9 Must-Have Car Washing Equipment Choices

In addition to location, the car washing equipment you choose can make or break your business. The right equipment will provide years of reliable service with little downtime, while the wrong equipment will make it practically impossible to profit. The key is choosing the right car wash essentials to start with. Choose tools based on your business size, the services your customers want, and product quality—so you can spend less time on maintenance and repairs.

9 Pieces of Essential Equipment for Car Washing Businesses

Each car wash business is unique, and the equipment needed for it must match the services you want to offer.

Equipment for Exterior Car Washing

Exterior washing is the primary task at most car washes, so the majority of equipment for car washing falls into this category.

1. Conveyors and Complete Tunnels

Modern car washes are often built around automated systems that use conveyors to move cars or trucks through the wash bay as sprayers and brushes handle the hard work of washing. While these car washes reduce labor expenses, they require a bigger upfront investment. There is also the challenge of ordering replacement parts in the future if the wash equipment manufacturer goes out of business.

2. Water Filtration

No matter what kind of car wash equipment you choose, you’ll need a filtration system to remove minerals and debris from the water. Water filtration not only reduces mineral buildup that can damage your car wash equipment, but it also allows you to reuse water at lower operating costs (without compromising wash quality).

3. Pressure Washers and Foam Cannons

Pressure washing guns allow users to rinse their vehicles multiple times during the process of manually washing the exterior. Foam cannons are devices that attach to the sprayers to produce a thick and creamy foam to cover each vehicle. They help you make the most of every ounce of car and truck wash chemicals.

4. Manual Brushes and Mitts

Even fully automated car washes likely need a few brushes and wash mitts to help your customers deal with tough messes. Brushes that integrate sprayer or foam cannon functions are popular for modern car washes, but they’re not the only option.

5. Rinsing Equipment

At the end of all that foaming and scrubbing, your customers will need a way to rinse off the chemicals and see if there are any spots left. The pressure washing sprayers used for pre-rinsing may work just fine, but spray arches speed up the process for better turnaround.

Equipment for Interior Car Washing

Many car washes focus on exterior washing for cars and leave interior detailing to car owners or other businesses. If you want to expand your customer base, consider these pieces of essential equipment.

6. Vacuums

A powerful shop vacuum system is the backbone of interior car cleaning. Most messes inside of a vehicle take little more than some suction to resolve. Make sure you choose a vacuum system that is easy to open for removing clogs.

7. Steam and Foam Cleaning Systems

If you already run a successful car wash business and need to expand, steam and foam cleaning equipment could be just the ticket. This equipment works with your vacuum system to allow customers to deal with the worst messes without risking water damage to their upholstery.

Equipment for Drying

Drying is the final step in any car wash business. It’s required whether you’re building a touchless automated system or manual washing bays. 

8. Dryers

Powerful air blowers are required to dry the last droplets of water and eliminate spots and streaks.

9. Hand Drying Tools

For high-end detailing businesses, microfiber towels and other absorbent lint-free cloths work best for the drying stage.

How to Choose the Best Washing Equipment for Cars

After you’ve developed your car wash business equipment list, you’ll want to look for quality parts when making your purchases.

Research Different Options

Investigate different equipment options for your car wash by doing the following:

• Compare the features of trusted brand names in the industry with low-cost alternatives. You may find that the cheaper equipment options lack maintenance or cleaning details that will greatly increase your labor costs.
• Read reviews from car wash owners who have used the equipment. Look for reviews from owners who have used the equipment for years.

Determine a Budget

When you’re working out an answer to the question “How much is car wash equipment?” don’t forget to factor in the cost of consumable wash products. For example, a piece of equipment that costs $10,000 more than other options might still be worth the investment if it saves you $1 on every wash and you’re serving thousands of customers a year.

Consider Business Size & Needs

A small business with two wash bays likely just needs a sprayer and foam cannon, while a large facility built to serve hundreds of people per day will need a lot more equipment. Consider how you’ll prepare your car wash for winter when selecting equipment, especially if you’re in a cold climate where the first freeze can arrive without warning.

Tips for Your Professional Car Wash Equipment Maintenance

The maintenance and upkeep of equipment at your car wash largely depend on the systems you choose, but the following steps are required for almost all car washes:

• Clean and sanitize the whole system at least once a week to once a month.
• Lubricate all moving parts in your conveyor or tunnel system.
• Check for plugged sprayer nozzles, damaged or dirty brushes, and leaking hoses.
• Inspect water lines regularly for cracks and signs of mineral buildup.

Find the Best Car Washing Products for Your Business

Putting together a complete cleaning kit of car washing equipment isn’t easy, even if you have years of experience in the business. If you’re struggling with the process, let the professionals at AP Formulators help you create a thriving car wash business.

FAQs

What equipment do you need to wash a car?

Basic car wash equipment can be as simple as a water pump, sprayer, and brush combination. More complex systems tend to combine automated sprayers and brushes.

How profitable are car washes?

Profit levels can vary greatly across the wash industry depending on location, demand, and services offered.

What equipment do professional car detailers use?

Detailers rely on professional car wash equipment like shop vacuums, steam cleaners, and small brushes to get every inch of a car sparkling like new.