Want to clean your car quickly and affordably? You need a manual car wash, that’s all. Self service workstations are generally comparable and simple to operate, even if you’ve never been to one before. You can drive away with a clean automobile by following the instructions in this article on how to use a self service car wash.
Washing Your Car
1. Pull Into an Empty Bay and Park Your Car
The self service station’s bay is where you’ll wash your vehicle for a self service car wash. Leave ample space in front of your automobile as you park it in the middle of the bay.
- If there are a lot of crowds in the vehicle wash, you need to wait in line for a turn. As the automobiles in front of you move up, slowly pull up behind any other vehicles standing in line.
2. Hang Your Floor Mats on The Provided Metal Clips

Remove your floor mats from the vehicle if they are rubber or plastic. Further, hang them with metal clips on the bay. If your car wash lacks metal clamps, lean them against the wall and wash them afterward. Additionally, skip this step if you don’t want to clean your mats or if they are made of carpet.
3. Insert Coins or A Credit Card into The Machine
Older machines might only take coins, although many newer ones accept credit cards. Make sure you’re ready to wash before inserting your money so the sprayer wand will be ready.
- The prices of different vehicle washes vary, but in general, most of them charge around $1 per minute.
- From the time the machine is turned on until you hit stop, the machine will automatically charge the card if you’re using a credit card.
4. Set The Dial To “Wash” Or “Pre-soak.”
Go to the device that manages the spray wand’s settings. There is a dial with roughly 10 options near the bottom. To begin, set the knob to “Wash” or “Pre-Soak” to dampen your car.
- If your automobile is very dirty, use the Pre-Soak setting. If not, then stick to Wash.
5. Stand About 3 To 5 Feet (0.91 To 1.52 M) Away from Your Car As You Wash
Remember in a self service car wash that the high-pressure stream can harm your vehicle if you block it by standing too close. To prevent scratching or to mark your vehicle, maintain a safe distance.
6. Rinse Your Entire Car with Water

Hold the spray wand away from your body to release a high-pressure water stream and squeeze the handle. After one complete lap, spray all over the car to eliminate surface dirt and debris.
- The wheels, floor mats, mirrors, and undercarriage should all be washed off your car using the spray nozzle.
- After your first lap around the car, change it to Wash if you’re using the Pre-Wash setting. Before moving on to the next step, complete one more full lap after switching to Wash.
7. Apply Soap to Your Car With The Spray Wand
To switch from Wash to Soap, turn the machine’s dial. A soapy stream will begin to shoot out of the spray wand when you pull the handle on it. Do a second lap around your car to thoroughly clean the tires and wheel wells and the rest of the car with the suds.
- During this step, pay close attention to the dirtiest areas of your car, notably the grill and the nooks and crevices under the doors.
8. Rinse The Foam Brush with The Spray Wand
The foam brush is near the servicing machine; keep an eye out for it. Change the spray wand setting to Rinse right away, then rinse the foam brush’s bristles because grit, sand, and muck from prior uses might still be present.
- The foam brush is not used at all by certain car enthusiasts. As an option, they will bring their sponges from home and fill a container with soapy water to dip their sponge in the washing machine.
9. Brush Your Entire Car with The Foam Brush

Start with the car’s roof and work down to the body; hold the foam brush by the handle. After that, clean the wheel wells and wheels using the foam brush. Your car will shine and sparkle after manual scrubbing.
- Gently flick the soap off the foam brush every few minutes to remove dirt and grime.
- Don’t forget to wash your mats as well!
10. Apply Tire Cleaner to The Wheels and Tires
Turn the knob to “Wheel and Tire” when you return to the service station. After cleaning your wheels with the foam brush, use the spray nozzle to spray them down for a more thorough cleaning.
Rinsing and Drying

1. Rinse and Dry Your Car Mats
Avoid skipping your car mats because it’s simple to do so. After cleaning, switch the foam brush back for the spray wand and select the Rinse option on the wand. Give the mats one last rinse, then pat them dry with a rag you brought from home or a paper towel.
- By rinsing your car mats first, you’ll allow them time to dry while working on the rest of your vehicle.
2. Use The Spray Wand to Rinse All of The Suds From Your Car
Working from the top down, do a lap around your car to thoroughly rinse off all of the soap. It is best to act fast to avoid leaving a soapy film on your car.
3. Wax Your Car for A Shiny Finish
Take one last lap around your car with the spray nozzle set on Wax if the wax setting is offered at the station. While shielding the paint from salt will aid in sealing the body’s clean surface.
- Especially when it rains, waxing your vehicle promotes faster drying.
4. Rinse Your Car with A Spot-Free Rinse
There is one more thing to do if you’ve waxed your automobile, and that is to give it another rinse. Spot Free Rinse should be selected as the spray setting to use filtered water. After that, thoroughly rinse your automobile from top to bottom, being sure to reach all of the wheel wells and crevices.
5. Dry Your Car with The Air Dry Nozzle If Your Car Wash Has One
A drying option is not available for self service car wash, although some recent ones offer it! Set the nozzle to “Air Dry” and swiftly dry your automobile by using the hose that is connected to the service machine.
- Push the water off your car carefully by working your way from the top down.
- You can also use a microfiber towel you brought home to dry up your car. You can also just wait until you’ve driven off so your car can air dry.
6. Press “Stop” On the Service Machine And Replace The Spray Wand
It is now time to put the spray wand back where you found it at the station as you used it. To stop being charged, press “Stop” on the service machine.
So, this was a complete guide on self service car wash. Please follow all the steps mentioned to clean your car after washing!
Also read: Touchless Car Wash: Is It Safe for Your Car Paint?