Cars are among the most important purchases in people’s lives, so it’s essential to keep them clean. A dirty car can negatively impact your safety, your resale value and your overall driving experience.
One way to achieve this is by going to a professional car wash. Here are some things to look for when choosing the best one for you:
Exterior
The exterior of a vehicle is home to many things, from road salt and rocks to gravel and dust, all of which can have a detrimental impact on the outward appearance of your ride. A reputable car wash will help ensure that your ride is as fresh and shiny as the day it left the showroom.
The most exciting part of the process is when you see your car looking as good as new. A properly done and maintained exterior detailing job will last for many months and may even extend the life of your vehicle.
What’s more, a little TLC and some serious buffing and polishing goes a long way to keeping your ride looking as mint as the day it rolled off the lot.
The best way to go about this is by hiring a professional detailer, or buying a quality set of detailing tools and products at your local auto parts store. This will save you money in the long run and will make sure that your car is as clean as the day it was sold to you.
Interior
The interior of a car can quickly become a messy, grimy mess. Coffee spills, food stains and other sticky residue can easily find their way onto the seats, carpets, door panels and steering wheel.
It is a good idea to clean your vehicle regularly to keep it looking and smelling fresh. Regular cleaning will also help prevent the development of excess wear and tear on inner surfaces like upholstery.
One of the best ways to sanitize the inside of your car is with steam cleaning. This kills harmful bacteria and viruses, especially E.coli and Staphylococcus, that are lurking on switches, controls, dashboards, carpets and upholstery.
Chemicals
Car wash chemicals are the heart of the car washing process, determining how clean and shiny a vehicle leaves the car wash. They must work in harmony with the water, pH balance and other ingredients to be effective.
Hydrofluoric acid (HF) is an ingredient in a wide range of automotive and commercial vehicle cleaning products, rust removers and aluminum brighteners. Exposure to even low concentrations of this corrosive chemical can result in a variety of serious chemical burn injuries and systemic toxicity.
During 2001-2013, one death and 48 chemical burns due to HF exposure were reported in Washington State. Employers and workers in the car wash industry should minimize HF exposure, use alternative products that do not contain HF, and follow the safety instructions on the hazard alert or product label.
Safety
Car washes are very busy places with lots of potential hazards. These include wet conditions, motor vehicles, and the use of concentrated chemicals.
It is important that safety is a top priority when operating any type of commercial car wash. By ensuring that your facility is safe, you will be better able to keep your employees and customers safe.
As a car wash owner, it is also your responsibility to ensure that your staff are properly trained in the safety of the work area. This begins with what they wear to work, as well as proper footwear.
All chemicals used at a car wash need to be handled carefully and in compliance with the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) that are included on each chemical. They contain detailed information about the breakdown of each chemical, how to handle it safely, how to store it and what to do in case of contact or consumption
