Car wash: manual VS automatic VS contactless

10.02.2019

It turns out that there are the following types of car washes: manual, touchless and automatic. When choosing any of them, the main thing is that your car is trusted to professionals. Otherwise, you may not only fail to remove the stains, but also create new ones and even scratch the body. The technical equipment of the sinks is no less important, and the washing equipment is also important, as is the possibility of complete drying, blowing of individual structural elements, and compliance with the temperature regime.

There are three types of car washes:

Manual car wash

With this car wash, everything is simple: the car is washed in the traditional way using a bucket of foam solution, a foam sponge and a device that supplies water under pressure. For an additional fee, they can clean the inside of your car: vacuum, wipe down plastic elements, wash the floor mats.

Contactless car wash

Contactless washing

- car high pressure washer.
The detergent composition is applied to the car using a special sprayer and then washed off with water under pressure. This type of car wash can perform light cleaning of the interior. For this washing, special equipment is used - so-called foam generators and foam guns.
Structurally, the foam generator is a reservoir where the cleaning foaming composition is dissolved under high pressure. When you press the foam gun, the cleaning agent is released and the pressure of the mixture sharply decreases, which leads to abundant foaming.

Ecological washes

Steam washing

- another type of contactless car wash. In recent years, steam (steam generator) has been used for washing car bodies and cleaning the interior. The high temperature and pressure of professional equipment allows you to eliminate surfactants and reduce water consumption several times - when water is converted into steam, the volume increases. Dry steam cleans the interior of stains, removes unpleasant odors and does not require a long time to dry the interior. This type of sink uses predominantly manual labor and can significantly reduce the negative impact on the environment due to the absence of surfactants and low water consumption; sometimes they are called “eco-washes” - environmentally friendly sinks.

Automatic car wash

The washing and drying process takes place on an automated line, first a high-foam composition is applied to the car, after which the dirt is washed off with water under pressure using rotating bristles, then the car is dried with directed air flows. Depending on the selected program, the car body can be treated with a composition that protects the paintwork from harmful influences. At some automatic car washes you can wash the bottom of the car, and this is not an unnecessary procedure, especially after winter use. As a rule, the car interior is not cleaned at automatic car washes.

As a rule, a distinction is made between portal and tunnel washing.

A car gantry wash is an automatic installation, similar to an arch, that moves along the car while it is parked and removes dirt from it. There are contact and non-contact portal washes. Touchless portal washers do not use rotating brushes; instead, high-pressure devices are installed. The main advantage of a portal sink is the speed of washing. Also lower costs for personnel and water compared to manual washing. In some portals it is possible to wash cars of various sizes - from trucks to cars. Gantry manufacturers are trying to improve the quality and speed of washing. For these purposes, a number of improvements and additional options have been developed.

Features of different types of car washes

Each car wash has its own advantages and disadvantages: automatic is the fastest, the most gentle car wash is contactless. However, if the car body is heavily soiled, for example, there are bitumen stains on the surface, traces of fuel in the area of the gas tank hatch, contactless washing may not give the desired result. In this case, it is better to use a manual or automatic wash, but the first is still preferable. With such contamination, the advantages of a manual car wash are that it is possible to additionally treat the surface of the car body with a degreasing composition, and brushes in human hands will always be able to reach the most inaccessible places on the body, for example, under the car door handles.

Each type of car wash has its pros and cons. The main thing is to choose a sink you like. So that it is fast, high quality and inexpensive, and choose the types of car washes yourself.

What a car wash is is already clear from the name. This is where cars are washed. Just a few decades ago, we didn’t have a lot of car washes. But the iron horses themselves were not enough. Therefore, the question of where to wash the car was not so pressing. But today the situation has changed dramatically. With the advent of the opportunity to purchase not only passenger vehicles, but any type of transport in general, the number of cars has increased sharply. Therefore, the solution to the problem of putting everything in order can now be solved only by contacting a car wash.

