Go to a Car Wash Today [please]
Text by Joanne M. Anderson Car washing has practically been a rite of passage for a teen with a new driver’s license, and it’s a popular fundraiser for non-profit groups to spend a summer day splashing cars and each other for some worthy cause. The International Carwash Association (ICA) is 106 years old. Most speculation points to the Automobile Laundry as the first production line car wash in Detroit in 1914. In 1940, the first automatic conveyor car wash opened in Hollywood. There was still much manual labor involved, and car wash technology became fully automated in 1951 with the addition of nozzles to apply soap 38
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and water, automated brushes and a 50-horsepower dryer. Americans’ love affair with their cars have never abated, and car wash
Americans’ love affair with their cars have never abated, and car wash entrepreneurs took note entrepreneurs took note, expanding services to include vacuuming, interior cleaning, special tire treatments,
additional wax applications and multiple air freshener aromas from which to choose. Southern Classic Soft Cloth Car Wash opened in Christiansburg in 1989 and outlines multiple service packages on its website with wonderful names like Red Carpet, VIP Service, Platinum and Red Carpet Plus. Main Auto Spa on N. Main St. in Blacksburg offers several services and packages as well as a loyal customer punch card with rewards and discounts for seniors, military members and students. Shores Car Wash at 7426 Lee Hwy. in Radford has a 3-Minute Express Wash along with hot wax, rain repellent, paint sealant, undercarriage
May/June 2020
