In a word.. .yes! When we put that question to the used car managers of large auto dealerships, they said that they often have two identical cars on the lot, both the same year and model with the same equipment. Even though they were mechanically the same, the finish of one looked as if it were just off the showroom floor. The second was noticeably rusted, dull and spotty. The difference in price? $1,000! Appearance is the first thing people look at in a used car. If a car's appearance turns the buyer off, no amount of persuasion can get them to even get in and start the engine. The moral of the story? Proper care of a car's appearance is an investment that will definitely pay off at trade-in time!

It depends on the external factors that your car is exposed to. For example, salt or other corrosive matter such as sand should be washed off approximately every week. In seasons or climates less conducive to corrosion, every two or three weeks should be adequate. One important factor that could vary those figures is whether your car is parked in a garage overnight or left out in the elements.

You are referring to black particles that come from areas of heavy traffic on the road. It is emitted from the gritty abrasive substance coming off tires as they wear. Also, chemicals from diesel smoke and other emissions in the atmosphere settle on the car's surface and can damage the finish if it is not removed immediately.

Colorado's sun and thin atmosphere causes paints, especially dark colors, to oxidize rapidly. This causes the cloudy look. Our Touchfree Process actually cleans your finish and it causes the ongoing oxidation to show more clearly. What is the solution? A coating of wax must be kept on the finish to stop oxidation from happening in the first place. Once the paint is oxidized, it will continue to deteriorate until it is removed completely with cleaners and a machine buffer. A car wash-compatible wax should then be applied at least twice a year. For more information, pick up our "Detail Services" brochure from our literature rack.

It is caused by using your windshield washers on hot sunny days. The washer fluid that blows off the windshield burns the paint, causing the spotting. It is best to use the washers when the car is cool, such as at night or on cloudy days.

As little as absolutely possible! Bug residue forms an acid that starts to eat at a car's finish immediately! Bugs (and bird droppings, too) should be washed off as soon as possible, especially if the car is brand new.

It could be it's time to change your blades. Most manufacturers agree that windshield wiper blades should be changed every three months. That prevents wearing and smearing, which can be extremely dangerous in a moving vehicle.

Today's wheels are coated with a Clear Coat just like the paint. Every time we touch the brakes we heat up those wheels, which covers them with corrosive brake dust. So Clear Coats, Heat and Corrosion on our unprotected wheels, it's not good. Water Works offers our "Wheel Shield" protection to keep your wheels looking good.

Tires are made of petroleum products, the material the tire is made of leeches out of the tire over time. The sun's ultra violent rays cause the tires to dry and then they will begin to crack. The longer the tire is on the car the more it loses its elasticity. Our Wheel Deal process not only cleans the tire as well as applies a special dressing to keep the tire functioning the way it was designed. Keeping tires in good condition is the safest thing you can do for your car. Besides the dressing makes the tires look so good.

Colorado has some of the clearest skies and hottest sunshine. Put that together with all the glass on vehicles, and you have an "Oven" inside your vehicle. Between the temperature and the ultra violet rays unprotected vinyl will fade and crack in no time. Water Works Car Wash offers our Soft Luster packages to combat the "Oven".

Yes, for the same reasons you would use hand lotion. Our hands get dirty, we wash them, our hands get chapped and rough, we put on lotion to protect them. The untreated Leather in your vehicle dries out, cracks, and finally tears. Water Works uses Lexol Leather Treatment to keep leather surfaces baby soft. Lexol is the finest product on the market for leather.

Dirt destroys the fabric's fibers. Vacuuming is the best way to get rid of most of the dirt, but small amounts stay embedded in the fibers. Then we sit on or stand on this embedded dirt and it works like sand paper on the fabric's fibers. The only way to remove the embedded dirt is to Shampoo the carpet and upholstery. We use a deodorizer in our super hot water extraction machine to kill all the bacteria and germs too. It feels so great to sit on a freshly shampooed seat, healthy too.

Our Interior Clean and Protect service takes about 2 hours and every interior surface is cleaned. The carpets and upholstery are shampooed. All surfaces are dressed. We'll try to remove stains from all the surfaces. Top this service off with a Fabric Protectant and stains will be easy to remove. Do this once a year and you will be amazed at the results.

We recommend this 4-hour service for vehicles that receive heavy use and haven't regularly been waxed or had the interior super cleaned. It is also for the customer that wants to keep their vehicle in tip-top condition at all times. This is really a reconditioning service because it intensively addresses every part of the vehicle. Call us before noon and we can probably do it that day. Do it once a year and forget buying a new car. It will be like driving a new car again.