Everyone understands that rain and snow bring with them not only puddles and snowdrifts, but also dirt. Especially if these are dirt roads or the outskirts of the city with potholes in the asphalt. Therefore, everyone is happy about the first warm and dry days after the slush, except motorists. After all, a dirty car spoils the face of the city and shows its owner as a sloppy person. It is at such a time that many car owners begin to look for where to make their car beautiful.

Contactless

The main principle is the application of foamed alkaline auto chemicals under high pressure. The foam reacts chemically with grease and dust, and the pressure removes small dirt particles without damaging the paint. To enhance the effect, shampoos and specialized chemical enhancers are used, which are mixed with the solution and allow the removal of any contamination. Thus, cleaning the machine takes no more than 10 minutes, a maximum of twenty in particularly advanced cases, when several layers have to be removed in two stages.

Its main components are:

● high pressure apparatus. Equipment designed to create a powerful directed jet. The variety of mini-washers provides a choice of many characteristics;

● sprayer. Its purpose is to generate foam from a chemical solution, for which both a special foam generator and a foaming agent in the form of a nozzle are used.

There are four main stages in total:

The body is doused with clean water under pressure. This removes dirt particles and also prepares the surface for the next steps by wetting it.
The solution is prepared, poured into a spray foaming agent and thoroughly sprayed, treating the parts.
Then you need to wait two to three minutes for the foam to absorb into the mud layer and begin to corrode it. You cannot overexpose it, otherwise it will dry out and leave behind stains that are very difficult to remove.
The foam is washed off with a new portion of water, the body is dried and polished using wax mixtures.

As a result, the iron horse looks like new.

Washing methods

contact and non-contact
the most exotic - steam and dry car washes

Self-service

Car washes that use self-service are the cheapest, but they are suitable for those car owners who already have some experience in washing a car, otherwise, when the allotted time expires, you will either have to pay extra, or give way to the next person in line, and drive in an unwashed car yourself.

More often, car washes are used, where the process of cleaning and polishing the car body is carried out in certain chamber-boxes. To do this, they use either the contact washing method, which is when the car is washed with brushes, rags, washcloths, or they remove dirt without contact, that is, apply a certain composition of synthetic detergents on top, which destroy the dirt and are then washed off with water.

Contactless washing method

The contactless method is the most convenient, as it allows you to speed up the process of washing a car and preserve the varnished surface of its body.

Dry wash

New for Russia are such types of car washing as removing dirt from the body and interior using steam and cleaning the body with special substances that corrode the dirt and can be removed without water, the so-called dry wash.

Steam washing

Steam washing is good because it allows you to significantly save on water. Because the steam that is produced using a steam generator is water, greatly increased in volume. This steam is good at removing greasy stains, old and stubborn dirt, both on the body of the iron horse and on the soft upholstery of its interior. At the same time, unpleasant odors and unwanted insects are removed. This method is as gentle as possible on the environment, and the interior dries out almost instantly.

The “dry” method uses chemical compounds that reduce the adhesion of dirt to body surface elements. After this, the dirt is removed with microfiber cloths, they are impregnated with a specially selected composition, without streaks or streaks after drying. After such cleaning, the paintwork remains in good condition for as long as possible. With such a variety of cleaning methods, you can easily choose the one that suits the car enthusiast, and among the offers of various companies, choose the one that can quickly and efficiently satisfy any needs in car washing.

Automatic car washing is a fairly popular service among many car enthusiasts. All operations to remove dirt from the external parts of the machine are performed automatically.

Automatic car washes for cars are divided into contact and non-contact. In the first case, the vehicle passes through brushes, rollers and fabric strips, in the second, cleaning is carried out using water and high-pressure detergents. However, this is not all types of automatic car washes. There are the following types:

1. Portal car washes.

The principle of operation is that the car remains motionless during the cleaning process. All operations of washing, drying and applying a protective wax layer are performed with a special frame. A portal car wash is controlled without human intervention. A specially programmed computer monitors the correct execution of operations. On average, about 12 cars can be washed in an hour using this method. Refers to contact types of car washes.

