If the car wash is busy, you may have to wait in line for your turn. Drive up behind any other cars waiting in line, and slowly pull forward as the cars move up.
Different car washes charge different amounts, but in general, most of them charge about $1 per minute. If you’re using a credit card, the machine will automatically charge the card from when you turn the machine on until you press stop. If you’re using quarters, the machine will stay on for the amount of time you pay for. If the machine stops, you can insert more money to turn it back on again.
Use the Pre-Soak setting if your car is really dirty. Otherwise, just stick to Wash.
Use the spray nozzle to rinse your entire car, including the wheels, the mirrors, the undercarriage, and your floor mats. If you’re using the Pre-Wash setting, switch to Wash after you’ve made your first lap around the car. Once you’ve switched to Wash, take another complete lap before moving on to the next step.
Pay extra attention to the dirtiest parts of your car during this step, especially the crevices underneath the doors and the front grill.
Some car enthusiasts prefer not to use the foam brush at all. Instead, they’ll bring their own sponges from home, and fill a bucket with soapy water from the machine to dip their sponge in.
Gently flick the soap off of the foam brush every minute or so to dislodge dirt and grime. If you’re using a sponge that you brought from home, the same theory applies: work your way from the top down, ending with your tires and wheel wells. Don’t forget to scrub your mats, too!
Rinsing your car mats first gives them time to dry while you finish up with the rest of your car.
Waxing your car helps it dry faster, especially when it rains.
Work your way from the top down to gently push the water off your car. You can also bring a microfiber towel from home and use that to dry off your car. Or, you can simply wait for your car to air dry once you drive away.
