It’s fun to wash your car in the driveway while your kids are playing, but using a car wash could save money and the environment. You might think that skipping the carwash could save you a few dollars. However, you’d use more water and resources at home.

Wasting Water

A typical garden hose sprays water at about 10 gallons per minute. If you’re washing your car for 20 minutes, that’s 200 gallons of water. Using our equipment at Rainbow Carwash Detail Plus, you can wash your car quicker while using significantly less water. 

Pollutants

Over time, your car builds up dirt, oil, salt, bird poop and other pollutants. When you wash your car at home, these pollutants will flow down the drain and occupy your water system. Additionally, the chemicals you use to clean your car combine with dirt to pollute the water. When you visit Rainbow Carwash Detail Plus, our cleaning system stops pollutants from entering the city’s water. 

Damaging Your Vehicle

If you’re doing a DIY car wash, you’re probably looking to save money. That means the quality of the wash can suffer. With unsafe cleaners, you may oxidize the paint on your car, making the color appear dull. Also, it’s easy to scratch your car while washing at home. A mix of unsafe chemicals, low-cost sponges and hose water can scrub off the paint on your vehicle. Even if you can’t see the scratches, water will eventually start to rust on damaged paint, making your car look old. To avoid scratches and dull paint, get a detail at Rainbow Carwash Detail Plus. If you still want the DIY experience, use our car wash bays. 

Your Car Won’t Look Its Best

Since we don’t normally see folks cleaning their cars at midnight, we’re guessing that most people wash their vehicles during the day. Without a roof or bay, this can cause soap build up and water spots. At Rainbow Carwash Detail Plus, our bays have roofs to negate sunshine while washing your car. You’ll have time to use our dryers before water spots and soap buildup forms. 

Show Your Car Some Love at Rainbow Carwash

If you want to wash your car yourself using better equipment than you have at home, visit Rainbow Carwash Detail Plus in Sunnyvale, California. Our family-run car wash loves new faces! If you have any questions or concerns, our manager, Brian, and assistant manager, Matt, are always available to help. Their offices are located inside the Detail Plus office behind Rainbow Carwash. 

If you’re looking to spend some time away with family or friends, Northern California has plenty of options that won’t put too many miles on your car. Check out our list of weekend getaways that aren’t too far from the Bay Area. But once the driving is all done, don’t forget to stop by Detail Plus for a cleaning. You go enjoy yourself, and we’ll make your wheels look like you never left!

Lake Tahoe

If you like swimming, boating, fishing, skiing, hiking or relaxing on the beach, Tahoe is the place for you. Located on the Nevada and California border, just 3-4 hours from the Bay Area, Lake Tahoe is North America’s largest alpine lake. This popular getaway location truly has something fun for anyone who enjoys the outdoors. In the summer, visitors can boat, swim, fish and relax on the beach. In the winter, Tahoe is home to a range of high-quality ski resorts. If you’re looking for a relaxing weekend in the outdoors, it’s hard to beat Lake Tahoe!

Yosemite National Park

Located just under 3 hours from the Bay Area, Yosemite National Park features some of the most beautiful nature in the U.S. People travel from all over the world to visit this stunning national park. If you like to hike, backpack, camp and explore beautiful wilderness, Yosemite National Park is a MUST SEE. Watch rock climbers take on the daunting task of climbing El Capitan, a 7,569 foot slap of solid granite. Climb Half Dome, an 8,839 foot granite dome that was cut in half by a glacier. Or, just hike, camp and enjoy the views of this wonderful valley. 

Monterey

Looking for a weekend away by the sea? Look no further than Monterey! This beautiful, little town near the ocean has great seafood, cool shops and one of the most impressive aquariums in the U.S. The drive to Monterey from the Bay Area takes about 2-3 hours. But the drive includes a stunning, scenic stretch on Highway 1, which hugs the ocean near the world-famous golf course Pebble Beach!

Point Lobos

Located just a couple hours from the Bay Area in Carmel, state park Point Lobos features stunning views of the ocean and its native wildlife. Point Lobos is a great place to visit for a day trip. For a modest entry fee, you can spend the day hiking, relaxing on the beach or looking for wildlife.
The suggestions above are just a few of the fantastic getaway options for Bay Area residents. And remember: When the driving is all done, Detail Plus will make your car look as good as new! So call 408-738-1888 or visit our website to schedule an appointment.

