Are Automatic Car Washes Safe For Your Car?
What Are the Different Types of Car Washes
There are a few different types of car washes available for those considering car wash options, each with their own pros and cons. It’s important to know the differences between these car washes before you decide which one will be best for your business.
Automatic In-Bay Car Washes
With an automatic in-bay car wash, the customer makes a car wash purchase at an unattended terminal and pulls their vehicle into the car wash bay. The car wash moves back and forth cleaning the car while it is in park, either with rollers that go over the car with a soft cloth or a high-pressure spray. This is a very common type of car wash, and it can clean a vehicle very quickly while requiring very little work from the customer. The process is all automatic, so it might not be the best choice if you or your customers want a more hands-on approach to washing their cars. Still, this is a great car wash if you don’t have a lot of space or resources for a more detailed wash.
Tunnel Washes
A tunnel car wash is similar to an in-bay car wash in that the customer drives their vehicle into a bay for an automated wash. The major difference is that the vehicle is moved through a tunnel on a conveyor belt. Different parts of the tunnel contain different cleaning elements; one part might spray cleaning chemicals on the car, the next part has rollers and cloths that clean via friction, while a third part might contain high-pressure water hoses that spray any remaining chemicals off of the vehicle. It does require more space than an in-bay car wash, and it does require more maintenance, but it also allows you to provide a more thorough wash.
Self-Serve Car Washes
A self-serve car wash is any wash where customers are able to wash their own vehicles using your equipment and supplies. Customers pay at an automated kiosk to be able to use equipment such as high-pressure hoses, brushes and chemical cleaners for a period of time. This gives customers the freedom to wash their cars as thoroughly as they wish, and it requires relatively little work on your end. The only downsides are that only one car can be washed per bay, and there is almost no customer supervision. You won’t do as much business with a self-serve car wash, but you will most likely have more satisfied customers who appreciate the ability to wash and detail their own cars.
Hand Washes
Finally, you have full-service car washes where all vehicles are hand-washed by your staff. This obviously provides the deepest clean and best detailing, but it will also mean a lot of work on your end. There are higher costs for labor, training, and management, and it will take some time to clean each vehicle satisfactorily.
Whichever car wash you’re interested in for your business, contact WET today to find out the best solution for your needs. WET has the experience in car washing you can trust.
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