How to properly wash your car at a self-service car wash
Machine operation

How to properly wash your car at a self-service car wash

Equipped with powerful professional equipment, self-service car washes allow save money and time without sacrificing wash quality. Knowing how to properly wash a car at a self-service car wash, you can remove even complex pollution without damage to the paintwork, optics and plastic body kit for literally 100-300 rubles. A full cycle with washing not only the body, but also rugs, vacuuming and waxing will cost about 500 rubles.

In this article, we will talk about optimal sequence of operations for manual self-service car wash at different times of the year, basic car wash modes and other features that will allow you to wash your car quickly, safely and at minimal cost.

How does a car wash work?

Washer control panel

A standard self-service car wash consists of several isolated stations equipped with high-pressure cleaners and spray guns for supplying water, detergents and air. There are usually two pistols: one is used for applying foam, the other is for everything else. Some car washes have a third equipped with a brush to remove tough dirt. The compressor and vacuum cleaner are most often located outside the wash box in a separate block.

Each box has a control panel for selecting modes with a payment terminal with a bill acceptor, a coin acceptor and/or a card reader. Sometimes before you wash your car at a self-service car wash, you need to deposit money first on a car wash card or purchase tokens.

You will find detailed instructions on how to use the self-service car wash in the next section. The table below will tell you about the features of the modes at a self-service car wash.

Self-service car wash modes

ModeWhat is it / how does it workWhy do we need
rinse/waterOrdinary tap cold (warm in winter) water supplied at a pressure of about 140 bar.For flushing complex dirt, pre-rinsing cars.
Soak/pre-wash (not available on all washes)Low pressure detergent. Recommended for use in winter or when the body is heavily soiled.For dissolving tough dirt.
Active chemicals/foamFoamed active detergent. Applied to a dry car, usually with a shorter and thicker gun. The optimal exposure time on the body is 2-3 minutes.To dissolve contaminants, separating them from the body.
Shampoo waterWater with dissolved detergent. Served under pressure from the main gun, washes off the foam, the dirt dissolved by it, and removes the remnants of contaminants.For washing a slightly dusty body, for a complete cleaning of the body after washing off the foam.
Washing with a brushWater with detergent, supplied with a special gun with a brush at the end. It is used for rubbing off especially persistent dirt, processing rims and body kit.For removing stubborn dirt that cannot be washed off with water pressure, as well as cleaning hard-to-reach places.
Finish rinse / purified water / osmosisWater purified from unwanted impurities. Usually applied with the main gun, at the last stage of washing.To prevent stains and streaks after rinsing
Waxingliquid wax solution. It is applied with the main gun, forms a transparent protective film on the body.To add shine, create a hydrophobic effect and protect against subsequent pollution.
AirServed with a separate gun, blows water out of hard-to-reach places.For removing water from lock cylinders, seals, exterior mirrors, etc.

Step-by-step instructions on how to wash your car at a self-service car wash

How to wash a car at a self-service car wash in stages - directly depends on the degree and nature of pollution, as well as available operations.

Recommended washing sequence

Standard sequence of modes for regular washing:

  1. Zamachivanie – the body is moistened with water or detergent to soften the dirt.
  2. basic wash – the machine is treated with active foam that dissolves dirt.
  3. Rinsing – the reacted foam is removed from the car.
  4. Application of liquid wax - the body is treated with a coating that repels dirt and gives shine.
  5. Finish rinse – removal of excess liquid wax with filtered water.
  6. Drying and wiping – locks and gaps are purged, residual water is removed from the surface of the body and glass.
Usually, the modes on the control panel are arranged in the recommended sequence. For best washing efficiency, you can follow this algorithm.

If, after a single application of detergent and rinsing, dirt remains on the body, you can repeat the procedure or use a soft sponge to remove it.

