Car washes have come a long way since Thomas Simpson invented the first semi-automatic wash system in 1946. In 1951, Archie, Dean, and Eldon Anderson opened the first fully automated car wash in Seattle, Washington. The 1960’s saw the introduction of soft cloth friction washing, roller on-demand conveyor, and the wraparound brush. The automatic wheel cleaner and polish’n’wax made their debuts in the 1970’s. Debuting in the 80’s was the “flex-serve" car wash that allowed customers to choose the type and extent of the automatic services they wanted. Today’s car wash is more diverse than ever before offering a multitude of options at a variety of price points, making it customer-driven to the last detail. You can still find places who provide hand washing or at least hand work on the interior of your car, but there are a lot fewer people lamenting like Jim Croce in his song “Working at the Car Wash Blues.”
“Well, I should be sittin' in an air-conditioned office
In a swivel chair
Talkin' some trash to the secretaries
Sayin', "here, now mama, come on over here"
Instead, I'm stuck here rubbin' these fenders with a rag
And walkin' home in soggy old shoes
With them steadily depressin', low down mind messin'
Workin' at the car wash blues
You know a man of my ability
He should be smokin' on a big cigar
But 'til I get myself straight I guess I'll just have to wait
In my rubber suit rubbin' these cars”
This is what the “Platinum Wash” looks like inside the tunnel at my favorite car wash. The description says my car is getting the full treatment: wash, wax, anti-spotting, tire shine, blow dry, and CosmicSeal, which protects me from asteroid showers and voter fraud.
I like all the colored lights. The blue ones make it look like I’m driving into a storm. Very cool! I make take a second trip through just to see it again.