2. Tunnel sinks.

Hybrid car wash. Optionally, the user can choose a contact or non-contact method of cleaning the vehicle. Unlike the previous option, there are no queues here. The car is installed on a special conveyor and passes through sensors and photocells, which are responsible for cleaning the vehicle. On average, a car can be washed in 1 to 5 minutes.

Automatic car washes mean that drivers and passengers may be in the car while washing.

Design and principle of operation

The operating principle of an automatic car wash is that the vehicle is placed on a special conveyor or moving belt. The vehicle must be in neutral gear. Next, the car passes through special rollers, brushes and fabric strips, which, coupled with the influence of cleaning agents, clean the car of dirt.

A proper car wash uses powerful special detergents. They eat away deep-rooted dirt, including bauxite resin residues from the underside and wheels of the car. Next, the car is exposed to high water pressure. This way, the remaining detergent along with the dirt is washed away. Next, the car is covered with wax protection and dried using special devices.

Ventilation is important for a car wash. It allows the steam generated when using hot water to escape effectively.

Despite the abundance of actions performed, in terms of time, the car is washed longer when manually washing off the dirt. The automation cleans the vehicle in 5-10 minutes, depending on the cleaning mode selected by the driver.

Types of services

In automatic car washes, only the exterior of the car is washed. The first stage is washing without using cleaning agents or chemicals. Water under pressure removes dust and small dirt from the car. Further, depending on the application of non-contact and contact methods, the process differs.

If you choose a type of washing that does not involve the use of rollers and brushes, then also under pressure, a cleaning agent and a special car shampoo are applied to the car, after which it is all washed off from the vehicle, the car is covered with wax and dried. This is the best option to protect the paintwork of your car from damage.

In many cases, the car is cleaned without using water. Use rollers and fabric strips to remove dust and minor dirt, then apply dry wash shampoo, and treat the surface of the body with fabric rollers.

Mechanical car wash

This type of service is more common abroad than in our country. But they can also be found in large Russian cities. Mechanical washing is characterized by complete automation of the process. Cleaning is done using vertical and horizontal rollers with plastic or rubber bristles.

There are two types of mechanical rooms: portal and tunnel. In the first option, the car drives into the box and stands still, while the cleaning brushes spin around it. In the second case, the machine is placed on a conveyor and is “pulled” through several cleaning stages.

It should be noted that the rollers must be regularly checked and replaced. Otherwise, worn brushes will begin to scratch the paintwork of your car.

It takes a lot of money to keep a car wash in good technical condition. Hence the high price tags for using the service. But despite the cost, there are no fewer people wanting to make their car look decent this way. This is because using the sink is very convenient and fast.

From the entire range of services, you can choose only those that interest you. The standard program includes rinsing the car, applying shampoo and cleaning itself. Some car washes can even clean the underbody and wheels.

There is an opinion that such services are only suitable for working machines that you don’t mind. Many people are afraid to use mechanical car washes and only go to regular ones. There is some truth in these fears - if the owner of an automated cleaning system does not care about its condition and does not carry out regular maintenance and replacement of brushes, then the room will turn from a useful autobahn into a torture room for the paint surface of your car.

Advantages and disadvantages

If you follow the rules for removing dirt from the surface of the car, you can avoid mechanical damage to the paintwork of the car. Automatic contactless car washes are popular among those drivers who care about the external condition of their car. When contact cleaning, using rollers or a cloth of poor quality, small scratches may remain on the body coating, which will spoil the appearance of the car. It is also not recommended to use contact cleaning after painting a vehicle.

The advantages of contact washing include high efficiency in combating pollution. In addition, complete waxing and blackening are performed, which subsequently protects the car from corrosion and minor defects. Contactless washing does not allow you to get rid of all the dirt, especially hardened bauxite resins in the lower part of the vehicle, however, such washes are also popular due to the fact that cleaning is carried out much faster than the contact method and does not pose a threat to the paintwork of the car.

The undeniable advantage of automatic car washes is short service time, relatively low fees, and round-the-clock operation.

Significant disadvantages include the low distribution of such services in Russia. To open an automatic car wash, serious financial investments are required; in addition, not all localities will have a service system that operates correctly without cashiers and operators.

