You may notice that your car isn’t completely dry after a trip through the tunnel at Tommy’s Express, and thanks to our Spot Free Rinse, that’s perfectly fine! 

Thanks to reverse osmosis (RO) technology (we’ll explain; stick with us!), you don’t have to spend time drying those remaining droplets after you wash at Tommy’s Express or worry about water spots. Learn what makes us so confident in our H20.

How water spots form on a car

When water dries on a car, any small piece of material that is not water also dries onto the surface. That means if water has any kind of impurity, like dirt, minerals, or contaminants, it is left behind as the water evaporates. 

The good news is that when your car is not dry after a wash, it will dry with just a few minutes of driving down the road. But how it looks when the water is gone is the difference maker. 

It is frustrating if you spend money on a cheap car wash that appears to get you clean, but just minutes later, your car looks worse than before. 

You might be tempted to towel dry those few wet spots in the vacuum bay at Tommy’s Express, but have faith in the filters! Besides making your car look amazing, our water has a neat trick up its molecular sleeve.

What is Spot Free Rinse

We understand how frustrating water spots on your car can be. That’s why we include a spot-free rinse in our washes. 

Spot Free Rinse is the final step of the wash you pass through before the blower room. We give your vehicle a final rinse using reverse osmosis-treated water. It makes sure your ride doesn’t leave the wash with soapy or dirty water. 

The water used for Spot Free Rinse is treated using reverse osmosis. With a high-quality filtration process, the Tommy RO system removes total dissolved solids, or TDS, from the water. This includes salts, microplastics, minerals, and more. After treatment, the water is ultra-pure and ready for use on your vehicle. 

Unfiltered water, often referred to as hard water, causes spots when left to dry on a vehicle. Because our filtered RO water is so clean and free of impurities, after a few minutes of air drying, there are no annoying white or ghosty spots left behind.

How to get Spot Free Rinse at Tommy’s Express

Great news! Tommy’s Express includes a Spot Free Rinse in every wash package. Whether you are a member or trying us for the first time, you can expect the benefit of our ultra-clean water at the end of the tunnel. No matter what wash package you choose, your vehicle deserves to leave our tunnel spotless. 

Ready to have your ride look like new? Visit our locations page to find a site near you.

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When it comes to winter road trips, there’s a unique charm that you just can’t find during the warmer months. The snowy landscapes and cozy vibes can be unbeatable. But whether you’re crossing states for a family holiday or driving to a mountain for a weekend of snow sports, venturing out during the cold season requires careful planning to ensure a safe, carefree journey. Here are some essential winter road trip tips.

1. Prepare Your Ride

Before hitting the road, give your vehicle a comprehensive check-up. Ensure that your brakes, battery, and heating system are in tip-top condition. Having peace of mind is important on the road, especially in the winter, so make sure your vehicle is as ready as you are for the journey ahead.

2. Put Safety First

Most weather-related accidents are due to wet roads, which are all over the place in the winter months. So, prepare for winter driving safety by equipping your car with winter tires for improved traction—and take on slick conditions with more confidence.

Also, don’t forget to pack an emergency kit with essentials like blankets, flashlights, and non-perishable snacks.

3. Get an Unlimited Car Wash Membership

With Tommy’s Express locations across America (click here for a full map), there’s a good chance you’ll be passing one on your winter road trip. And because winter road trips expose your vehicle to road salt and slush that can damage your car’s exterior, Tommy’s Express is a great place to swing by and protect your car’s paint and lifespan.  

Pro tip: Make things easier by getting an Unlimited TommyClub® membership. Unlimited washing and access to the timesaving app lane are even better when you choose a WORKS plan.   

Following these simple tips will prepare you to take advantage of the winter season. Safe travels, and we hope to see you along the journey!

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When winter arrives, car care can turn into a challenge, especially between icy roads and salt-covered streets—not to mention the slush and slop boots that can drag inside.  

So instead of letting Old Man Winter have his way with your vehicle, take control with these essential ways to keep your car running smoothly and looking its best, inside and out, all winter long.

1. Winter Tires: Get a Grip

Winter tires are uniquely designed for better traction and handling in slick conditions. It’s all because they have a different tread pattern and rubber compound, allowing them to stay pliable in low temperatures. Help prevent sliding and spinning out by swapping your summer tires for the winter kind, ideally before the snow really starts falling.

2. Car Washes with Underbody Flush: Keep on Shining

Winter roads are coated nonstop with salt and sand to combat icy conditions, which can be a nightmare for your car’s exterior. This includes the parts you can see and the parts you can’t, like the underbody.

