Car Wash

mobile detailing Hand car wash facilities, where the vehicle is washed by employees. Self-service facilities, which are generally coin-operated, where the customer does the washing, including pressurized “jet washing”. In-bay automatics, which consist of an automatic machine that rolls back and forth over a stationary vehicle – often seen at filling stations and stand-alone wash sites. Tunnel washes, which use a conveyor to move the vehicle through a series of fixed cleaning mechanisms.

Chemical car wash, also known as waterless car wash, uses chemicals to wash and polish car surface. This is an eco-friendly mobile car wash method. Recommended only for cars with light dirt accumulation to avoid paint damage.

Steam car washes use a jet of steam and micro fiber towels, some include detergent injection. Known to have originated from South Korea, steam car washes have been especially popular as a low-investment, Eco-friendly car wash solution in Asia, Middle East and Europe thanks to its sanitizing features and mobility.

In today’s modern mobile detailing car wash facilities, whether tunnel, in-bay automatic or self-serve, soaps and other cleaning solutions used are designed to loosen and eliminate dirt and grime. This is in contrast to earlier times, when hydroelectric acid, a hazardous chemical, was commonly used as a cleaning agent in the industry by some operators. There has been a strong move in the industry to shift to safer cleaning solutions. Most car wash facilities are required by law to treat and/or reuse their water and may be required to maintain waste-water discharge permits, in contrast to unregulated facilities or even driveway washing (at one’s home), where waste-water can end up in the storm drain and, eventually, in streams, rivers and lakes.