How to properly wash a car at a self-service car wash: step by step instructions

How to properly wash your car at a self-service car wash

How to wash a car at a self-service car wash: video

  1. Removing rugs. Before washing, you need to remove the floor mats from the passenger compartment by hanging them on special clothespins. All modes are not required for rugs - it is enough to apply foam and wash it off with plain water. It is better to soak and rinse the mats at the very beginning, immediately after selecting the appropriate mode. It is more convenient to do this in the course of washing the car, bypassing it in a circle.
  2. Pre-wash. The task of this stage is to prepare the body for the application of the main detergent, soften the dirt and / or cool the heated paintwork. Depending on the availability of the appropriate modes, the machine is washed with plain water or water with shampoo from top to bottom. Skip this step for minor contamination.
  3. basic wash. Designed to soften and remove stubborn dirt. The foam is usually applied with a separate gun from the bottom up - this will allow it to stay longer on the body, the order of movement from the hood and around, the foam is applied to the hood last (on the hood hot from the internal combustion engine, the foam dries faster).
  4. Break. After applying the foam, you need to take a break, since it will not be possible to properly wash the car at a self-service car wash without keeping the detergent on the body. Depending on the degree of chemical activity and the amount of dirt, the pause should be from 1–2 (relatively clean car) to 3–5 (if very dirty) minutes.
    If the pause is limited in time or paid, in order to save money, you can pay the fee in stages, calculating the time so that it ends at the time the foam is applied.
  5. Washing with a brush. If the car is heavily soiled and there is a special gun with a brush on the sink, you can remove stubborn dirt by supplying a shampoo solution and simultaneously wiping the body with a brush.
    With strong pressure, the brush scratches the paintwork! If there is no strong contamination, skip the step.
  6. Rinsing. After a pause for holding the foam or brushing, you need to wash off the detergent with cold or warm (depending on the season) water, not forgetting to walk along the wheels, arches and other hard-to-reach places where dirt often sticks.
  7. DEF. When the car is already clean, you can apply a wax coating on it (it happens on the button “wax”, “shine”, etc.). The protective solution forms a thin film on the body, giving it shine and repelling dirt.
    Before you wash your car at a self-service car wash with wax, make sure that the rinse is good. If the dirt is not completely washed away, the protective coating will conserve it, and it will be more difficult to wash off these dirt during the next washes.
  8. Finish rinse. After waxing the car, you need to remove its excess with purified water (osmosis). Due to the absence of impurities, it dries faster and does not leave unwanted sediment, streaks and stains.
    Do not neglect osmosis, even if you skip the "Protection" mode, since it is difficult to wash the car at a self-service car wash without streaks with plain water.
  9. Drying and blowing. If you have a gun with air, you can blow out locks, openings, gaps in order to expel the remaining water from there. It is especially important to do this in the cold season, otherwise the water may freeze in the cavities in the future.

To quickly dry the body, you can wipe it with a microfiber or faux suede cloth, but not with an ordinary cloth. At most washes, it is also forbidden to do this in the box - a special area is provided for this. Often, an “air block” is installed there, equipped with a vacuum cleaner for cleaning the interior, and a compressor for blowing out hard-to-reach places. But if wax is applied, then you should not rub the car strongly, in order not to wash off the protective film.

What not to do at a self-service car wash

in order not to harm the car, remember about unacceptable manipulations at the self-service car wash:

How to properly wash your car at a self-service car wash

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  • Do not bring the gun closer than 30 cm, in order not to damage the paintwork.
  • Do not be zealous with the processing of defective areas of the paintwork that have chips, deep scratches, “saffron milk mushrooms”, in order not to tear off the paint with pressure.
  • Do not direct the jet at an acute angle relative to linings, moldings, nameplates and other external decorative elements in order not to rip them off.
  • Do not rub dirty areas with a rag or paper towel because dirt particles stick to it and act as an abrasive.
  • When washing the internal combustion engine (if it is not prohibited by the rules, it is often strictly forbidden to do this), do not direct a powerful jet at the intake elements (filter housing, pipes, throttle), wires and electronic components.
  • Do not wash a hot motor, because sudden temperature changes can lead to the formation of microcracks, metal deformation.
  • Do not direct a powerful stream to the radiator, in order not to jam its lamellas.