That’s why car washes with underbody flushes – available in our Super, Ultimate, and Works packages – are crucial during winter. Roll into Tommy’s Express on a regular basis to remove salt and grime from your undercarriage, which will help prevent rust and corrosion.

3. Protecting Your Cabin: Interior TLC

Inside your car, winter can be equally challenging. Slush can make their way into your vehicle, potentially damaging the interior. Protect your cabin by investing in all-weather floor mats to trap moisture and prevent stains. And go the extra mile by regularly vacuuming and using our convenient detail kits to keep the interior looking fresh.

4. Wax: It Does the Body Good

To protect your car’s paint from winter’s harsh elements, a wax or sealant creates a protective barrier that fends off water, snow, and salt. We suggest the Works, which comes with Ceramic Body Wax®, which helps keep your car easier to clean and adds a protective layer of wax to your paint.

Even better, the more often you wash with the Works, the better that protective layer gets. Bonus: You also get a wheel cleaning and tire gloss, adding even more shine.  

Don’t let the cold months take a toll on your ride. Take proactive steps, keep it in top shape, and make Tommy’s Express a part of your winter car care routine.

The post Staying clean in the cold: Winter Car Care 101 appeared first on Tommy's Express Car Wash.

Tommy’s Express is a franchise, and like regular hours, individual sites set their holiday hours best to fit the needs of their community and team members.  

To find holiday hours for your local Tommy’s Express Car Wash:

1. Visit the locations page on our website.
2. Find your site, and their holiday hours will be listed underneath the normal ones.
3. Keep an eye on your locations’ page to stay updated on any changes to our hours during the holiday season. 

Wash during the holidays. 

Whether you get snow or not, winter comes with a few certainties for us in America: Lower temps, the Holiday season, and more travel.  

Whether for a family gathering on December 25th, a business trip, or a holiday party at work, there are plenty of reasons to be on the road this year.  

Naturally, the more we think of travel, the more conscious of our car we become. Letting our clean routine slip through the cracks in the busy end-of-year scramble is easy. 

A dirty car will run just fine at the end of the day. The sludge won’t break your engine block, and the water streaks on your doors won’t take off your tires.  

But we’re willing to bet you don’t want to close out the year driving a dirty car. There are too many first impressions and opportunities to be the butt of jokes at the party. 

And if you live in a state that treats roads with salts and chemicals, neglecting car washing can seriously affect your undercarriage and paint job. 

Find your location 

The holidays are an excellent time for restarting your clean routine. It’s far enough into winter that your car will need a good wash. Consider it a checkpoint for determining how often you will need to go through the car wash.  

Check our locations page once you are set on your holiday travel plans. With over 170 Tommy’s Express locations nationwide, your odds of driving past one this year improve every week. 

For that special holiday shine, we recommend you choose the Works wash. It has our Underbody Flush service, which cleans the bottom of your car and prevents road salt and chemical damage.  

The Works also includes Ceramic Body Wax®, which provides a protective coating to your paint. The more you wash, the easier it is to clean your car, keeping your ride cleaner for longer. 

Once again, check your Tommy’s Express’s holiday hours before visiting. We look forward to cleaning up your ride for Christmas Day, Hannukah, or whatever you may celebrate this season. 

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When it comes to how often you should wash your car, opinions vary across the board.

We all see neighbors in the driveway every weekend with their buckets, sponges, and soaps (going down the storm drain, unfortunately, and into natural water sources).

At our wash locations, we often see the same smiling guests week after week, on their predictable wash schedule. We love a good clean routine!

Others believe that once a vehicle reaches a certain age, it’s not worthwhile to keep it clean. 

Car washing (or the lack thereof) doesn’t have to fall into these extremes. Depending on your lifestyle, habits, and even career, you should wash your way.  

Let’s chat about best practices for how often you should wash your car, and make sure you are staying on schedule with this often-overlooked preventative maintenance.  

Your region (and climate) matters 

Washing off everyday chemicals, pollen, and debris is important wherever you live. As a baseline, living in a moderate climate and parking in a garage, it’s best to keep your car washed every two weeks.  

Protecting the clearcoat and paint on your vehicle is not a responsibility you can “set and forget.” UV rays, leaves, and pollen all have the potential to damage your car’s exterior. Vehicles in snowy climates deal with road salts, too. Nature always has another reason to keep your car clean in any climate.  

A wash package including an underbody flush, like our WORKS package, is what makes washing most beneficial no matter where you live. 

Even if your windows and hood look great, you need to be mindful of keeping the underside your vehicle just as clean and protected. 

Corrosion is a big concern and one you don’t want to deal with in a body shop. 

