Article Courtesy of Professional Carwashing & Detailing
By: Scott Friedman, Director of Marketing at OPW Vehicle Wash Solutions, a Dover Company
Every carwash operator has the same goal: deliver clean, shiny and dry cars that keep customers coming back. However, consistently hitting that mark, without letting operational costs spiral out of control, is where the real challenge lies.
Doing so requires constant attention to the most significant levers of profitability in your wash: chemicals, water and high-performing equipment. In today’s increasingly competitive market, effectively navigating these expenses is essential for delivering a complete wash experience that drives customer retention and boosts your bottom line.
But there are also several ways to save. While carwash operators cannot negotiate certain — and often rising — costs, there are opportunities to reduce the expenses you can control without compromising uptime, wash quality or customer satisfaction. This can help mitigate increases in other expenditures, keep your bays running at peak performance and ultimately help your bottom line.
Managing your chemical costs
For most sites, the three highest operational expenses are chemistry, water and electricity, although these can vary by carwash type and geography. Tunnel washes, for example, typically have lower per-car costs on consumables due to volume and automation; however, these figures fluctuate depending on the wash package. For instance, a basic tunnel wash normally uses fewer gallons of water per car than higher-level wash packages.
But when you examine the individual cost-per-car averages, the importance of managing your chemicals — the most controllable of these consumables — becomes apparent. Consider this example (for illustrative purposes only):
- Water: $0.40-$1.80-plus per car (if not using reclamation)
- Electricity: $0.50-$1.00 per car
- Chemicals: $0.40-$1.25 per car
Benchmark averages fluctuate based on regional utility rates, equipment efficiency, volumes and wash packages.
“The chemicals in your wash packages are the key recurring consumables for operations because the selection is more dynamic than other variable costs,” explains Mack Ewing, Senior Director, Sales and Marketing, OPW VWS. “Therefore, knowing the chemical cost-per-car is a powerful metric that can drive profitability because it’s under operator control.”
This starts with clarity. Operators must know what chemicals are being applied, in what volume and the features per package. When you understand the specific type and amount of chemicals used in each application of your wash packages, you can choose which products to invest more in (or less). This also helps you plan and define upgrades and new offerings, such as ceramic soaps or graphene coatings, because the optionality makes it easier to adjust your mid- to high-level wash packages that have more services.
“Having these product-by-product insights provides a more flexible approach to configuring and operating the wash as intended,” Ewing says. “It also minimizes the risk of misapplying the chemicals for a given package.”
Monitoring equipment performance is another key factor in managing chemical costs. High-quality, well-functioning systems help optimize the efficiency of your chemical usage because the equipment automatically applies the right amount of chemical per wash. This underscores the importance of preventative maintenance for cost savings.
Work with suppliers and distributors to audit your resource usage
Taking stock of your chemicals and delivery systems is always a good practice. Cycle counting and/or utilizing inventory software are a good start. You can also perform an internal audit with visual inventory inspections and basic usage tracking.
But applying a more thorough analysis can deliver cost-saving results.
First, consider how often your chemical supplier walks through your site with you. Partnering with a trusted distributor or supplier for routine audits doesn’t just fine-tune your cost-per-car — it can uncover waste you didn’t even know was there.
“The right supplier or distributor should perform volumetric audits of your chemicals to help determine your actual cost per package,” Ewing says.
Beyond just the numbers that impact product purchasing decisions, this analysis can provide you with more options to modify your wash packages to optimize expenses.
“The results are often surprising. For example, a thorough chemical audit could reveal that your bottom-level package, while affordable for the consumer, is using more or less chemistry than is needed. That would reduce the package’s profitability and doesn’t provide the best value to the customer,” asserts Ewing.
It is also important to foster strong relationships with your distributors and suppliers.
“A strong relationship with your chemical distributor allows you to rely on them for transparent information about cost-per-car, package inefficiencies, proper dosing and even equipment calibration,” Ewing says. “Additionally, work with them to find a good cadence for regular site visits, increasing frequency at new sites or as seasons change.”
Proactively assessing your chemical product volumes according to need can enhance efficiency and drive additional savings in both the short and long term.
Avoid costly downtime with preventive equipment maintenance
You know what they say about an ounce of prevention? Well, it also applies to cost savings for carwash operations.
