With cars and trucks being used regularly all over Australia, it is not a surprise that vehicles get messy inside and dirty outside. For those who do not have the time to clean properly clean their cars and trucks, cleaning services are located all around to take care of cleaning your vehicle.

A car wash or auto wash is a facility that is used to clean the interior and the exterior of vehicles. These facilities usually stand alone or are separate from an establishment that specializes in car services. However, there are car washes that are part of a car dealer, garages or service stations.

There are different kinds of car washes and these include:

• Hand car wash facilities, where the vehicle is washed by employees.
• Self-service facilities, where the owner of the vehicle does the washing.
• In-bay automatics, facilities that make use of automatic machines that roll back and forth over a stationary vehicle.
• Tunnel washes, facilities that use a conveyor to move the vehicle through a series of cleaning mechanisms.
• Chemical car washes, facilities that use chemicals to wash and polish the car.
• Steam car washes, facilities that use jets of steam to sanitize and clean the vehicle.

Criticisms of car wash facilities

Car wash facilities have been criticized for several factors that affect the environment. These include:

• Excessive use of water and energy resources to clean the vehicles.
• Possible contamination of surface waters when rinse is discharged to storm drains that eventually drain to bodies of water such as rivers and lakes.
• Contamination of soil and groundwater when dirty water is absorbed by the ground.

Professional car wash facilities have made use of water reclamation systems to reduce water and energy usage significantly. These facilities have the ability to capture contaminants and treat them before being released into sanitary systems to prevent further environmental damage. For this reason, State and local governments recommend the use of professional car wash facilities as opposed to other forms of car washes.
The Australian Car Wash Association (ACWA) is the peak body that represents the interests of all its member car wash facilities and provides a venue for the exchange of knowledge and addressing issues that affect the industry with government authorities. It also promotes the use of commercial or professional car wash facilities as the most environmentally responsible places to wash vehicles.

Car wash tips

• Don't wait for a layer of grime and dust to accumulate before washing the vehicle. All of this dirt from dead animals, bird droppings, and chemicals from the atmosphere can strip away wax and can damage your car's paint.
• Use dedicated car wash products that are mild and specifically designed for use of automotive paint. Products such as household cleaning agents may strip off the protective wax.
• Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with water before you begin washing to remove dirt and debris that can scratch the surface of the vehicle.
• Use chamois or soft terry towels to dry the vehicle. Do not air dry the vehicle to prevent watermarks.