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Now In: Full Serve Car Wash Terminology

Full Serve Car Wash Terminology

The following list, contains some of the most common terminology used when describing Full Serve car washes.

Full service car washing offers a robust number of profit opportunities yielding a higher revenue per car. Greeted by a live attendant the customer selects their wash level and extra services before exiting the vehicle to a retail waiting area or convenience store. While the customer is waiting, attendants take the vehicle through the wash, vacuum, clean windows, and perform other detailing services. Although popular with customers, it is labor intensive and rising wages in some markets are leading full service washes to increasingly use automated equipment normally used in express and flex service operations to replace manual processes.

Term	Description
Wash Machine AKA Unimac, Front Loader	Washes and extracts towels used in the car wash
Central Vacuum System Bags Separator Water Separator	Nylon dust collectors inside the separator that prevent fine particles from entering the turbine Collects dirt and debris from vacuum lines Removes water from system prior to separator - commonly used in detail centers
Towels Terry Towels Huck Towels (AKA Surgical Towels) Micro Fiber Towels	For wiping the vehicle surfaces Lint -free towels, commonly used on windows Lint –Free, Scratch - Free towels, commonly used on windows, Express Detailing

Term	Description
Applicator Arch: (AKA Pre-Soak Arch, Foaming Applicator Arch)	Applies detergents to entire vehicle surface
Bumper Applicator:	Single: Front, Dual: Front & Rear Applies additional detergent to front and rear bumpers, specially at higher chain speeds
Undercarriage Wash: AKA Underbody Wash, Underbody Flush	Rinses undercarriage of vehicle
Rust inhibitor:	Applies special rust protection chemical to the undercarriage of the vehicle
Tire Brushes: AKA Tire Washer, Poodle Brush, Pencil Brush	Primarily cleans white & black tire walls (Wheels & Rims with the Poodle Brush)
Wrap Around Brushes: AKA Wash Around Brush.	Washes front, sides and rear of vehicle. Types: Reverse & Straight, Jog and Double Jog, Spyder Wraps Wrap Retract: Retracts brushes at rest position and is programmable to retract brushes around damaged or delicate vehicles Wrap Foamer: Applies lubricating detergent to vehicle prior to wraparound brush to promote safe smooth operation
Front to Back Mitter: AKA Top Washer	Cleans top surfaces of the car with entrance to exit motion
Side to Side Mitter: AKA Wash Across	Cleans top surfaces of the car with side to side motion
Top Brush:	Cleans top surfaces of vehicle with a counter weight spinning brush that follows contour of vehicle
Side Brushes: AKA Side Washers, Van Brush	Cleans side surfaces of vehicle ( from 35” to 63” tall)
Rocker Brushes: AKA Side Rockers, Baby Rockers, Rocker Washers	Wash rocker panel’s lower side up to bottom of vehicle’s side windows (up to 28” tall)
Grill Brush: AKA Grill Washer	Washes front grill and side of vehicle with opposite rotation of wrap around
Omni High Pressure Washers: AKA High Pressure Washers, Wheel Blasters, Tire Blasters, Rocker Blaster	Cleans all vehicle surfaces, including wheels with high-pressure water, mostly oscillating and rotating while it tracks the vehicle
Pendulum:	High pressure wheel cleaner that follows the wheel mechanically with no need for adjustment with different chain speeds
Three Color Foamer: AKA Triple Foam, Shower Head Triple Foam	Applies three color foam wax or conditioner to vehicle

Term	Description
Halo Rinse: AKA High Pressure Rinse, High Volume Rinse, Booster Rinse, Medium Pressure Rinse	Thoroughly removes all soap and three color foam from vehicle prior to final rinse
Rain Arch:	Eliminates fan-nozzle mist in the drying area it completely rinses the hood, trunk, grooves and sides
Drying Agent Arch: AKA Cheater Wax	Rinses and applies a wax type product that promotes water beading for better drying
Sealer Wax Arch: AKA Clear Coat Protectant	Applies Pay-for-Extra Service wax
Setting Arch: AKA Plating Arch, Final Rinse Rain Arch	Assists in beading and shedding the drying agent and excess water from all vehicle surfaces making it ready for the dryers
Spot Free Rinse Arch:	Applies Spot Free water to entire vehicle to prevent spotting
Mirror Blaster:	Thoroughly rinses soap, wax and reclaim water out of side view mirror using high pressure
Mirror Rinse:	Applies Spot Free water to side view mirrors to prevent spotting or fresh water to help remove soap, wax and reclaim water
SIMONIZ Tire Shiner:	Applies tire dressing to tires automatically
Air Dryers: AKA Blowers	Blows water off vehicle surfaces
Wipe-O-Matic: AKA Chamois Shiner	Wipes off small drops of water left by blowers with synthetic chamois material
Anti-Collision:	Detects vehicles at end of conveyor and automatically stops and starts conveyor, preventing collisions

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