If you’ve ever purchased a new or used car from a dealership, you know how clean an engine can look. The valves are shiny. The metal is clean. You can touch any part of its surface without immediately washing your hands. It starts out perfect, but it doesn’t last forever.

Many drivers spend time and effort cleaning the interiors and exteriors of their cars. But they rarely check under the hood, where dirt and grime accumulate for years.  

How can you ensure your engine is properly cleaned? A steam cleaning at Detail Plus will do the trick! Here’s a little bit more about the benefits.

Make your engine long-lasting

Getting your car’s engine steam cleaned can help extend its lifespan by keeping the engine healthy. The process will help get rid of contaminants and stray fluids, which will make your car perform better and last longer – giving you more bang for your buck!

Sometimes, fluids can leak into the engine. This causes a multitude of problems. A technician at Detail Plus can find and stop a leak at its source.

Spot trouble before it’s too late

Having a clean engine can help you spot trouble before it becomes a problem. If your engine is filthy, you’re not going to know if a small fluid leak has been there for a long time or if it just appeared.

Clean engines make leaks, cracks and other issues much easier to spot and take care of quickly.

Protect yourself from engine fires

Stains are typically a cosmetic issue, but they can become dangerous in certain parts of a vehicle. Fluid stains in your engine or undercarriage are often flammable.

Removing the buildup of combustible materials, such as leaves or oil, can lower your risk of fire hazards on the road or in the garage.

Consider scheduling an appointment with Detail Plus for an engine cleaning to mitigate the risk associated with flammable materials.  

Increase your vehicle’s resale value

You might not look at your engine as often as you should, but it’s one of the first things that a dealer or buyer might look at when considering how well the vehicle has been cared for.

It’s fairly easy to tell if an engine has been cleaned, which will increase the car’s resale value.

If you have a spare car that you are planning to give to a friend or a family member, a good steam cleaning will ensure its performance down the line.

Regardless of your car’s make or model, a steam cleaning is one of the best ways to revitalize its running capabilities and add to its lifespan.

Call Detail Plus today or visit our website to learn more about our engine-cleaning services and book your appointment!

Some people wash their cars religiously. Some people wait until a nosey passerby writes “wash me” in the dirt on their back windshield. While we don’t advocate writing anything on other people’s cars, we’re going to explain why it might be a good idea to listen to that message.

It’s important to wash your car regularly. Aside from keeping your ride pretty, washing your car prevents contaminants from ruining your paint job. 

Splattered bugs, bird droppings, tree sap, etc. can damage your paint if they’re not removed. The longer these things sit on your car, the more difficult they are to remove without chipping or etching your paint.

Will rain clean my car?

If you’re someone who likes to let Mother Nature clean your car, don’t. Rain simply doesn’t provide enough pressure to clean a car properly. Also, rain in most areas, especially around large cities, tends to be slightly acidic. As acidic rain evaporates, the moisture can cause corrosive damage to your paint. Lastly, and this should be obvious, rain doesn’t feature the most important ingredient of a good car wash — soap.

More reasons to keep your car clean 

Improving longevity

Aside from keeping your paint nice, regular cleaning can improve a car’s overall longevity. Cleaning brake dust and grime from your car’s rims can stop corrosion. And washing away engine debris can improve the interior health of your vehicle. 

Safety

When you drive, your windows, mirrors and tires should be clear of debris. Taking regular trips to the carwash will ensure that your vehicle is always clean enough to drive. If your windows and mirrors are too dirty, your vision will be obstructed while driving. This isn’t safe. Keep your ride clean!

Value

Do you ever plan on selling or trading your vehicle? If so, it’s important to keep your vehicle looking nice now. Regular washing will help prevent rust, scratches, chipped paint, etc. These things are important for the resale value of your car. 

How often should I wash my car?

We recommend washing your car once a week. If you can’t make it to the carwash once a week, try to make it every other week. Think about washes as an investment in your car. Visit Rainbow Carwash Detail Plus for a cleaning. Or, if you’d like to make your car feel new again, schedule an appointment for one of our detail services. You’ll be surprised how nice we can make your car look!