An automatic car wash uses specialized equipment to clean a car without the need for manual labor. Every piece of equipment has a specific purpose and will work together with the other components to clean your car in a matter of minutes.

Read on to learn more about the main types of equipment you can find at an automatic car wash.

Exterior Soap Spray

The first step in any automatic car wash is to apply soap to the surface of the vehicle. This step is important because it helps loosen any dirt or debris clinging to the paintwork.

The exterior soap sprayer usually has a large, cylindrical brush that moves back and forth across the width of the car. The brush spins and sprays soap onto the car as the cycle progresses. The sprayer has a set of sensors that tell it when to stop spraying soap, so you don't have to worry about overdoing it.

You'll find two types of brushes at an automatic car wash—cylindrical and disk brushes. Cylindrical brushes are the most common and are made up of a series of long, stiff bristles that spin around as they move back and forth across the car.

Disk brushes are less common, but they're becoming popular because they're gentle on the paintwork. They have a series of short, soft bristles that rotate in a circular motion as they move across the car.

Both types of brushes are effective at cleaning cars, but cylindrical brushes are better at removing heavy dirt and debris. Disk brushes are better for gentle washes and for cars with sensitive paintwork.

Some automatic car washes also have an additional pre-soak step. This is where a separate machine applies a thick layer of soap to the car before it enters the main wash tunnel. This helps to loosen any really stubborn dirt and makes the washing process more effective overall, especially if your car is too dirty.

High-Pressure Sprayer

After applying the soap, the next step is to rinse it off. This is usually done with a high-pressure water sprayer that quickly removes all the soap from the car's surface. The pressure of the spray can be adjusted depending on how dirty the car is. A higher pressure setting will be used for very dirty cars, while a lower setting works best for lightly soiled cars.

The high-pressure sprayer is usually followed by a low-pressure rinse. This uses a weaker stream of water to remove any soap residue that may be left behind. It's important to make sure all the soap is removed before the car enters the main wash tunnel because otherwise, it will just reapply the soap to the car.

Some automatic car washes also have a separate spot-free rinse step. This uses deionized water, which is water that has had all the minerals removed. This type of water dries without leaving any spots or streaks, so your car will be left sparkling clean. 

For more information, contact a local company like Better Car Wash Equipment and Supply.