During our typical wash services we have about 3 or 4 minutes to clean your vehicle inside. After a time the dirt builds up even with a regular light dusting. Our Super Clean service is a more intensive cleaning because we can spend over 20 minutes working to remove all the built up dirt and grime. Our Interior Clean and Protect service takes 2-hours is even more intensive and includes shampooing and dressing the entire interior.

Rain X Complete is applied in the tunnel though a special arch. The product fills in the gaps and holes in your paint and glass surfaces. By filling the gaps and holes the finish has a smooth surface again that sheets off water, dirt and wind. Rain X on the glass aids visibility at night or in bad weather and extends the time between washes. It is an amazing product; We think you'll agree.

Aqua Pel is a "Beefed Up" version of Rain X. Aqua Pel is applied by hand in our detail center with a special applicator which produces a stronger adhesive bond to the glass so it last a lot longer, in some cases up to 6 months. Your windshield will be so slick nothing will stick to it and your wiper blades will work to perfection. Rain-X Complete between Aqua Pel applications and you'll have total vehicle protection.

Fabrics have fibers that can fill with dirt and grime producing a permanent stain. Fabric Protectant acts as a barrier between stains and the fabric fibers. A Protected surface is always easier to keep clean than an unprotected one.

With today's new computerized engines we would not suggest using cleaning agents and high-pressure water like we have in the past. We have no "Dry" process for cleaning engines so we do not clean any engines. We would rather be safe than sorry. Computer parts are expensive. The best solution is to dust the exposed surfaces of the engine with a moist cloth regularly without getting close to electronic components.

The Detail Managers at our centers average over 15 years of experience. They have seen every problem imaginable over the years. If they can't do it, no one can. They are there to recommend the service you need and give you the best value for your dollar not to sell you the highest priced service on our menu.

There are many possible reasons for cars being processed out of order, but the reason we do this is to provide an efficient way to service everyone's vehicle quickly when it is ready to go on the conveyor. Remember, we have to get every car clean no matter how long it takes. Some take longer than others and are taken out of sequence. If your car happens to be behind one of these, you will be delayed. We wish there was a way to service cars as they arrive, but we know from experience that service would be a lot slower for everyone.

These are codes that enable our drive-on personnel to program the computer for the services you've requested.

Please inform our Customer Service Advisor if you have areas of your vehicle that need special attention or areas we haven't done to your satisfaction in the past. He will put a Special Request Card inside your vehicle to alert our inspector of your request.

We concentrate on the areas that are prone to be dirtiest: The carpets, mats, seats and, upon request, ashtrays. Seats get a quick once over, but getting into every pleat and crease is impossible - although we do try. We also try to get underneath the seat, but to do it properly the seat would have to be moved and we feel most people would not want this done. Our vacuum tools do not fit easily between seats and consoles, but we do try to reach these areas as best we can. We do not vacuum beyond the back seat. Hatchback areas and trunks are, to most of our customers most of the time, considered private space and they don't want our staff moving things around in order to vacuum. Over time we decided to drop the cost of the vacuuming service by one dollar and leave these areas out. If you'd like to have your trunk or hatchback area vacuumed, let us know and we'll throw that extra dollar's worth of service back in.

Dog hair is almost impossible to vacuum. For our dog-owner customers we recommend a shampoo several times a year, because a wet vacuum extractor is the only way to remove the hair.

If there is an area that is a particular concern to you, inform our Customer Service Advisor who will put a Special Request Card in your vehicle alerting our Inspector of your concern. We have vacuums at the exit to handle special problem areas. You can help us do a good job by putting loose items and things you don't want thrown away inside glove boxes, consoles, hatchback areas or trunks. Then we don't have to vacuum around your valuables. We have free vacuums at our Citadel and Nevada locations on the side of the building, if you would like to add your own special touches to our vacuum service.

Most drivers do not want us touching things stored in these areas.  There is a small charge for vacuuming the hatchback and truck area.

Some windows are easy to clean and others are very difficult. The film on a window is hard to see unless you're looking through it directly into the sun. The causes of the film build-up are many, but as it rule it's produced by materials in the vehicle oxidizing, causing them to emit sticky vapors. Film can also be caused by smoking, perfumes and even the body oils of the vehicle's occupants. We use special towels for inside the windows that are kept separate from other towels and are even washed in machines dedicated exclusively to these towels. We are always searching for better window cleaning solutions to improve our service. If your windows were left in an unsatisfactory condition after your last visit, please alert our Customer Service Advisor and he will put a Special Request Card in your vehicle to alert our Inspector so special attention can be given to your windows.

It would be very time-consuming to roll all the windows down on every single car, but we will be happy to do it for anyone who requests it. Just mention your request to our Customer Service Advisor and he will put a Special Request Card in your vehicle to alert our Inspector.

