How to use a Self-Service Car Wash?

Self-service car wash is an eco-friendly, cost-effective solution where the customers clean their own vehicles with the help of the equipment provided at the bay. To use these coin-operated car washes, you need to have a good understanding of the process to avoid any damages. Self-service car wash is not a child’s play, it requires proper instructions to be followed. For instance, you must have an idea about the ratio of water and detergent to be used for car cleaning.

Main equipment used for self-service car wash

Depending on the customer’s preference and budget, the self-service car washing is carried out in a single station (standalone car wash unit). There are roll-over automatic and tunnel bays equipped with a variety of offerings. To ensure that the car wash goes well without any problems, there is diverse equipment at the bay including sprayers, brushes, and chemicals. Vacuum cleaners, tire inflation, and hand-held air dry blowers are alternative features that you can avail in cold climate self-service bays.

The objective of keeping a self-service car wash is to accommodate the maximum number of customers with minimal space and expense. A car wash station has an average capacity to clean around 3-6 cars in an hour per bay. 

A step-by-step guide to performing self-service car wash:

Step 1 – Set up your car for the wash 

Park the car in an empty bay and remove the rubber or plastic floor mats.

Set the Sprayer settings: 

Basic machine settings – wash, soap, and rinse. 

Advanced machine settings – pre-wash and wax. Opt for ‘Wash’ or ‘Pre Wash’ setting. 

Insert the money into the machine (price corresponds to the time limit for car wash).

Step 2 – Wash the car with a spray wand 

 Locate the spray wand and squeeze its handle to release the water pressure. 

 Note: Stand away from the spray wand to avoid causing any damage to the car. 

 Spray down the entire car to remove dust and debris. Clean the doormats separately. 

 Time to trade settings from ‘wash’ to ‘soap.’ 

 Take a lap around your car for deep cleaning using the soapy stream. 

 Then, scrub your car with a foam brush. 

Step 3 – Rinsing and drying Use the spray wand again to rinse the suds from the car. Apply wax to car surface (if there is a ‘wax’ setting available) Dry your floor mats with a rag or towel before putting them back in the interior.

Different Types of Car Wash Programs: Pre-wash – It refers to the first step of the car wash when you have to prepare your vehicle for an extensive wash by wiping the superficial dirt off the car surface.

Foaming with a brush – In this system, there is a fully autonomous foaming installation with an air compressor. The foam is applied to the car using a brush. You have to use airy cellular foam that adheres perfectly to the vehicle. 

Foaming with a lance – An adequate amount of foam is applied to the car using the foaming lance. The sudsy foam has to be thick enough to clean the dirt on your vehicle. 

 Customers are getting more inclined towards self-service car wash than an automatic car wash. It is so because a self-service car wash is definitely an affordable option. But it can cause damage to your car’s paint or interior if you don’t possess the necessary skills and knowledge to accomplish the task of cleaning your car.