Car Wash Owner Needs You To Stop Doing This When You Go Through The Tunnel: ‘You Mean People Don’t Just Chill Out And Enjoy Music’

The car wash is one of the few places where you’re expected to relinquish control of your car and let the machine do the work. 

But some drivers apparently see those few minutes as an opportunity to multitask. One car wash’s footage shows how quickly that can go sideways.

Why Are They Doing This Mid-Car Wash?

In a viral TikTok with more than 182,000 views, car wash owner Frank Sanabria (@franksanabria_1990) showed footage of a car going through one of his car washes.

“Second reason why you don’t clean the inside of your car when you’re inside of an express car wash,” Sanabria says.

Sanabria explains that they do provide customers with a wipe to clean their wheel or any other surface in the car, but they explicitly say not to use it during the wash. (Some commenters think they should give it at the end to prevent the following problem.)

In the footage, the customer appears to be using the provided wipe to clean the steering wheel. How does he know? Well, the car, which is supposed to be in neutral, is jolting when it should be completely still.

How Does A Drive-Through Car Wash Work?

Not every automatic car wash moves a vehicle the same way. Capital One explains that some systems require the driver to put the vehicle in park and remain stationary while the equipment moves around it.

Tunnel washes generally do the opposite. The vehicle stays in neutral while a conveyor or track pulls it through multiple cleaning stages. Sensors control how much water, pressure, and detergent the system applies, Turtle Wax Pro explains.

Capital One says many track systems guide one front wheel into a slot that carries the vehicle through the tunnel. Turning the wheel can change its alignment with the track while the conveyor is still trying to pull the car straight ahead.

Gallery: Smart Crossblade At Automatic Car Wash

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What Should You Do Before Going Through A Car Wash?

Modern driver-assistance systems have added a few steps beyond simply closing the windows. According to Capital One and Turtle Wax Pro, drivers should:

1. Identify the type of wash. Follow that location’s instructions on whether your car should remain parked or travel through a tunnel on a conveyor. 
2. Confirm the correct transmission setting. Some modern automatic transmissions can shift themselves into park when the engine stops, so drivers should know how their vehicle behaves before entering.
3. Switch off automatic features. Rain-sensing windshield wipers can activate when water hits the glass. Parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking may also react to nearby brushes or equipment. Disable those systems before the wash begins. Some vehicles include a dedicated car wash mode.
4. Close and secure the exterior. Check every window and the sunroof, retract the antenna if possible, and remove any exterior attachments that could catch on equipment. Drivers of wide pickups and SUVs may also want to fold in their side mirrors.
5. Once the conveyor takes over, let it. Remove your hands from the steering wheel and avoid using the brakes.

‘I Almost Did That The Other Day’

Some people in the comments section shared how they approach car washes, while others had some suggestions for the car wash owner. 

“Why dont you give the wipe when [they] are done...or when they pay..its seems you can help prevent it also,” a top comment read.

“[You’re] telling me people don’t just chill out [with] the music up and enjoy the ride?” a person said.

“My husband was in the wash and went to reach into his backseat and used the steering wheel as leverage and jumped the track He never went back to that location again. and yes, I just showed him this video lol,” another shared.

“Then don’t give them that cleaning pad in the beginning of course you’re going to use it. give it to them after … [case] closed and you can stop shaming your customers,” a commenter added.

Motor1 reached out to Sanabria via TikTok direct message and comment. We’ll be sure to update this if he responds.