Washing more than every two weeks keeps all areas of your car cleaner and more protected from the elements, wherever you are.  

And sometimes, what you do all day might require you to wash a little more often.

Work and lifestyle habits drive how often to wash. 

If your job requires a great first impression every time, you need a clean car to complete the look. Consultants, lawyers, salespeople, and real estate agents, might wash their car every day to nail the first impression, close the sale, and give clients confidence in their work. 

Construction workers, delivery drivers, and farmers face dirtier daily job sites than others.  

If grit and grime are part of your commute, you may want to find your way to a car wash more than once a week. 

Any vehicle that transports kids deserves to be washed more often. 

Taking kids anywhere generally involves getting your car dirty, inside and out. Tommy’s Express has free vacuums*, mat washers, and unlimited wash memberships to make frequent trips to the car wash quick, easy, and relaxing.  

From driveways to dirt roads and to and from school, a day’s errands can leave your ride’s exterior looking like the road it’s traveled on. Washing a few times a week might be what you need to keep your vehicle clean and protected.

Unlimited washing

How often should you wash your car? The every-two-week rule is a great place to start for protecting your car’s paint and lifespan.  

But if you wash more than twice a month, an Unlimited TommyClub membership is a great deal. Unlimited washing and access to the timesaving app lane are even better when you choose a WORKS plan.  

The WORKS comes with Ceramic Body Wax, which helps keep your car easier to clean and adds a protective layer of wax to your paint. It looks and feels cleaner and stays that way longer. The more often you wash with the WORKS, the better that protective layer gets.  

In the end, it’s up to your best judgement for how often you should wash your car. Everyone has a different lifestyle, environment, and standard of clean for their car. 

Find your local Tommy’s Express and start your clean routine today!

*At participating locations only.  

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We are often asked what the differ ence is between our car wash packages. Every wash at Tommy’s Express is fast, efficient, and high-quality. It’s easy to see a difference in price or color on the menu board, but you might not know what we mean by “Tommy Guard” or “Underbody Flush.” 

No matter your budget, you can enjoy a great wash from any of our wash tiers. Tommy’s Express is committed to providing the best wash for any budget. We take your investment in your vehicle seriously. Let’s get to the details and benefits of each of our four signature car wash packages.  

#1 WORKS 

The WORKS is our best wash and best value at Tommy’s Express.

We make the WORKS shine with all of the best products. This includes Tommy Gaurd, an Underbody Flush, Rainbow Coat, 3-Step Wheel Cleaning, and a spot-free rinse.

Exclusive to this wash package is Red Hot Cleanser, a cascade of dirt-penetrating foam that gives your car a total body cleanse. Also included is our exclusive Ceramic Body Wax®, a hot carnauba wax formula that fills in irregularities on your vehicle’s clear coat. The protective barrier makes your car easier to clean, working with the Rainbow Coat to help protect your finish in the long term.  

Finally, Tire Gloss is applied as you leave the tunnel, giving your tires a protective gloss coat and completing the clean. 

Take advantage of all the best Tommy’s has to offer, and wash with the WORKS!  

We know that our top package might not be for everyone. Check out our three other great wash packages and see if another one fits your needs best. 

#2 ULTIMATE 

The ULTIMATE includes Tommy Gaurd, the Underbody Flush, Rainbow Coat, and 3-Step Wheel Cleaning. Rainbow Coat applies gentle foam to help provide the deepest possible clean. 

Our 3-Step Wheel Cleaning makes sure your tires and rims come out gleaming. It’s ideal for big trucks, rural areas with dirt roads, and guests with offroad vehicles or 4-wheel drive. 

#3 SUPER

The SUPER comes with Tommy Guard, our specialty treatment designed to block UV light and protect your paint while also beading and repelling water for improved visibility. It’s what gives your vehicle that glossy showroom shine.

Also included is an Underbody Flush. Guests who live in snowy and sandy states love this gentle rinse that removes damaging salt, chemicals, and debris from the undercarriage of your car.

#4 QUALITY

The QUALITY is our most affordable option. Using high-quality detergents and just the right amount of water pressure, the QUALITY package includes a basic exterior wash with a spot-free rinse. While without the great bonuses like Ceramic Body Wax® or Tommy Gaurd, you can still expect a great clean.

Car wash package prices at Tommy’s Express

If “What’s the difference?” is the first question, then “How much are they?” is always a close second.

Car wash prices at Tommy’s Express depend on which location you visit, so find a location near you to see which wash package is right for you!

