How long does a car wash take? 15 minutes? 45 minutes? Two hours?
If you’re new to washing cars, it can be tough to guess. How do you know what you’re getting into before you spend an entire Saturday afternoon in the driveway with a soap-filled bucket?
The answer isn’t obvious. That’s because how long a car wash takes depends on what type of car wash you’re using.
In this article, we’ll break down the different types of car washes and how long they take, looking at a range of sources as well as time data from our own detailing shop to give you a decent estimate for each type of wash.
How Long Does a Car Wash Take?
Usually, when people are asking how long a car wash takes, they’re asking how long it takes to hand wash their own car at home. And because most people don’t own a foam gun or foam cannon, they’re probably wondering how long a car wash takes using the “two-bucket” hand wash method.
How Long Does a “Two-Bucket” Hand Wash Take?
The Two-Bucket Method for hand washing a car involves two buckets:
- One for soapy water
- One for rinse water, lined with a Grit Guard
The Grit Guard traps contaminants and particles at the bottom of the bucket so your rinse water stays clean, ensuring no gunk, grime, or particles are re-introduced onto your wash mitt.
Two-bucket hand washes typically take anywhere from 30-60 minutes. Factors that will affect how long the wash takes include:
- Size of the Vehicle: The more surface area a vehicle has, the longer each step of the process will take as there’s more to cover.
- Intricacies of Car Design: More complicated body panels and features will take longer to wash than more plainly-designed cars with flat panels.
- Level of Contamination: Cars with less surface contamination and grime will on average take less time to clean than excessively dirty cars.
- Skill and Experience: Experienced car washers work faster than beginner car washers, so if you’re just starting out, it may take you a little longer than average.
How Long Does a Waterless Wash Take?
Waterless washes are a type of wash that involves spraying the paint with a cleaning solution before wiping the surface clean with a microfiber towel.
These types of washes are slightly faster than a foam gun/foam cannon wash simply because it eliminates the rinsing steps in your wash process. For an average-size vehicle with moderate contamination, a waterless wash will generally take about 20-30 minutes.
How Long Does a Foam Gun Hand Wash Take?
Washing your car with a foam gun or foam cannon is faster than a conventional two-bucket wash because you simply spray the foam onto the vehicle instead of mixing up soap in a bucket and spreading suds on the car with a wash mitt.
Foam guns and cannons also make the suds cling to the paint surface better, allowing for more contact between the surfactants and the contaminants, breaking them down more effectively to speed up the wash process.
All of these factors mean foam gun/foam cannon hand washes take a little less time than a two-bucket hand wash. On average, a foam gun/cannon wash will take anywhere between 30 and 45 minutes.
How Long Does a Touchless Wash Take?
A touchless wash is a type of automatic car wash that uses highly pressurized water and caustic chemicals to blast away contamination without wash mitts, cloths, or brushes.
These washes are automated and don’t require any set-up time, so they’re usually pretty fast. Generally speaking, on average, a touchless wash will take about 2-10 minutes.
How Long Does an Automatic Wash Take?
An automatic wash generally refers to a car wash service that guides the vehicle on a track through a series of soap cannons, automatic brushes and cloths, rinse jets, and blow dryers to fully wash and dry the vehicle in a short period of time.
While there are certainly some more intensive automatic washes out there that can take longer, usually an automatic wash takes about 2-10 minutes.
Tips for a Faster Car Wash (Without Sacrificing Quality)
If you’re looking to speed up your car wash process, here are a few tips to help:
- Pre-Rinse and Pre-Foam – Rinsing and foaming the vehicle prior to your main wash will help break down and loosen dirt and grime to make cleaning faster.
- Keep Your Tools Ready – Having everything set up (buckets filled, towels ready, pressure washer connected) before you start saves time.
- Wash from the Top Down – Gravity naturally pulls dirt and soap downward, preventing you from re-cleaning lower sections. Since the roof and upper panels are usually less dirty than the lower sections, starting at the top helps minimize cross-contamination, reducing the need for extra scrubbing.
- Protect Your Car with a Ceramic Coating – Ceramic coatings resist contamination, making it so dirt and grime release and wash away more quickly while washing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is a Hand Wash Better Than an Automatic Car Wash?
Yes, a hand wash is generally better for your car’s paint because it avoids the harsh chemicals and abrasive brushes used in automatic car washes. Harsh chemicals can strip protection and wear on the paint, while abrasive brushes create swirl scratch patterns that dull the color. If you want to maintain your car’s paintwork for the long run, a hand wash is the way to go.
How Often Should I Wash My Car?
It depends on factors like your climate and how often you drive, but a general rule is to wash your car every two weeks at the very least. Washing more often will also make your washes faster as there’s less contaminant build-up.
What’s the Best Time of Day to Wash a Car?
When washing a car outdoors, you want to avoid direct sunlight so water doesn’t dry on the paint and forms water spots. Therefore, early morning or late afternoon is best to avoid direct sunlight, which can cause water spots.
Final Thoughts
There’s no simple answer to the question, “How long does a car wash take?” There are too many variables to pin down a specific time.
Instead, it’s better to estimate how long a car wash takes based on the method being used. Generally speaking, a two-bucket hand wash will take the longest, while an automatic wash is the fastest.
Want faster wash times and better results? Check out our best-selling car wash soaps and tools to upgrade your washing process!
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