Unplanned downtime doesn’t just throw off your schedule — it can cost you hundreds, even thousands, in lost revenue and repairs. That’s why preventive maintenance on key components, such as conveyors, washers, chemical delivery systems and especially the air system, is not a “nice-to-have.” It’s your first line of defense against waste, equipment failure and frustrated customers.
Failing to perform routine maintenance can lead to several avoidable issues, including:
- Dirty and cluttered wash bay
- Waste of expensive chemicals and water
- Buildup of harmful contaminants, mold and bacteria
- Problems with the air system
- Premature parts corrosion and rust
- Wear and damage to conveyor belts, bearings and wash equipment
- Higher power usage
- Increased downtime
- Diminished customer experience.
More often than not, these and other common equipment problems in wash tunnels can be minimized or prevented altogether with a stringent maintenance routine. A good practice is to create a basic checklist for the on-site staff to follow, which can be optimized with a two-pronged approach.
First, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and specs for general maintenance on the wash equipment itself. Then, support the manufacturer’s guidelines with your own checklist that outlines daily, weekly and monthly tasks your staff can perform in and around the facility, paying extra attention to the conveyor.
“Conveyors are the backbone of any tunnel system,” explains Jim Ferguson, Manager, Sales Ops, Aftermarket and Tech Support at Belanger. “If that goes down, there’s no way to pull a car through, so the whole bay shuts down — and every minute of downtime costs you revenue and damages the customer experience. That’s why conveyor maintenance is so critical. It’s not just about keeping things moving; it’s about ensuring reliability, throughput and safety.”
It is best to run through the list either before you begin operations for the day or after business hours. Some of these basic tasks should include:
- Daily and nightly visual inspections of the tunnel and wash system
- Wash down the bay and equipment, especially the conveyor
- Check for any loose wires or air lines
- Grease all bearings
- Keep the conveyor, floor and drains free of debris.
Keeping your site clean and organized and creating a detailed preventative maintenance plan for your wash bay goes a long way toward delivering consistency, both with equipment performance and overall wash quality.
That consistency is what helps reduce expenses for power, water and chemicals, and avoid costly downtime, while still providing a quality wash experience. To that end, operations are increasingly implementing wash management systems that provide real-time data and visibility as part of their preventative maintenance programs. New technologies have emerged that monitor water pressure, chemical levels, motor performance and more to help the site operate with greater efficiency and deliver a competitive advantage.
“People simply want a clean, dry car, and preventive maintenance helps deliver that,” Ferguson notes. “If you’re not staying ahead of maintenance issues, you’re creating gaps in the customer experience. And when customers start to question the quality or reliability of your wash, you’re giving them an opportunity to go elsewhere. In this industry, consistency is key. Protect your reputation by keeping your equipment running at its best.”
Reclaim your water for more savings and a better customer experience
Carwashes have water and chemicals continually flowing through them during operation. When combined with the dirt, grease and debris they wash away from vehicles, some issues can arise, often manifesting in a slick, slimy surface and a moldy stench in the wash bay.
These are indicative of a problem and can be off-putting to customers. Fortunately, there is a solution.
Effective water reclamation is a key element in preventative maintenance and optimizing your site’s performance, as it slows down premature rust and corrosion on equipment. It also helps improve water quality and drive customer satisfaction — and it’s a cost saver, too.
While it is not mandated everywhere, water reclamation provides several benefits to operations:
- Keeps water moving to avoid stagnation
- Inhibits mold and bacteria growth
- Reduces bad odors
- Cuts new water expenses
- Water can be filtered and reused
- Helps your facility meet local regulations
- Improves the customer experience
- Sustainable, eco-friendly practice.
Conclusion
While you can’t control every cost, you can optimize — and save — on your expenses. By building strong partnerships with your suppliers, monitoring your chemical and water usage, and incorporating a preventive maintenance program into your daily operations, you’ll not only protect your bottom line, you’ll also elevate the entire customer experience. A well-tuned, efficient wash is a profitable one. And when your customers consistently drive away impressed, that’s when savings truly turn to growth.
This article originally appeared in the September 2025 issue of Professional Carwashing & Detailing.