Fall carwashing - Professional Carwashing & Detailing

Fall carwashing

Customers should not skip the autumn season; here is why.

The fall season has arrived and tree leaves in most parts of the country are turning from green to deep red and orange. For many regions in the U.S., weather conditions have changed from hot and humid to cool, yet comfortable. For many, now is the perfect season to snuggle up with your pumpkin spice latte — or beer — and enjoy this beautiful time of year. It’s also the time for fall carwashing.

Don’t let sales fall off

For many seasoned carwashing and detailing professionals, fall is the time of year when carwashing is usually not top-of-mind. In fact, some carwash customers might not want to go through the effort of washing their cars and SUVs during the fall since the elements of winter, including road salt, sand and snow, are just weeks away.

Unfortunately for the professional carwashing business, these customers are not alone. In fact, the least popular season to wash a car is fall, according to a survey from Statistic Brain. According to this research, only 18 percent of sales happen during the fall carwashing season.

But, we are here to give you good news and information that you can share with your customers as a new business owner in this industry. Customers should still indeed wash and wax their cars during autumn months.

Customers should change with the seasons

New investors in this industry usually don’t stop and think about why customers, especially loyal customers, get their cars washed. First, it makes them feel good about themselves. Another reason loyal carwash customers keep coming back is because they love their cars and they want to protect their investments. For most customers, their car is their families’ second biggest investment, behind their homes.

It is true; Americans still have a love affair with the automobile. And, new owners in this industry should think about why that is.

Customers will pay to tune up all the parts of their cars that people do not immediately see, such as the engine and the exhaust. All that stuff is great, but remember what attracted a customer to his or her car in the first place? Chances are it was not the exhaust system.

Fall carwashing tune-up

A carwash and wax is a tune-up for the outside of customers’ cars. It does not just make it look pretty and shiny either. Customers should understand that a protective wax keeps their cars safe from the perils of fall debris, such as sap, dead leaves, bird excrement, tar and mud. Falling leaves can do much more damage than most customers might originally think. These fall season pests can create all sorts of micro scratches that can lead to bigger problems, and can be especially costly when winter arrives.

And this should be a no-brainer, but simply driving your car makes it dirty. If you are out often during the day, ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage the paint over time. The more mileage you pile on your car, the more dirt and debris will build up; it happens in every season.

Five fall car care tips

So after you have convinced your new customers that washing and waxing is not just something to do every five months when they are bored, here are some other fall tips to share with them:

  • Clear off any debris. Fall can be tough driving weather. It gets cold and dark early, and storms roll through often. Your customers need perfect visibility for these conditions, so advise them to brush off any leaves, mud, dirt, etc., when present.
  • Check the wipers. Make sure they can wipe water and grime away quickly and efficiently.
  • Have some cloths and anti-freeze solution nearby. The harsh weather of early winter can take a toll on customers’ cars faster than you can say “Jack Frost.” Customers should purchase — maybe from your carwash’s multi-profit centers — these materials in their cars to combat the weather.
  • Vacuum interior areas. The cold seasons can wreak havoc on car interior areas. Leaves and mud can litter your customers’ floor mats and fingerprints can pile up on the dash. Customers should do themselves a favor and vacuum and wipe down the interior whenever possible.
  • Keep tabs on the important stuff. Brake pads, tires, the engine and other vital components of the car should be maintained regularly to keep the vehicle operating at optimal performance levels. Customers will need good brakes for slippery fall and winter roads, and good tires to grip the road.

Autumn may be beautiful, but your customers’ cars could beg to differ. When customers are not busy taking in all this lovely season has to offer, remind them of the importance of fall carwashing and waxing … it will pay off in the long run.


Scott Huntington is a writer and automotive enthusiast from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Check out his blog Off The Throttle at www.offthethrottle.com, or follow him on Twitter @SMHuntington

You May Also Like

Mentoring through a changing workforce 

How carwash operators and detailers can overcome a changing workforce with mentoring.

Boomers will soon have left the workforce. There are not enough career-technical education schools, instructors or students to meet demand. At the time of writing this article, unemployment is a super low 3.4%, which means most unemployed people are not capable or interested in work. The worker shortage is a worldwide phenomenon. 

Get the most from your RO membranes

Maintain these critical components to improve performance and lower cost of ownership.

New innovations on display

Operators find virtual solutions at 2023 The Car Wash Show™.

Keep your cool on the job

As temperatures surge, use innovative portable air coolers to make sure productivity doesn’t dip.

Listen up

Expert tips for how business leaders can readily address the root causes of stress and burnout and ultimately facilitate a culture of caring.

Other Posts

Unlimited Auto Wash has become Environmentally Certified Sustainable at all 7 locations

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — The program, which allows companies to progressively improve at a pace that works for their needs, helps the organization define how it interacts internally, externally and with the environment.

Detailing survey results and feedback

Detailers share their thoughts and predictions for the industry and their businesses.

PC&D detailing survey
Unlimited Auto Wash to pursue Environmental Sustainability Certification for all locations

JUPITER, Fla. — Seven facilities to be certified under the Edenark Group ISO 14001 environ-mental sustainability program.

Tunnel vision: What in-bay and tunnel washes offer operators in the growing carwash landscape

What in-bay and tunnel washes offer operators in the growing carwash landscape.