Car wash

The first semi-automatic car wash in the United States debuted in 1946 at a facility in Detroit, which used automatic pulley systems and manual brushing.

[7] In the late-1960's, some car washes began to adopt "flex-serve" models to accommodate customers who did not want a full interior and exterior cleaning, in which facilities such as vacuuming and hand detailing are constructed near the exit as an optional service.

[6] The car wash industry in the U.S. remained primarily led by small businesses that distinguished themselves through playful signage or building architecture.

[4] At the turn of the 21st century, the "express exterior" business model—first developed by a chain in Baton Rouge, Louisiana—began to emerge, in which computerized point of sale and queueing systems are used to manage customer throughput via automation, reducing the amount of staff required.

[6][4] Due to their turnkey nature and lower staffing requirements, express exterior washes became an ubiquitous business model for the industry, resulting in many operators and private equity firms investing in opening larger chains of locations.

[4] Some municipalities in the United States have enacted saturation bans due to the number of new car wash locations being constructed in clusters.

In modern car wash facilities, whether tunnel, in-bay automatic, or self-serve, detergents and other cleaning solutions are designed to loosen and eliminate dirt and grime.

This is in contrast to earlier times, when hydrofluoric acid, a hazardous chemical, was commonly used as a cleaning agent in the industry by some operators.

This is in contrast to unregulated facilities or even driveway washing (at one's home), where wastewater can end up in the storm drain and, eventually, in streams, rivers, and lakes.

The vehicle is parked inside a large, sometimes covered, bay equipped with a trigger gun and wand (a high-pressure sprayer) and a foam brush for scrubbing.

The car wash typically starts cleaning with chemicals called presoaks applied through special arches.

Mitters are ribbon-like components that suspend cloth strips or sheets over the tunnel The car is rinsed with fresh water immediately, followed by extra services if required.

Protectants generally repel water, which assists in drying the car and aiding in the driver's ability to see through their windshield during rain.

Dryers may be present in various forms, such as stationary gantries with a contouring roof jet or small circular assemblies with nozzles of different shapes and sizes mounted on arches.

The professional car wash industry has made strides in reducing its environmental footprint, a trend that will continue accelerating due to regulation and consumer demand.