In addition to the degree of pollution, the washing process is also affected by the time of year. Read below to learn how to properly wash your car at a self-service car wash in winter and summer.

Differences between washing a car at a self-service station in summer and winter

Summer and winter car wash differ in a number of nuances:

Explanation of the names of washing programs, click to enlarge

  • warm water is used for rinsing in winter, cold water in summer;
  • in summer, organic pollution has to be additionally removed from the body;
  • in winter, dirt mixes with reagents, which are especially deposited in arches, on thresholds and in other hidden cavities in the lower part of the body;
  • it is advisable to pre-cool the heated body in the heat with cold water; at an air temperature of about zero, on the contrary, it must be warmed up before washing;
  • in the warm season, the mats will dry without wiping, and in the cold season they need to be wiped dry, so that the moisture does not linger in the cabin, otherwise the windows will fog up.

Read more about these and other features of self-washing in winter and summer below.

How to properly self-wash your car in winter

Before you wash your car at a self-service car wash in winter, pay attention to the air temperature. When it is below -5 ° C, it is advisable to postpone water procedures. If you cannot do without washing, follow the recommendations:

How to properly wash your car at a self-service car wash

How to properly wash a car on a self-wash in winter: video

  • Choose a sink with heated drawers. Avoid pavilions that are blown in front and behind, as it is undesirable to wash the car at an open self-service car wash in cold and windy weather.
  • Do not rush to immediately wet the car. Stand in a heated box for a couple of minutes, so that the body warms up a little.
  • Use warm water. Soften mud, ice and road chemicals with a jet of heated water. Rinse the body with it to wash off the foam.
  • Treat the bottom carefully. In winter, the roads are sprinkled with anti-icing reagents, do not allow them to be deposited in the lower part of the body.
  • Apply wax after washing. The protective coating prevents water from lingering on the body and serves as a de-icer.
  • Blow out locks and gaps. After washing, blow out door locks and handles, body gaps and seals with compressed air so that the water accumulated under them does not freeze.
  • Do not park your car immediately after washing. It is advisable to travel with the stove turned on, so that the heat coming from the inside speeds up the drying. You can even turn on the stove and heated rear window before washing.

At temperatures below -10°C, it is better to visit a classic car wash, where the car is washed and dried in a heated room.

How to properly wash your car at a self-service car wash in the summer

In the summer, adjustments to the washing process are made by heat, pollution of plant and animal origin: pollen, berry juice, tree resins, and insects. For more efficient washing:

Waxing after washing protects the body from dirt and prevents corrosion, thereby simplifying the entire washing process.

  • Do not apply foam to a hot body. It dries quickly, which makes it harder to remove dirt and harder to wash off. For cooling, pour over the body with plain water or water with shampoo. This is especially true for dark-colored cars that warm up to +50 degrees or more in the sun.
  • Do not overexpose the foam. in order for the detergent not to dry out, in the heat it must be kept for no more than 2-3 minutes.
  • use wax. The protective coating will prevent insect remains, pollen, resins, berry juices, bird droppings and other aggressive dirt from eating into the paintwork.
  • Don't Skip the Finish Rinse. In the heat, the water dries up quickly, and the dissolved minerals contained in it do not have time to drain. Be sure to rinse the body with demineralized water to prevent streaks.

Life hacks and subtleties, how you can save on self-washing

Self-service car wash, on average, is cheaper for car owners than a regular car wash. But significant savings can only be made with the right approach to minimize costs. Using the tricks below, you can wash your car at a self-service car wash for 100 rubles.

