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What are the 5 Factors of Car Wash Cleaning? Brought to you by Anthony Shifflett at Carwash.com

The main objective for every carwash operator is to produce the cleanest, driest and shiniest cars possible in a timely manner every single time a car is washed. In order to reach this goal, the entire carwash must work in synergy at all times.

There are five critical factors when cleaning a vehicle: water quality, temperature, mechanical action, dwell time and chemistry. These five factors vary and are not equal at each individual carwash. When one is diminished, one or more of the other factors will need to be increased to obtain the clean, dry, and shiny vehicle. 

Water Quality: It is imperative to have high quality water, as no other factor of cleaning can truly offset poor water quality. This is the most important chemical as it is guaranteed to be used in every wash package regardless of geographic location.

Temperature: Temperature can be broken into three parts: ambient, vehicle and solution (ready-to-use chemical). Ambient temperature is very difficult to control unless the wash bay is completely indoors and temperature-controlled. A vehicle’s temperature can be very hot, so a “cool down” application may help ensure that all chemicals are applied to the surface within a safe temperature range. The solution temperature is very important in some carwash models and less important in others. Most friction carwashes apply the ready-to-use solution at room temperature, but some touchless carwashes use heated water to help the chemistry work more efficiently due to less mechanical action being available. In addition, extreme cold water will decrease the foaming action of cleaning solutions.

Mechanical Action: Mechanical action is any object or force that is used to remove soil from the vehicle’s surface. In modern carwashes, there are two types of mechanical action: friction (prep brushes, wraps, mitters, top brushes, etc.) and high-pressure water (high-pressure rinses between 1,000 to 1,200 psi). 

Time: Dwell time is critical, particularly when utilizing touch-free washing or when cleaning organic matter, such as bugs and tree sap, in any carwash model. In general, dwell time increases detergent efficiency and cleaning ability, whereas too little time will diminish efficiency. The timing of your equipment is imperative as well. It needs to work in synergy with the detergent, sealant and drying chemical solutions. This ensures the optimal kinetic interaction between the chemical solution and the soil being removed from the vehicle. 

Chemistry: Chemistry cleaning is the reaction between the solution and soils and the ability of the solution to remove them. Alkaline cleaners are cleaners with a pH over 7, and acidic cleaners are cleaners with a pH below 7. It is imperative to use the correct cleaner at the correct dilution ratio.

Always consult with our Technical Bulletins to ensure the chemicals are being applied at the correct ratio.