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The answer is a resounding, emphatic YES. There are many reasons why gifts for a mom should include Tommy’s Express gift cards, and you’ll read about those later.

Let’s chat about what we typically see for gifting opportunities. These options work for Mother’s Day, but also for birthdays, holiday gift-giving, or a simple “I was thinking of you” or “I love you.”

Traditional gifts for Mother’s Day

Let’s talk about gifts for mom on Mother’s Day (or any other time, frankly).

• We’ve got your standard flowers (marked up in price, of course, but not as much as those Valentine’s Day bouquets). Flowers are lovely and they smell great. 
• Planters or hanging baskets. A great option: they last longer than a bouquet, plus spring has sprung and that front porch won’t spruce itself up. 
• Personalized jewelry. Birthstones, child initials on a necklace, or names on rings are always popular choices. We see a lot of hearts here. But you can really only gift this once. 
• Her favorite beverage, snack, or treat. Maybe a delightful dinner out or made at home for her. 
• Spa gift cards. A massage, facial, pedicure, or manicure are awesome ways for moms to decompress and relax. Love this one. 

These are all popular options for a reason. They’re simple and thoughtful.

Now let’s think outside the box.  

Car wash gift cards are simply the best

Many mom vehicles (including the glamorous minivans) are mobile command centers.

They:

• Drop off and pick up kids and neighbors to and from school. 
• Run carpool for theater rehearsals, sports practices, games, music lessons, etc. 
• Become the de facto transport for work events (unless car seats are installed). 
• Fill the need for a spacious vehicle for long road trips. 
• Hold first aid kits (with the most important kid fix: Band-Aids), extra outfits and diapers, emergency snacks, tissues, hand wipes and sanitizer, as well as car games and fidget toys. 

There are not enough tally marks in the world to count how often mom-mobiles have come through in a kid crisis.

We love them.

But also, they get really dirty.

If she can use a visit to a Tommy’s Express to make it sparkle and vacuum rogue Goldfish crackers all at the same time, it really does save some sanity. Read more here about how a clean space can help reduce stress.

The visit can be a field trip all on its own. It’s the epitome of moms multitasking: Entertain the kids with the foam and spray and get the vehicle clean and shiny? Win-win.

That’s why a car wash gift card really does hit the spot. Moms love practical gifts too. She’ll feel the love when you present it to her.

Want to get really wild? Gift her a TommyClub membership so she can wash unlimited all month long. Watch those brownie points stack up!

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When you’re a business owner, you learn a few things about sales and pitching to a new client. But making a memorable impact goes beyond the typical top tips.  

Often we hear:  

• Use a strong handshake 
• Repeat your client’s name back to them to help commit to memory 
• Find common ground to foster a bond 
• Keep an open posture 
• Notice body language and nonverbal cues.  

These are valuable reminders that one can use daily to maintain a professional image. But there are more factors to remember. 

Advice to put your best foot forward  

Consider the image you present. Professional attire and well-groomed personal hygiene habits do make an impact.

As they say, you only get one chance to make a first impression.

Does your business own or lease a fleet of vehicles?

One professional tip: Impress potential clients with a clean and shiny vehicle. 

Whether you have a small fleet of 20 cars or are nationwide with drivers in 30 states, you can always put your best foot forward when you show up to an appointment.

Fleet car wash options keep everyone looking good 

Create a business account in the Tommy’s Express app and switch to one single source for all your billing. No more submitting expense reports and reconciliation.

If you’re a business with 10+ vehicles and would like a fleet discount, fill out our form online.

It’s much easier to consolidate billing with a single account owner to manage all fleet vehicles. 

Business owners can use the fleet program to take advantage of discounted volume wash prices. Your entire fleet is enrolled in the PayPerWash program to track all washes across the fleet and billed just once per week for the entire account. Easy!

Use these TommyClub perks to keep your fleet looking its best:

• Zip through the contactless app lane 
• Free vacuums 
• Free mat washers 
• Wash at any location nationwide! 

If you have any further questions, reach out to our Guest Services team, and we’d be happy to help! 

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A car is a top investment. It takes time and care to maintain it properly. 

One of the ways you can extend the life (and resale value) of your vehicle is by keeping it clean. 

We always recommend our top wash (The WORKS) because it includes our Ceramic Body Wax® for the best protection. If you wash weekly with a TommyClub membership, you’ll keep the grit at bay and add a layer of protection to your exterior.

But don’t forget the inside of your vehicle! Wash Me Now mobile detailing in Toronto has some great ideas about how often to clean your vehicle interior. Here are our top tips for DIY car detailing and cleaning.

