At Valet Car Wash, safety and efficiency are top priorities. As vehicle technology continues to evolve, proper preparation before entering the wash is essential to ensure a smooth, safe, and pleasant experience for all customers.
Following these guidelines helps reduce delays, prevents avoidable issues, and ensures your vehicle gets the best possible clean.
Are You Ready to Wash? Loading Tips for Using Valet Car Wash
A successful car wash experience starts before your vehicle enters the tunnel. Please take a moment to review the key steps below before proceeding.
1. Pay Attention:
Keep your full attention on the car wash greeter and follow their directions when guiding you onto the track. Please avoid using your phone or other distractions while your vehicle is going through the wash. You must have care, custody and control of your vehicle while going through the car wash.
Not only is it illegal to use a cell phone it’s also very dangerous. 95% of all problems we have in the car wash are because of people on their cell phones and not paying attention to what’s going on around them. Kindly end calls and texts before entering the wash.
2. Put Vehicle in Neutral
In order for your vehicle to roll through the car wash it must be in neutral and all brakes and auto holds need to be turned off. Please make sure to read up on your owner’s manual before entering the wash to ensure you know how to put it in neutral and turn off all safety functions that might prevent it from moving, this is especially true with electric vehicles as well as many high-end vehicles. Waiting till you’re in line with a large lineup behind you is not the time to figure it out.
Also, some cars now come with a Car Wash mode button which when activated allows it to go through a car wash without issues. If your unsure if your new car has this feature check with your dealer.
3. Going Through the Wash
Our car wash system is designed to guide your vehicle safely through the wash. Please always keep your car in neutral and do not touch your brakes or steering wheel. While you don’t want to steer your vehicle while going through the wash however, if you do notice your steering wheel turning to the left or right, please just re-centre your steering wheel to keep it straight. If at anytime, should you feel something isn’t right or your uncomfortable please just sound your horn and the line will stop and an attendant will investigate before starting the line back up.
4. Wait for the Exit Go Signal
Only drive off the track when you see the signal indicating that the wash is complete and it is safe to exit. Only engage your vehicle into drive once the vehicle has been pushed off the conveyor, some models may require a slight press on the brake to change gears. Please note, that you do not need to bring your car to a complete halt; a light press on the brake is sufficient to shift into drive and proceed. Do not use your brakes to engage the transmission until you are completely off the conveyor Additionally, be mindful of braking at the end of the car wash as it may increase the likelihood of the following car coming too close to your vehicle. Always drive away slowly and be aware of pedestrians and employees.
5. Vehicle Preparations
Before entering the car wash, please ensure that all your windows including sunroofs are closed and any external vehicle accessories are secured or removed to prevent damage. If your vehicle still has a whip-style antenna we strongly advise you to remove it before entering the wash. Our attendants have a wrench available for your use. At the exit of the wash, simply finger tighten it so that on your next visit it’s easy to remove without the use of tools
6. Turn off Auto Wipers:
It’s important to deactivate automatic windshield wipers before entering the car wash. The sensors might detect water spray as rainfall, causing the wipers to activate. This could potentially lead to damage as the wipers might interfere with the cleaning equipment or get caught on external elements of the car wash system. Turning off manual and auto wipers for the front and back windows helps prevent unnecessary wear or damage to the wiper mechanism.
7. Watch out for Car's Misalignment
It’s important for vehicle maintenance that any signs of misalignment be addressed promptly, not only for safety on the road but also to ensure smooth and trouble-free experiences in automated systems like car washes. Regular checks and maintenance of your vehicle’s alignment can help prevent such issues. If the wheels are not aligned correctly, the car may not follow a straight path and could veer sideways. This misalignment can lead to the vehicle not tracking properly on the conveyor, increasing the risk of slipping or coming off the track, especially in conveyor systems that rely on the vehicle being properly aligned to guide it through the wash process. Its also very important that your tires are all at the same air pressure, one low tire can also cause your vehicle to pull to the left or right and potentially go off the track.
8. Emergency Protocols:
Never get out of your vehicle while in the wash. In case of any unexpected situations, use your vehicle’s horn to alert our staff who will imminently stop the wash and investigate.
9. Pickup Beds Must Be Properly Secured:
Pickup truck beds must be covered or completely emptied before entering the wash. Any loose items can shift during the wash cycle, leading to potential damage or loss of belongings and interference with equipment.
10. Trailer Hitches Must Be Removed:
All trailer hitches must be removed prior to entering the wash. This ensures we can properly clean both the front and rear of your vehicle and prevents any risk of equipment contact or obstruction during the wash process.
11. Fold Large Truck Mirrors (Both Sides):
Large truck mirrors must be folded in on both the driver and passenger sides before entering the wash. This helps prevent accidental contact with wash equipment and ensures safe passage through the tunnel.
12. Remove Whip Antennas:
Whip-style antennas must be removed before entering the wash. These can easily get damaged during the wash process or cause unnecessary strain on equipment if left attached.
13. Use Self-Serve Bug Prep for Best Results
For optimal cleaning results, we recommend using the self-serve bug prep station before entering the wash. Our wash system is designed to be extremely gentle, which means heavily dried bug residue may not fully come off during the automatic wash cycle.
Thank you for choosing Valet Car Wash. We look forward to providing you with a safe, efficient, and high-quality car wash experience every visit.
Wash Ready Steps
When acidic water and contaminants are left on the surface and repeatedly dried by the sun, they can cause:
- Turn off cell phone until car wash is complete and out of the building.
- Ensure you know how to put your vehicle in Neutral and release any auto holds.
- Ensure all windows are closed and wipers including auto wipers are turned off.
- Follow the greeters’ instructions and put vehicle in neutral when prompted.
- Sit back and enjoy the ride while making sure to pay attention to your surroundings.
- Keep steering wheel centred should it start to move to the left or right.
- Exit car wash track when the go light is activated and vehicle has rolled off the conveyor.
- Drive away slowly and cautiously.
These issues often build up gradually but can become permanent if ignored.
What to Do If You Need Assistance
If you encounter any issues or need assistance while at the car wash, please stay in your vehicle and signal to our staff by honking your horn. Please remain calmly in your vehicle, and do not get out of your car. Our team is ok now for the whole always ready to assist you promptly.
