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How to use a self-serve car wash

Short answer: pre-soak, high-pressure soap, rinse from the top down, finish with spot-free rinse — and keep the foam brush off your paint unless you have rinsed it first.

Before you start

• Pull in so you can walk all the way around the car without stepping in the hose.
• Take out the floor mats and hang them on the clips — you can wash them first.
• Have payment ready: quarters, tokens, a card or the operator's app, depending on the bay. The timer starts with the first quarter.
• Bring a microfiber towel if you want to dry by hand.

The order on the dial

1. Pre-soak — low pressure, loosens dirt and salt. Start at the bottom and the wheels, where it is dirtiest; give it a minute to work.
2. Tire and engine cleaner (if offered) — wheels and tires only.
3. High-pressure soap — top to bottom, one panel at a time. Hold the nozzle 30 to 50 cm from the paint, closer only on wheels and wheel wells.
4. Foam brush — optional. Blast it with the wand first to rinse out grit, or use it only on tires.
5. High-pressure rinse — again top to bottom, so soap does not run over clean panels. Don't forget door jambs, mirrors and the underside.
6. Wax or clear coat (optional) — a quick protective layer.
7. Spot-free rinse — last, with filtered water that dries without spots.

Beating the timer

Plan your walk: one lap per step, same direction every time. Switch the dial before you move to the next step, not after. Most bays add time when you add money mid-wash, so you do not have to start over. Two short rounds usually beat one long one — you can re-soak stubborn spots.

In winter

Salt hides where the wand reaches best: wheel wells, behind the bumpers, along the sills and under the car. On very cold days, dry door seals and locks before you drive off, and brake gently a few times. More in our winter guide.

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