Car Wash Categories

Although there are hundreds of variations, the typical flex-serve is the combination of Express Exterior and Full-Service offerings in one location. The foundation of this style is an Express Exterior conveyorized tunnel with an automated gated entry that requires no manual prepping and produces a clean, shiny, and completely dry car with no additional human labor required.

Optional exterior cleaning services, such as tire shining and bug removal, are performed via computer-controlled equipment. Customers select a base wash package at the kiosk and then add additional services. Normally this whole process takes 15 minutes or less. Wash customers usually stay in the vehicle through the wash.

Exterior-only customers immediately exit, often passing vended vacuum stations. Customers that purchased additional interior detailing services follow directional signage to an aftercare center where they turn over their car to an attendant and wait in a lobby while their vehicle is prepared

Self service customers usually park their vehicles in a “wash bay”. Customers then interface with a control device to turn on the stationary wash equipment and select specific products such as soaps, waxes, and water under high pressure.

Vacuuming is typically completed in a vacuum area out of the wash bay. Customers will pay at the vacuum station and the amount of payment typically dictates the amount of time the vacuum will operate.