1. Be intentional with your car detailing toolkit

It’s important to gather the right car detailing supplies. We recommend:

• A microfiber dusting cloth.
• A soft brush. Whether you use a toothbrush, a paintbrush, or a special detail brush, you’ll need something to get into the crevices. 
• Q-tips. This is an expert-level item. Promise, you’ll be grateful you grabbed a handful.
• Glass cleaner. 
• General purpose cleaner. 
• Leather conditioner (if applicable). 
• If you’re on-site at one of our Tommy’s Express car wash locations, it’s worthwhile to purchase one of our detail kits at the vacuum stations. Prices vary by location, but it’s a convenient way to spruce up your interior for a minimal cost. The detail kit includes a glass cleaner, surface cleaner, two air fresheners, and a microfiber cloth. 

2. Detail tip: Remove all your stuff

This tip may sound obvious, but once you’ve accidentally sucked up a coin, glove, or shoestring, you’ll understand. Do a thorough sweep of the seats, cup holders, console, back hatch, pockets, and doors. Dispose of any trash, return items to their rightful place in your home or garage, and find a good car caddy or system to keep your important travel items all in one place. 

3. Detail tip: Start at the top

Most vehicle owners grab a vacuum to start cleaning. We’re going to flip that idea. Start at your dash and work your way down. The dust you displace will travel down and settle, so it makes the most sense to start at the top and end at the bottom.

We highly recommend a microfiber towel. Microfiber traps and absorbs dust better than a towel or cotton rag. It makes the job faster and easier.

After you dust, use a general-purpose cleaner or wipe to get every surface. If your car seats are leather, use a leather conditioner to keep them from cracking. Make sure to follow manufacturer instructions and set a reminder to maintain your leather.

4. Detail tip: Get all the crevices 

Use a brush to clean any small crevices like air vents, door handles, dash displays, and your console. Stubborn or small areas may need a Q-tip to reach. If you have coffee spills or sticky stains, spray some cleaner and let it sit and soak in for a minute.

5. Detail tip: Clean your windows 

Curious hands (or feet!) may have left smudges on the inside of your car windows. Spray a glass cleaner (or use the glass cleaner wipe from the detail kit) to make your interior as shiny as your window exterior. Don’t forget the back windows near any kid car seats! 

6. Detail tip: Use free car vacuums and mat washers

Whether you’re cleaning up after a weekend away or visiting for your weekly car wash, make sure to complete the clean with our car vacuums and mat washers! If your aim is for efficiency, start cleaning your mats while you vacuum. Vacuum your seats and surfaces before you start on the footwell. 

Tommy’s Express offers the best car wash for vehicles of all shapes and sizes. Our conveyor belt entry accommodates low-profile vehicles and wide dual-rear-wheel trucks as well. Through years of development, our soft-touch car wash uses specialized processes to get every car clean, shiny, and dry. 

Next time you wash at Tommy’s Express, plan an intentional time to do your interior car detailing. We can help you look your best, inside and out!  

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We get asked this question often, and our answer is always the same.  

It’s far better for your vehicle (and the environment!) to wash at an eco-friendly car wash like Tommy’s Express. 

Water conservation and stewardship

How does our wash use so much less water than driveway washing? With high-quality car wash engineering. 

Instead of an open garden hose, our system works with targeted, high-pressure nozzles and precise cleaning product dilutions to provide the best cleaning and rinsing power possible with the absolute minimum water usage.  

We use industrial water softeners and reverse osmosis units to ensure that your spot-free rinse is leagues better than a hose. 

Water is vital in many ways. While we do our part to take care of the precious resource, we also give back to those around the world. For every car washed, Tommy’s Express contributes a donation to Water Mission. Every time you wash with us, you help too! 

What makes Tommy’s Express an efficient car wash 

When we talk about high-pressure nozzles and precise cleaning product dilutions, it’s more than just spraying products on a car. Too much can leave spots. Too little doesn’t get cars clean. 

There’s chemistry behind the magic.

Many factors in the wash—from the size of the nozzle to the shape of your specific car —play a part in how much product is applied and when. From adding bubbles in a specific order based on the pH levels needed to our spot-free rinse, we’ve engineered the entire process to perfection.

There will always be diehard car lovers who think, “They don’t know how to wash my car. I can do a better job.” And then proceed to use a do-it-yourself car wash or wash at home. 

But don’t forget that driveway car washing is a substantial source of water pollution. The detergent runoff and dirty water are harmful to storm sewers and drainage ditches.  

If you want to be efficient, a soft-touch car wash like Tommy’s Express does a better job than washing at home. 

Find your closest location and watch the magic happen in action! 

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