If You Are Searching for Car Wash Near You – Read This Guide

Like there are a lot of variations in everything these days and technology is developing immensely. Car washes are also now of many types and variations. A lot of brands have created high-quality deep car washes in every nook and corner.

You can find any car wash station around your sector. For some reason, people nowadays don’t have enough time to get a car wash done and even wipe it clean like the old days. People love to take their car to the car wash station, get a specific type of wash done and jet set follow their routine.

It is also important for you to know everything about car washes and its types before diving into it. Here are the types of car washes:

Types of car washes

Method 1: Hand wash

The easiest and safest way to get a good car wash done is the hand wash one. There are a few subtypes of hand washes as well, the following are:

• Traditional two bucket method
• High tech

So basically both of them are same, but the high tech one has more advance options to do it. Hand wash session includes a soft foam pre-wash and a simple water wash after that. After that, the car is coated with froth which is then flustered with soft washes.

All the contaminants are now broken down, and the car is clean.

After that, the vehicle is rinsed and then dried in a very subtle high tech car drier. But it is the most useful long-lasting car wash.

Method 2: Waterless wash

It is a simple and sort process. Requires very less equipment and almost no water. Basically, the professional will use spraying tools and soft towels to get that neat look. People mostly get these types of car washes when they don’t have enough time to wait for a deep clean, or they are out somewhere, and the car got dirty, or even if you don’t have enough space.

It is a very less time taking deep clean for your car’s exterior, although people use it as a last option, it is an effective procedure.

Waterless washes can’t remove a lot of dirt and junk on your car. It can just simply dust off your car and give it a neat, clean look so you can go everywhere without feeling embarrassed.

They can obviously not match hand washes as they are the most efficient ones. Everything comes with some cons and pros. Here are some disadvantages and advantages of waterless washes:

Method 3: Rinse less wash

This kind of car wash is way different then the waterless or hand wash. It is a mixture of both these car washes. For this, you will need a rinse less wash product and then make a mixture of it with water.

No froth will be produced, and you won’t need to rinse away your car like in hand wash one. You will only wipe it clean and dry. Rinse fewer washes can be easily done with simple rinse fewer wash products and towels.

There are a lot of ways to use these products for the rinse less car wash as well. There is a way where you take a lot of microfiber towels and dunk them in the mixture of wash product then clean your car with it.

After that wipe it dry with towels. You will do this process by focusing on one part of the car. Part by part, it will get clean.

Those people who don’t have enough time or space can easily opt this method. Also, if you don’t have enough water supplies, this method is your go-to.

Method 4: Automatic wash

Generally, people drive through these kinds of car wash procedures. It is also known as the “tunnel washes.” Your vehicle is dried in a conveyer belt first and then goes through a tunnel of brushes and blowers.

These brushes have really rough bristles in them which can damage your car paint, parts or the whole exterior even. In this kind of car wash, a series of harsh wash products also get used on the cars which contain chemicals and car waste from previous vehicles that got washed.

This can ruin your whole exterior even if the finish seems fine at first it’s not going to be long term if you keep getting such car washes. People who are trying to save money generally get these car washes which are less costly and less time taking.

Some people are completely unaware of what damage they’re doing to their car through these automatic car washes which seem convenient but really bad for your vehicle in real.

After getting this car wash you will start experiencing scratches on and off on the car, and the paint will start coming off, you won’t even realize that it’s because of the car wash and then pay a fortune to get those fixed.

Method 5: Brushless wash

This type of car wash resembles the automatic one but has soft cloth in place of hard-bristled brushes in the equipment. You will now think that this is a better choice as compared to the automatic one with bristled brushes, but the fact that you don’t know is that car wash agencies don’t change a different sanitized washcloth for every car.

They use the same used car washcloth for most of the cars and change it after a sweep of shifts, so that is like taking all the junk back in and getting more scratches than the automatic one.

They also use harsh chemicals which are toxic for your vehicle. It can be said as a slightly better choice than the automatic one but certainly not recommended.

Method 6: Touchless wash

It cleans without any of the usages of brushes with bristles. The whole of the automatic touchless wash occurs with a prep of tools that are chemical products.

Pressure washers and pressurized air are also used. So this might seem like an alternative for the rest of the car washes as it is milder than the others, but you are not quite there yet.

