among those that may have seasonal employees that will wash and detail vehicles on an occasional basis or business owners that wish to provide their employees with an additional service that is provided completely free of charge. These types of facilities are quite popular in all metropolitan areas and can often be found in local airport garages.
The final type of equipment that is found in many car washes is an idle zone. An idle zone is simply a cubicle within the car wash facility that is designed to help maintain a consistent cleaning environment. While this may seem like a minor concern, many car wash employees are prone to working for extended periods of time and become relaxed, thus allowing bacteria to build up. idle zones are designed to keep surfaces sanitized and prevent the formation of mold and mildew.
Brake dust collection equipment consists of two main pieces. The first piece is a drum containing either air or water. The second piece is a collection bin containing either cloth strips or plastic tabs that collect the collected dust. These two pieces of work in conjunction with one another, with the air drum acting as a source of rotation and the cloth strips acting as a filter. These two pieces are most often used in car wash settings where high pressure is needed for effective cleaning.
Many car washes offer both self-serve and full-service options. For customers that do not need the extra service, self-serve systems are an excellent value. For full-service customers, many full-service car washes offer a full service that includes changing filters, cleaning brushes, vacuuming, and polishing. If these services are not needed, full-service options are a great way to save money on car wash time.
It is important to note that commercial car washes do not offer the same cleaning options as do self-serve units. Self-serve models only have the power to clean windows while full-service options offer the ability to clean windows, grease, and dirt from glass, chrome, and mirrors. Commercial car washes that offer both self-serve and full-service options are usually more expensive than other commercial car washes, but are generally more reliable and perform better overall. For customers that are not aware of all the services available on a self-wash unit, commercial car washes are a good alternative to self-clean car washes since they offer the full functionality and quality for a lower price.