9 Tips on How to Run a Successful Car Wash
Tip no 1 – Choose a Suitable Site
Choosing a suitable site is important and will impact greatly on the success of your business and in doing so you need to consider the following points:
- Can I get permission from the council and land owner to establish a car wash on the site?
- Is there adequate power and water supply available on the site?
- Are there sewer drains nearby?
- Is there adequate car count passing the site?
- Is the site visible and easily accessible to the public?
- Is there sufficient space to queue and maneuver vehicles?
- Is there sufficient space to provide for the wash bay, drying bays and seating areas?
These points need to be cleared before even considering an installation.
Remember that the availability and proximity of the services mentioned will affect the pricing as will such items as the type of paving and wash bay structure you choose.
Tip no 2 – Choose a Structure
The prices of the structures vary considerably and when making your choice you need to consider not only your budget, but the surrounding area and the market segment you are entering. At times these factors have an influence on the installation which must fit in with these criteria to ensure a reasonable level of success.
- TOP OF THE RANGE STRUCTURES
These superb structures are fully bolt up units. They are pre-assembled in our engineering shop to ensure quality. These structures are hot dip galvanized, have wide fascias and a steel sheeted roof. Glass panels divide the individual bays which can be placed side by side or one behind the other. Final painting takes place after reassembly on site.
Quite often brick pump rooms are built alongside these units to house the pump station and store chemicals.
- MID RANGE STRUCTURES
This attractive structure is built on site and has a shade netted roof. Different colours can be chosen to compliment a particular theme making this a versatile and popular system. This frame is primer coated and finished in a non-drip enamel.
Tip no 3 – Choose your High Pressure Cleaning Machines
There are many different high pressure machines available ranging from mobile units to free standing stationary units to wall mounted high pressure cleaners, each with their own particular features and limitations.
Generally speaking portable, or mobile units are not recommended in a car wash application and are used when budget is the only consideration. This is because the limited features on this type of machine do not provide the same protective devices that are available on the free standing and wall mounted units.
Our car wash systems are designed to provide fast and efficient cleaning and will not damage sensitive surfaces when used correctly.
Nearly all car washes use cold water high pressure machines as modern technology has produced some excellent cleaning detergents. These units are the most cost effective in this type of application. Hot water high pressure cleaners are also available for truck washing.
Items such as overhead swing booms and gun holders are available and are designed to give that professional finish to your car wash. The swing booms are available in single swingboom electroplated mild steel and double swingboom with stainless steel.
Tip no 4 – Choose your Vacuum Cleaners
Car wash vacuum bays need machines with big air filtration capacity. This is because of the volume of dirt collected from the cars each day. Small filters would need to be cleaned three to four times a day creating delays with the risk of motor burnouts if this is not done consistently.
We have available both single and double motor units with large filters, limiting the need to stop and maintain the machine so often during each day. The double motor units speed up the vacuuming process ensuring fast and efficient service in this area.
We carry all the spares, including the wheels, and motors for all the vacuum cleaners we sell and we also have a workshop that can repair your vacuum to ensure that it is well looked after and you get your value for money from the unit.
Tip No 5- Choose your Upholstery, carpet cleaner for valet services
Value added services make a car wash more profitable. Cleaning upholstery and carpets is one of the value added services you can offer, and having the right equipment will ensure the job is done quickly and efficiently.
Our double motor carpet and upholstery extraction machine is ideal for this application. It has two powerful suction motors with a separate water pump for detergent injection.
There is no need to leave the car interior damp after cleaning, not even with overcast weather conditions. The QKD – Quik Dry Air Blower – ensures that the seats and carpets dry in no time.
Tip no 6 – Choose your Equipment for your Drying Bay Area
It is important that your car wash always looks clean and tidy. This can be a problem particularly in the drying bay area which is prone to looking scrappy if constant attention is not given to addressing the problem. If you do not keep your drying bay tidy, you also run the risk of being shutdown by the shopping centre, or your landlord, or worse the health inspection department.
We have super trolleys that can carry a water bucket, several spray bottles, has place for sponges and rags and has a rubbish collection bag for large items.
Everything you require for your drying bay area is available. Sponges, buckets, brooms, paper towels, dispensers, rags, spray bottles. Ask us for our monthly consumable price list to view our complete car wash range.
Tip no 7 – Choose the right Cleaning Chemicals for your Car Wash
Buying cheap detergents does not make your car wash more profitable, in fact it does exactly the opposite as the chemicals are more diluted and you will use more of it.
Not only do we manufacture the equipment for a car wash, but we also manufacture the cleaning chemicals used in a car wash, on our premises. We are both experts in the equipment and the chemicals used to wash the cars, and we can supply you with this on a monthly basis, as we deliver all over Gauteng.
The range has been formulated to give good value for money and to ensure you peace of mind when being used by your wash bay staff.
We supply everything from tyre and bumper shine, car wash shampoo, general degreaser, pine gel, dash cream, air fresheners, ask us for our price list!
Tip no 8 – Choose a company with back up and after sales service for your machines
As is life, nothing always goes perfectly as planned forever. By choosing to use our equipment, not only do you get the best quality, you also have the option of choosing a service contract for your equipment.
What does this mean? It means that we have your back if your equipment breaks down. Our on site technicians are available 7 days a week if your car wash machine breaks down, and we also have all the spares and accessories for all the equipment you purchase from us. Our workshop is available 5 days a week to service any machine you purchase from us to ensure that your business is looked after and you don’t suffer from downtime.
Tip no 9 – Choose a Cleaning Equipment Specialist for advice and suggestions
We are a company that has manufactured and produced car wash equipment for twenty years.
We have built and serviced these high pressure machines, vacuum cleaners, and there is no problem that we have not already found the solution to when it comes to car wash equipment and sites.
Your Cleaning Equipment Specialist is there to ensure that you receive the machine to suit your budget and will advise you on your needs, not necessarily the cheapest options, to make sure that you run a car wash that will be profitable.
Not only do you have a cleaning equipment specialist on standby to assist, but with him comes our expert technicians, workshop department, and a family business with many years of cleaning equipment experience.
Contact us today for a demonstration on any of our equipment, or a list of car wash sites where you are welcome to go and view our installations.
