6 tips to help your car wash business

Even automated car washes require some maintenance. Here’s what you need to know.

For the most part, owning a car wash requires minimal daily maintenance. The equipment does most of the work, and generally, it only takes one or two workers to maintain and clean a site throughout busier parts of the day in order to keep the operation running smoothly.

And yet, it is not a business that you can put on autopilot. If you own a car wash, here are six helpful tips for car wash maintenance.

Although a car wash can practically run itself most of the time, it’s still a good idea for owners to be on site to handle potential problems with the equipment and customers as they arise.

Even the most reliable equipment can and will break down at times, so you need to perform some routine maintenance and have a plan in place in the event that equipment does stop working.

Employees require maintenance too, so it pays to do your best to hire great people from the start. Hiring people who are responsible, reliable, skilled and kind to your customers will benefit your business and make your job a lot easier.

Buying the cheapest equipment may save you money in the short term, but it will lead to costly maintenance and down time, which will hurt your business in the long run. When choosing equipment, consider dependability, warranty, output capabilities, cleaning power, and durability.

Make sure your site is clean and equipment is functioning at its best. It’s a good idea to spend at least a few hours every day during slow periods cleaning the lot and wash bays. Preventative maintenance is key to equipment performing at its best.

It’s a good idea to always keep commonly replaced parts on hand for quick repairs. That way, if a piece of equipment does break down, it won’t slow your business down.