Before getting this car wash done you should keep in mind that still a lot of chemicals will be used to wash your car and it can strip your paint off and give your car scratches. Also, brushless washes and touchless washes can’t be compared as they are different from each other.

People often get confused between brushless and touchless; the answer is both are different and slightly resemble each other because of the chemical products used.

Method 7: Home car wash

When you are washing your car at home. You have to not worry about the equipment. That is because you can wash your car in easy steps without a lot of tools and high tech equipment and it will also take less time.

1.  First of all, you will clean the exterior. Toss out the trash and remove all dirt and debris on your car.
2. Tackle out the tricky parts. To remove the dirt, you will have to slap the mats together. Then lay them on the driveway. For cleaning them, you can use a vacuum. Blow out all the debris inside the car.
3. For the dashboard, you will need a clean toothbrush to brush along the dashboard and door panels to clean out the debris that is inside the tricky areas. Then again blow the vacuum to suck all remaining dirt.
4. Vacuum the floor now and the upholstery. For this, you will move the seats, so they reach near the backseats. Then you will vacuum the floor in the front. Then you can recline them more to crevices so you can find any more dirt to remove.
5. Using a damp towel now you will remove all dust and dirt from the dashboard and wipe it clean. Then move on to the gearshift, steering wheel, car doors, handles, and seats, etc. all specific cleaner products should be used for the wiping process. Don’t use this product on seats as they are sensitive to chemicals.
6. Now you will clean the seat belts. With a cotton cloth dipped in the product.
7. Coming on to the windows and the sunroof. Apply a foam cleanser and then wipe clean with a microfiber towel.
8. Tackle the exterior now. Pay special attention to tires where debris is collected and clean them using water.
9. Get two large buckets filled with water and add a few drops of car-specific soap. Then will a car wash sponge clean the whole car, the whole exterior and rinse away all the dust and debris. First, apply the sponge on the roof then hood, rear, upper portion each side, lower portion each side, etc.

All of this process takes 2 hours maximum. So you anyone can do a car wash at home with fewer expenses only with water and cleaning detergent, a good big sponge and a car wash product.

Commercial car wash vs. Home car wash

There are a lot of factors that explain why commercial and home car washes are unique and different in their own way. Some people prefer washing their car at home, and some want to save time and get it done from a car wash station near them. The factors that are involved are:

1. Time

A lot of people need to be sure of getting a car wash done at home as it can be done in your driveway or garage with lesser costs but a professional can get the same job in lesser time and would charge a few money.

2. Cost 

Costs are high in professional car wash stations, and you need to afford them so you cannot spend 2-4 hours on your car cleaning everything when with a few dollars you can get a professional car wash done within an hour.

Home wash, on the other hand, costs nothing with really simple tools but takes a lot of time and energy.

3. Quality

There is a lot of quality difference. Home washing can’t be professional; you might scratch your car you rubbing the product too hard or anything else. So it is better to get a car wash done from a professional.

4. Impact on car 

Professional car washes can provide a harsh impact on your car because high tech car washes use hard-bristled brushes which can cause deep scratches on your car. Home washing is better in that sense because you are using foam for cleaning.

Things to take care of before getting car washes

A lot of car wash stations offer you to clean your car yourself or get a two bucket one done. According to car experts, you need to get them washed at least twice a week. There are some things to consider before getting any car wash done. The following things are:

Supplies used: if you are using the right products to clean the car, get an automatic wash or a DIY one. It matters the most that you don’t use wash products that are full of chemicals and tools that are rough.

When you go to a car wash station, make sure to ask if they are going to use organic supplies or not. You also need to get a clear coat done to get protection for the paint. Never buy cheap supplies for your car wash.

Organic car wash products are the best, a little expensive but worth it. You should save money for these as they let your car breathe and last a lifetime.

Services and costs: the best thing you can do for your vehicle is not to go and look for luxurious professional car washes as they are only expensive and damaging for your car. As these professionals use cheap chemical products.

A basic car wash is a right choice from a local station which costs less and is more efficient. You should save your money and be aware of such people who can make you impressed with their advertisements.

Costs are less as long as you are getting the right car wash done. If you do not take care of your vehicle, then you will have to spend more money on repairs then maintenance.

