It is a proven fact that the better your car looks the higher the value you will get at resale or trade-in. Proper car care to include washing, waxing, and polishing will not only make your car look its best, but will help retain its value and make it last longer. For the purpose of this article we questioned numerous detailing experts and other similar professionals as to what works best. Here are their best car care recommendations:
Start by using a garage or shaded area. The hot sun will make proper car care and cleaning hard, if not impossible and could be detrimental to your car’s finish. Next thoroughly wet down the car. This will remove dirt and road debris which will cause scratches if you skip this step and start using a sponge and soap on the car. If it is a hot day, be sure to routinely wet the car so it does not dry suds or cleaning chemicals on it.
Carwashes have lots of tanks both above ground and buried in the ground. If these tanks could be transparent the operators would not need as many expensive sonar or electronic eye sensors for their storage tanks. The problem with a complex set of sensors and computer system is the Murphy Factor, the more complicated the system is the more that can and will go wrong.
There are endless applications for carbon nano tubes due to their strength and abilities to conduct electricity. In fact due to their lightweight, strength, transparency and ability to hold a charge the uses are truly endless indeed. One excellent use for transparent carbon nano tubes would be to make these tanks at carwashes out of them. In fact it might also be smart to make the tunnel of the car wash transparent so people can watch their cars being washed and feel more comfortable, as it is interesting when you separate people from something, even a car, so close them, they worry. Indeed, kids also like to watch the cars being washed and this would provide them with that opportunity.
Is Kansas a good place for a Car Wash? There are many diverse markets in the Great State of Kansas. One gentleman suggested Lawrence, KS as a good location? Indeed I have been to Lawrence, KS; very nice people there as I recall. Sometimes as I travel I wish more people were as friendly as those in Kansas. Lawrence has decent demographics and only moderate competition. Could one find a semi-high traffic corner in Lawrence and make money with a car wash there?
If you are to put a car wash on such a property it might have to be significantly scaled down or perhaps a Coin-op or an Express Wash type operation. It could work or be made feasible. As far as costs there are many good business plans on the Internet and one, which I recommend can be found on www.carwash.com and there are several advertisers there who have car wash plans available.
Many times small business mobile auto detailing companies fall short in their promotions and public relations. Generally one could attribute this to the fact that business is always good and cars in the United States are quite plentiful, even more than people. In fact there are 1.2 cars for every man, woman and child in this country, including all the school buses, postal jeeps, delivery vans and police cars. Think about it; all the boats, motorcycles, trailers, motor homes, SUVs, mini-vans and cars? Sure there is a lot of business to be had indeed. But certainly since it is a cash business for the most part, there is no reason you cannot run it like a real business and grow it to a large endeavor. Here are some promotional ideas:
Call up a radio station.
There are certainly some in the carwash manufacturing industry who are attempting to move the market to incorporate more fully automated robotic touch less carwashes. How could anyone blame them? The trade journals as well are reporting on this, of course guess who their biggest advertisers are? Many industry leaders estimate and theorize that in fact this trend is the future of car washing.
Well of course this is the theory, although one should be fore warned who; one talks to. If you are thinking of investing in a car wash you need to talk with the customers and their thoughts before buying that line of reasoning hook line and sinker. In fact you may find customer preference trumps someone else’s theory on how to make the most money and do the least amount of work.
Many of us get stuff on our cars, which will not easily come off. There is tree sap, over spray, bird droppings, rust spots and even salt marks from that stuff they put on the roads in winter; none of which is very easy to get off. It is very important for the protection of your car’s clear coat and paint finish to pay careful attention when cleaning your car to remove the fallout and small Rust Spots.
You should be careful if you go to a coin-op car wash or if you use a pressure washer. It is possible to get too close to the paint and damage the finish. Generally if you blast thru a clear coat you will notice it is because there will be a pealed mark and you will rip off a large chunk of paint. Use the “one-foot rule” and keep the nozzle at least one foot away from the paint at all times. You should be fine, just remember the 1-foot rule and that also applies to center caps on rims. But the rest of the rims and tires you can get closer.
Having been in the car wash business all my life, I always noticed the biggest bird droppings on white cars. Of course there are more white cars then any other color. I also found yellow vehicles had more bird droppings than normal. I had once or twice tried to put myself in the birds position and thought if I was rolling in for a bomb run in a parking lot or flying over a highway trying to hit an enemy insurgent Honda, which car would be easiest? Most of us would assume a red car or some other color, but in fact the birds seem to like to make their bombing runs on white cars?
A study by a student named Charles West from Bristol University in the United Kingdom did a study with 1760 cars and learned that most often the birds made their decision based on the color of their cars and white being the favored color to dive-bomb. The birds attempted to hit the cars and had a 70% kill ratio of landing the turd on the car they tried for. Some birds did not have the bombing skills of our current net-centric Predator UAVs with smart munitions.
There are many who find the carwash business to be a worthy place to invest. And indeed it is a repeat business and a simple one at that. Cannot get any simpler than removing the weekly dirt from someone’s car when it is just going to get dirty again. It seems to be a business made in heaven and indeed half of it was.
You see on the second day it is said that God made dirt, well he is said to have made the heavens and the Earth, which is made out of dirt right? Well the dirt blows all over everything you see. And then along came Henry Ford and they started mass producing cars. God’s dirt got onto Ford’s cars are you following me so far? Good, now in the car wash industry you take the dirt off, treat the waste water and put the dirt back where it belongs. Piece of cake right; Well it is not that simple, but the concept is. Isn’t that why you have considered the car wash industry in the first place?