Tricks to save money at a self-service car wash:

How to properly wash your car at a self-service car wash

How to wash a car for 100 rubles at a car wash with one gun: video

  • Break money into small bills. Before you go to the car wash, prepare a change or use the exchange service at the administrator. With small bills or coins, you can separately pay for each service (shampoo, foam, water), maintaining pauses between them.
  • Get a Helper. Ask an assistant to insert banknotes and press buttons, while you yourself pick up a sprayer and apply pressure. so you can save a dozen or two seconds.
  • Take the gun in hand before starting the program. Taking the gun out before pressing the button will also save you time and money.
  • Use a bucket of water and a sponge. Having collected a bucket of clean water (the tap with it is often free) and taking a large-pored sponge, you can additionally rub the dirtiest areas while waiting for a quick wash.
    Rinse the sponge often in clean water so that dirt particles adhering to it do not scratch the varnish. For the same reason, do not use rags and napkins, as abrasive substances (earth, sand, salt) remain on their surface and cause scratches!

Always start with carpets so they have time to dry by the end of the wash.

  • When working with an assistant, start washing near carpets. You need to apply foam and wash it off from the place where the clothespins for rugs are located. They need to be processed first of all, in order for the water to drain and dry by the end of the wash.
  • Start washing your car alone near the terminal. If there is no assistant to press the buttons, wash the car in a circle from the terminal. Then, bypassing it all, you can quickly turn on the pause.
  • Don't use breaks. Do not pause too often (for example, in order to manually wipe off stubborn dirt), because the pump needs time to develop full pressure. Between pressing the gun and applying the working pressure, a couple of seconds often pass, and during washing with frequent pauses, you can lose a dozen or two seconds of time.
  • How to extend the pause? It happens that a pause of 120 seconds is not enough, then you can press any mode (foam, wax, etc.) and immediately press the pause again, the money will not be spent. This can be done from 3 to 5 times, which is very useful when keeping the foam on the body or preparing for some stage.
  • Do not use all modes unnecessarily. With regular washing and the absence of complex contamination, it is not necessary to apply wax and pre-soak every time.
  • Keep a couple of small banknotes in reserve. It often happens that there are not enough small things to complete the wash normally. Therefore, do not rush to feed dozens to the machine at the very beginning, leave 10-50 rubles for such a case.
  • Wash your car more often. The desire to save on the number of washes can lead to the formation of dirt deposits that will be more difficult and longer to clean. Washing your car once a week is ideal. Regular washing off of small dirt with the skills of using a washing gun allows you to wash your car at a self-service car wash even for 50 rubles.

By resorting to these life hacks, you can meet the minimum budget, and at the same time wash your car with high quality. After all, the faster you move around the car, the cheaper it is. If you're visiting for the first time, it won't be cheap. also do not forget to wear something not miserable, with self-washing it will not get dirty and wet!

Answers to frequently asked questions

  • How long does it take to wash a car?

    Apply foam to the body in 1-3 minutes, depending on the size of the car. The same amount goes to her wash. Wait 2-5 minutes between applying the detergent and removing it. Therefore, the estimated time for washing the car is approximately 10 minutes. It will take another 20 minutes to wipe the body. Be prepared for the fact that the first time washing will be longer and more expensive than planned.

  • Is it necessary to use all station modes?

    It is necessary to use all modes of the station in order to qualitatively wash a heavily polluted car. If the goal is to wash quickly or knock down dust, you can limit yourself to only foam and clean water.

  • Is it possible to damage the paintwork of a car with pressure?

    The pressure of a water jet at a car wash reaches 150 atmospheres, so it is quite possible to damage the paintwork with it. in order to prevent this, do not bring the gun too close (less than 30 cm) and do not overdo it with pressure if the paintwork has minor defects (chips, “saffron mushrooms”).

  • Can I wash the internal combustion engine on my own?

    Whether it is possible to wash the internal combustion engine at a self-service car wash depends on the rules of a particular institution. If it is not forbidden, you can wash the engine at a self-service car wash, following the standard rules and precautions.

  • Do I need to wipe my car after waxing?

    It is not necessary to wipe down the machine after applying liquid wax, but using a microfiber cloth will help to add extra shine.

  • Do I need to wax glass?

    Wax on glass leaves a hydrophobic coating that repels dirt, so it can be applied. But since the glass is wiped during the operation of the wipers or the lift mechanism, this coating will not be enough for a long time and, for the sake of saving glass, you can not process it.

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