Reviews by the customers: when you search for a car station which can give you the wash you require. Make sure to go through customer reviews and ratings to achieve your goal of getting a less expensive yet good basic car wash. Some great options like Yelp or Google Listings. One pro tip from experience – don’t use car wash from gas station – as they are almost cheapest out there.

Don’t come in the words of enhanced features, paints, and shine. As you will get nothing, they mention unless you read the reviews first and try for yourself.

Reading reviews will do you no harm so never become lazy when it comes to car washes as they are the main key to the maintenance of your car.

Look out for the water waste management: professional agencies use used up water that has cleaned a heap of cars. You can’t imagine getting your car wash done with dirty water obviously.

This is like a waste of money and time if the wash is not even cleaning your car. But not every facility does that so do your research and find the one which uses purified water for car washes.

Don’t get these car wash agencies to ruin the exterior of your car and think thrice before availing any option as they don’t even give you a refund if you tell them what they did to your vehicle.

How often you need to get a car wash done?

Some people are really enthusiastic about getting their car cleaned and tidy for the daily routine. They clean their car almost daily or for the least twice a week, which is recommended. But there are a number of people who don’t even touch their cars or dust them off.

Their tires would be covered in mud, and they won’t care. Washing your vehicle is really necessary and beneficiary for you long term. It prevents a lot of contaminated dust, pollen, tree saps, and pollutants affecting your car’s exterior all the time in almost all season.

Mostly car professionals suggest that for graceful aging of your car and proper maintenance you need to wash it twice a week but if not then at least once a week if you’re not having any free time at all.

Some car wash agencies offer discount deals on a monthly basis, so if you find getting a car wash done on a weekly basis as expensive, then these deals are really helpful and make it inexpensive.

If still, it’s not possible to get car washes done properly for you, then follow these guidelines:

Location: You need to consider your living area first. If you live near forests and oceans etc. then you will experience a lot of dust on your car, especially bird droppings. So it’s important for you to get car washes according to your surroundings as well.

The distance of your drive: Obviously the more you drive, the more your car will get dirty with a lot of substances attached to it. So the more you will need to get car washes done.

Weather: It is important to see which kind of weather your car is exposed to. A fact is that acid rain also causes rusting of the car so that would mean to avoid it you have to get a car wash after every bad weather situation.

Storage: It is important to see where you store your car or park it. If it’s in a garage, then it is safe to say it won’t need that much car wash. If it’s parked in the driveway or on the road, then you will definitely have to get it washed frequently.

Appearance and model of the car: It depends on the car and its type that if it is a practical car, then a basic cleaning car wash would be fine but if it is an expensive one you will have to get good hand washes done to avoid any damage.

When is time to get a car wash done that is out of schedule

It is important to keep certain things in mind for your car, and it’s washing schedule. Sometimes it happens that you recently got a car wash, but certain circumstances make you get another one. Here are those following circumstances:

Newly splattered bugs: Bug splatter is really damaging for the car as it bonds to the paint and destroys the finish of the car. It is a really disgusting sight but at the same time danger for the car paint.

Bird droppings: It is time to get another car wash done when you wake up the next day and find out that there are bird droppings all over your windshield. The longer those droppings stay, the more it is dangerous for the car’s exterior as these droppings are really stiff and hard to remove after some time.

Tree sap: If you are in a woody area, then you will experience tree sap on your car. It can rust your car and oxidize it. Also, it wears the paint finish out, so it’s highly dangerous for the car paint.

Heat: Obviously heat accelerates damaged caused by all the circumstances mentioned above, and it melts the wax protection of your car as well. Also removes the paint.

Rain: Rain causes moisture in the air. This, in return, traps the contaminants and pollutants on the exterior.

Air pollution: If you live in an urban area then air pollution is really common, which corrodes your car and exhilarates the wax protection to come off. Paint starts to rust down as well because of air pollution.

Final Thoughts

As we have discussed each and every detail about car washes now including its types when to consider getting car washes, what are the pros and cons of different types of car washes and different tips of when you are going to get a car wash done, etc.?

This information can help anyone, including newbie car owners to learn a thing or two about car washes, what types are suitable and where car washstands as the maintenance for a car.

People usually become careless even if there are bird droppings on the windshield or if there is any moisture in the air. So now they will know it’s important to fix it.