Yes it is, and that's a very good question. The cleaner we use is alcohol based. Cleaners that contain an alkaline base can spot and stain tinted windows.

Every car has different kinds of dirt on it depending upon where you live or where the car has traveled since your last wash. The way the dirt adheres to the car's surface also varies because of different weather and exposure to the elements. Sometimes the dirt is very sticky and it takes more than one pass through our system to break down the electrical bond that holds the dirt to the vehicle's surface. We continually adjust our cleaning agents to overcome these factors, but the adjustments are for 99% of the cars. The other 1% we have to process more than once. If you would like a scientific explanation of why dirt adheres to a vehicle, ask our manager. He can give you literature that will explain the reasons.

It is leftover residue from areas behind the moldings. We rinse every car with 100% pure de-ionized water to try to eliminate these drips. There is no way to blow all this residue out from behind the moldings. Gravity takes care of most of it, but unfortunately it doesn't all drain out until you leave the wash. These drips aren't harmful but they sure don't look good. A damp towel will remove them. Stop by and we'll do it!

Special cleaners are used for wheels and white letter tires in the tunnel then we do all of them by hand because we haven't yet found a piece of equipment that does a good job without damaging the wheels. Besides, we get them cleaner by hand.    Some wheels require extra attention to remove brake dust, tar and spotting. Our detail center has special services to clean wheels that are extra dirty.

Mud has to be removed by hand at the beginning of the wash process. It takes a long time to do a good job (at least 10 to 20 minutes) and we feel it is unfair to hold up other customers to take care of one muddy vehicle. We will run the vehicle through the wash several times to remove the mud, but it is not an effective way to do the job. We will be happy to spend the extra time to do the job correctly, if you can come in just before opening or at closing.

Yes. Loose items and debris are very dangerous to other vehicles and employees because our high pressure blowers and wash nozzles can blow debris out of the truck bed during the wash process. Please remove any loose items in the pick-up bed before the wash. A few years ago in Springfield, Missouri, a propane tank was blown out of a truck and the explosion leveled the building killing several people.

We try not to move seats, but sometimes it is dangerous for our drivers to drive vehicles with a seat that hinders full control of the vehicle. This is especially true with seats that are set too far forward. Sometimes our people just won't fit in the car. We feel it is better to be safe than sorry. Sometimes seats are also moved to assure a good vacuuming job under the seats.

Our inside people try to get the dust off all the little dials without moving them, but it is inevitable that a setting might be changed periodically. We are just trying to do a thorough job. We appreciate your patience.

The inspector will raise his hand or wave a towel while standing by your vehicle. Be sure to give your cash register receipt to our Inspector to claim your vehicle.

Please inform our Customer Service Advisor. You will be given an Alarm Procedure Note to complete. This enables our drivers to start your vehicle safely and not lock us out of the vehicle.

We would suggest you take them with you or lock them in the trunk, if possible. We go out of our way to hire honest people and keep their work under very tight security, but sometimes things are found missing. This is especially true of coins. If you notice anything missing, please inform our Manager IMMEDIATELY. We don't want dishonest employees working for us.

They are taken very seriously. Every card that is returned is read by our company President and General Manager. They are entered into a computer and a detailed statistical analysis is compiled. The analysis is used by our Managers to train and monitor work by our Staff and Inspectors. These people are given raises, promoted and/or demoted based on customers' responses to their work. At Water Works we feel the customer is "The Boss," so you determine whether an employee is qualified to service your vehicle.

We apply a special bug remover at the vacuum area then hit then the sticky little critters with a 1,000 psi power wash gun before going though the wash process. If there are any left at the end of the line we scrub them by hand with a special bug sponge. Obviously we hate bugs more than you do. Some of them never come off because they actually itch the paint creating a permanent bug that we will always try to get off in the future. We hate bugs.

By being all-powerful and having Mother Nature on our payroll! We absolutely guarantee that it won't rain or snow the day you get your car washed or we will wash your car again for free within three days. In fact we have a 72-hour unconditional gurantee.  If your car isn't "Water Works Clean" for any reason, we'll wash it for free!  No questions asked.  The reason we do this is simple: It truly is important to keep your car's surface clean and we want to help you with that effort - even if it means we have to take a few on the chin. So, any day you toss an umbrella into the car is an especially good day to come see us. A clean car really is a happy car, and a happy customer with a free carwash makes the crew at Water Works happy too. So check the forecast and plan your next visit right now!

Not at all! Actually it's very simple. Dirt and grime collect in the areas around the car's wheels. The concentrated spray at commercial carwashes serves to loosen and rinse away that grime. That in turn accounts for a smoother ride. The bigger benefit, however, may not be quite as evident: That spray helps prevent the rusting process from the inside, and that's the most difficult type of rusting to arrest and cure!