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A waterless car wash is, obviously getting your car cleaned without using precious water. This unique system uses wetting agents, lubricants, and protectants to wax and polish a car and to give it a lustrous sheen. A waterless car wash is actually using sprays that contain cleaning chemicals that protect the car from weather, dust, and scratches, while also maintaining its finish. And this is as easy as spraying the car wash solution on the car surface and wiping it off. Or, some brands of car wash sprays have to be sprayed on a piece of soft cloth and gently wiped on the surface of your car. And, it doesn’t take more than twenty minutes for the whole process!
The United States market has a huge amount of car wash supply manufactures have developed waterless car washes with unique features to suit the individual requirements of a customer. Choosing the right one for your car from countless products will take some planning. Below are some brands of car wash and their services.
The fact that 28% of all fast Lubes operate some type of carwash is intriguing indeed. Of course many start as car washes first and then they have been approached with Oil Company Brand Incentives. I.e. You promise to use only our oil, advertise our banners out side and buy X-amount of oil per year and we will give you a $30,000 grant on a five to ten year contract. Or use x-amount of our oil in five years and we will give you a five year $100,000.oo loan interest free. These incentives are nothing to shake a stick at, and you can make money from a fast lube so why not advertise it, bundle services and ace your competition within the ten mile zone where 80% of your customers are drawn from. Even more interesting is that oil fast lubes draw from slightly further away than car washes typically, so you win twice.
The average ticket at a typical fast lube as discussed in the Industry trade journals varies from $22.50 to $27.17 from the articles I have read, with no personal opinion on the matter myself, since I believe seasonality, car sales in the area from previous years past and competition all play a much different and more important factor, but with that said, let me continue. Realize in a perfect world the figures could legitimately be used by politicians, liyars and clergy across the board. Stand alone fast lubes are said to take in on average higher ticket prices averaging $2.00 perhaps because customers are more believing when a mechanic only facility suggestively sells them wiper blades, fluid flushing or belts. Who knows, but it does stand to reason that this figure is accurate. The average cost for an oil change is $8.55 in real costs on filter, oil, etc.
Everybody likes their car to be as good as new! That’s why car washes have sprung up like mushrooms in all parts of the country and have developed from traditional car wash methods to sophisticated pressure jet washes, where you clean your car without getting your hands wet!
Experts in the business have developed car wash technology as a replacement for the previously tedious maintenance work for automobiles. Professional car washing has a number of advantages over washing your car at home. Apart from addressing environmental concerns by using biodegradable raw materials and recycling waste water, professional car washes give a fine coat of wax and polish that give a superb finish to your car, thus increasing the resale value.
Over the years, since the first car wash Automated Laundry in 1914, automated car wash bays have developed into an immense number of systems, each competing with the other for profits and customer satisfaction. The U.S. has 66,000 fixed car wash bays and 12,000 mobile car wash units – Full-Service, Drive-Through, Coin-Operated, Flex-Service, Quick-Service and Mobile-Operated car washes are only a few in the competitive market. But all the categories can be classified under four basic systems, roughly termed as self serve, drive through, roll over and full service.
The most basic, of course is the self-serve car wash, where you coin-operate the system yourself and choose the cleaning functions for your car. These use timers to shut off water and soap after a particular time and charge extra for more water. But people don’t very often find space and time to go for self service and hence, the drive-through car wash bays have become the most popular systems in the country. These systems are operated by conveyor belts, and the cars go through different stages of cleaning, like rinsing, soaping, waxing and drying, at particular points in the conveyor.
Using the right mix of soaps, waxes and detergents paves the way to effective car washes. Any unauthorized or unauthentic chemicals on your car may damage its look forever. It’s always advisable to use brands and companies that have a proven track record and have a booming car wash business.
Chemicals used in a car wash business include waxes and sealants, polishes, glazes, shampoos, tire and vinyl dressings, body compounds, foamers and soaps. Each manufacturer comes up with new and innovative combinations of chemicals for higher efficiency in car wash bays.
A Car wash system requires certain sophisticated equipment that speeds up the process of cleaning. A variety of car wash equipment and a large number of dealers are available in the market, so choosing selections for your business should be made after a careful study of your requirements. Dealers and manufacturers with good track records will ensure lower maintenance costs and higher efficiency in your car wash.
The most important equipment, of course, is the conveyor, which takes the car through different stages of washing and to the other end looking as good as new. The correlator will ensure the safe and smooth entry of the car into the conveyor and is as important as the conveyor itself.
Home robotics have sure come along way. You can buy a pool sweep to clean your pool and it will float around all day and clean all the leaves out, which is very cool. It is even fun to watch, kind of like watching your clothes wash or the dryer spin at the laundry mat. You can also buy a lawn mover, which once set will mow your lawn all by itself. Now that is cool indeed, it will cut the grass while you drink a beer or two, depending on the size of your middle class neighborhood lawn. Oh it might screw up every once in a while, but that is what you are for, you are the brains of the family and besides it gives you something to complain about; “Those damn robots!”
Then there is the coolest little invention of all; the “cat terrorizing” iRobot “Romba” vacuum. Oh it is sure scary for your cat for about ten minutes. Then eventually becomes your cat’s favorite stalking object as it plays with the thing while it cleans the floor and entertains your cat all day? Your cat never had so much fun attacking anything like this before. Hell, I caught my cat riding around on it. I guess my cat is now too lazy to walk across the house and simply waits until the iRobot Vacuum is headed that way? Go figure and you thought your cat was stupid?