On the territory of the Russian Federation, the overwhelming majority use manual car washes, which can operate at a car service center. In addition, applying wax and blackening is more effective when this operation is performed manually.

Before you go to clean your car from dirt, you need to make inquiries about the chosen car wash:

Visit the official website. There will be information about the car wash certificate, which can guarantee the high quality of the services provided.
Read reviews from other visitors.
Find out about the types of services provided and equipment.
When approaching a car wash, according to traffic rules, an appropriate road sign must be installed.
After selecting the cleaning mode and payment, a receipt should be issued. With its help, in case of damage to the car, it will be possible to demand compensation.

Automatic is a popular type of service that allows you to quickly and for little money put your vehicle in order. However, before you go to wash your car, you need to carefully study all the information about the chosen car wash and read the reviews. This will subsequently eliminate unnecessary proceedings related to the application of defects to the coating of the vehicle body.

In the modern world there is more “service”. Too much, according to some people. But still, one cannot help but admit that such a rich environment with a wide variety of services is very convenient for a working person. 24-hour food delivery, dry cleaning, hairdressing salons - all this makes our life more comfortable.

Don't forget about car washing. And if earlier the driver himself put his iron horse in order, today others will do all the work for him. You just need to choose the type of car wash and pay for the procedure.

Self-service at a car wash

In recent years, the number of do-it-yourself car wash sites has increased. This is due to the desire of drivers to save money or to distrust in the quality of services provided by car wash staff.

Also, fines for washing in the wrong place force motorists to use specialized areas and boxes equipped with a drainage water purification system.

Calculation at the car wash is done on a minute-by-minute basis. You can use your own tools and equipment or rent them. Water, of course, is provided on site.

Before cleaning, you need to carefully calculate the time required to restore the shine and the cost of all this. Delay is fraught with additional costs.

To keep your car in good quality and not spoil either the interior or the body, you need to know how to wash it correctly and what is strictly prohibited from doing:

Only specialized auto cosmetics and chemicals can be used;
You can’t rub anything dry; you can wash dirt from the surface only with a copious amount of liquid;
You need to use a special coarse-grained sponge, others scratch the paintwork;
Try to choose more expensive products for your car - they are much more effective;
In winter, you should not wash your car with hot water - sudden temperature changes will lead to body defects. Use lukewarm or cold liquid, it will not harm.

Nowadays, you can even wash your car in different ways. Some people are seduced by the process of contemplating how their vehicles are cleaned by other people or equipment, others do it exclusively themselves, not trusting the car to strangers. Each option is available and depends only on the choice of the owner. Love your four-wheeled friends, keep them clean, and they will reward you with many years of faithful service.

neauto.ru

Currently, there are quite a few different services that you can use to “refresh” your car. The range of services provided is varied. Let's look at what types of car washes there are and what is their difference.

1. Contactless washing.

The principle of operation of this sink is the chemical action of the washing solution. The main advantage is that dirt is dissolved with foam and then washed off with clean water. Next, you need to apply liquid wax or protective polish to the entire car. This will add shine and further protect it from contamination.

The duration of the wash is determined by the degree of soiling of the machine. When using a contactless car wash, the paintwork of the body remains unchanged.

2. Automatic washing.

This type occurs on an automated line. There are 2 types:

portal - has a U-shape on which they are located

two vertical and one horizontal brushes. In this case, your vehicle is stationary, and the washing arch moves relative to the car;

tunnel (conveyor) – the car is fixed on a conveyor

line and gradually moves forward through the washing and cleaning devices. It is equipped with vertical and horizontal rotating brushes, which in addition to the car body will wash the wheels and the bottom.

3. Hand wash.

A traditional and common type in which the owner of his car washes it himself. In this case, clean water, a special car shampoo using foam sponges, brushes or ordinary rags are used.

Having considered the types of car washes, we can say with confidence that each has its advantages. However, which one to use is up to you to decide. The main thing: the quality of the wash, its cost and the final result.

Video: Example of automatic, contactless and manual washing