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!

The post Dashing Through the Snow: Winter Road Trip Tips appeared first on Tommy's Express Car Wash.

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.

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 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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The WORKS is the absolute best Tommy’s Express Car Wash package. 

Like ordering the works on your favorite meal, the WORKS at Tommy’s Express is full of delights. 

For car lovers, we always recommend they choose the WORKS to keep your vehicle clean, shiny, and looking its best.  

What comes with the WORKS?

These are some of the favorite features that make it the top wash experience:  

• Tire Gloss: Provides a clean, glossy, detailed look. 
   
• Ceramic Body Wax®: Fills in microscopic irregularities on your vehicle’s clear coat. Your car cleans easier because it forms a protective barrier over your vehicle’s surface.  
   
• Red Hot Cleanser: Soap is applied at the beginning of the wash to break down dirt. 
   
• Rainbow Coat®: A 6-colored poly-bond wax that seals out the damaging effects of sunlight, water, salt, and rain. It also produces a bright, glossy finish. 
   

• 3-Step Wheel Cleaning: An advanced 3-step process that uses a combination of soap and friction to shine the rims and wheels.
   
• Tommy Guard®: A rain repellent that shines, seals, and protects vehicles from the elements. 
   
• Underbody Flush: A low-pressure rinse of the vehicle’s undercarriage. It helps prevent rusting and keeps everything clean. 

When you choose the WORKS, your vehicle gets the most fantastic experience when it rolls through the tunnel.  

Cars love when you choose WORKS

New car owners are frequent users of the WORKS. For them, it’s essential to keep that pristine vehicle condition.

Or, if you finally have your dream car, you’ll want to use the WORKS to help maintain its luster. 

The more you wash with the WORKS, the better it protects your investment. Removing road grit regularly and protecting your finish with Ceramic Body Wax® and Rainbow Coat helps your car in the long-term.

If you’re looking to treat your ride to the best, choose the WORKS from our car wash menu.

Your vehicle will thank you! 

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You can have a clean car vibe even if you can’t have that new car smell.

As the new year starts, make a car wash part of your new habits. 

Let’s keep the car a nice, calm space. There’s enough stress on the roads – don’t bring it into your vehicle. 

The psychology behind clean spaces

A cluttered space makes it more challenging to focus. For some people, when they come home from a busy day, a clean living area helps the brain turn off and relax. That feeling can be transferred to your work or creative space, as well as your home.

Some research shows that keeping a messy or clean space is about personality. We all can guess how Type A personalities keep their space tidy. Did you know that Type B personalities are more relaxed in how clean they keep their spaces?

“Rather than focusing on achieving perfection, they are more attracted to ideas, experiences, and creativity.” There are pros and cons to both types. The theme remains that clean spaces equate to less stress.

So why wouldn’t the same thing apply to your car?

Nail the first impression with a clean car

First impressions are less stressful when you’re sure to make a good one. Keep your car clean inside and out. You won’t regret being prepared for anything. 

Do you use your vehicle for business purposes? Are you in sales? What do you want your clients to see when you pull up to their business? You can join TommyClub® and wash as a PayPerWash or Unlimited member. Wash how you want!

It’s your reputation on the line. Make a great first impression with a clean car. It’s classy to be clean. Protect your brand image with a great impression.   

Put your best foot forward when you take advantage of all Tommy’s Express has to offer. Start with an awesome wash, and finish the job with all the little extras.  

Trust Tommy’s Express with your first impression

We’ve calibrated the wash to give you the perfect amount of each soap, scrub, rinse, and shine down the line. With our Underbody Flush, Tire Shine, perfectly pH-balanced bubbles, Ceramic Body Wax®, and a Spot-Free Rinse, you’ll be riding in style from front to back. You can’t help but be proud of how your vehicle looks when it shines.

Complete the clean on the inside with our free vacuums and floor mat washers. Looking to do your own interior detailing? Add a detail kit for just a few bucks and make it shine.

There’s something so satisfying about stepping into a clean car. Find your nearest Tommy’s Express and grab that clean car vibe! 

Your brain (and your vehicle) will thank you. 

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Don’t skip this. 

If you’re a vehicle owner, you should know about road salt damage. No matter what part of the country you call home. 

When Winter Storm Elliot swept the U.S. right before Christmas, road crews did all they could to keep streets clear for travelers. 

Road salt and liquid de-icers are their main tools to melt ice in extreme temperatures. AAA reports that “These newer alternatives are more effective than traditional salt because they can be applied before a snowstorm, have a lower freezing point, and melt ice and snow faster.” 

“However, these same characteristics can be even more damaging to vehicles since the chemicals remain in liquid form longer and are more likely to coat components and seep into cracks and crevices where corrosion can accelerate.” 

While effective at treating the roads, these chemicals wreak havoc on your vehicle’s exterior and undercarriage. Rust is the real enemy here.

Make an underbody flush your best friend 

Are you serious about vehicle maintenance? If so, you understand the importance of removing road grit, salt, and chemicals ASAP. 

An Unlimited TommyClub membership can help. You choose the plan that works best for you – The WORKS, SUPER, or ULTIMATE wash packages all include an underbody flush. If you choose our best wash, The WORKS, you’ll also get our premium Ceramic Body Wax^® to help protect your exterior. 

Make a car wash part of your clean routine

If you can, avoid driving before or after a major storm to limit your vehicle’s exposure to road chemicals.

It can be disheartening to park at your destination and then note the gray-black grime that kicks up all over your vehicle.

But if travel is unavoidable, find your favorite Tommy’s Express and treat your ride to a fantastic clean.

We’re in the fight with you to combat rust. You can count on our amazing products to take care of your car – after all, it’s one of your biggest investments.  

We’d love to be your winter buddy. Make sure to give us a wave the next time you roll onto the belt! 

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In our line of work, we hear that some drivers avoid visiting us because of a fear of car washes, often triggered by claustrophobia (a fear of confined or small spaces). Surprisingly, about 12.5% of the population has claustrophobia. 

Why are people scared of car washes? 

Car washes of the past can be triggering. They are from a different era, with old methods. 

Line your tire up just right. Drive into a dark, dingy, black hole of a building. Cement cinderblock design. Low ceilings. No windows. A chain-and-roller system that locks your wheel into the track.  

Being stuck inside the wash, with loud noises and a dark environment, is not ideal. Especially if you deal with claustrophobia. 

And car washes weren’t initially designed for customers to enjoy going through them. They were often a side function of auto body shops, made convenient for owners. 

That was the challenge the team at Tommy’s Express wanted to tackle when they designed a totally different car wash – one that focused more on the guest experience. 

Handling car wash phobia 

Tommy’s Express buildings are intentionally designed to be bright, open, and friendly. 

The design includes end-to-end windows, an acrylic roof, an exceptionally wide and open car wash bay, a dual belt conveyor, and extra-wide car wash arches.  

Our windows and roof flood the building with natural light.  

Because of all the light, guests feel like they have more space, reducing that claustrophobic feeling. The smoother dual belt ride eliminates the constant ‘bumping’ from the old-style rail system, so no one feels like their vehicle is locked in place. 

We encourage all guests to ask for help at any time.  

If you have claustrophobia or anxiety around car washes, please ask at the window for assistance, and a team member will gladly work with you.

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At Tommy’s Express, we strive to enrich lives, add value, and serve communities. One of the ways we achieve this goal is by partnering with nonprofits like Water Mission.  

With every single wash at Tommy’s Express, we donate to Water Mission, a clean water charity that builds safe water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions in developing countries and disaster areas.  

To date, Water Mission has served more than 7 million people in 57 countries. 

Recent response efforts include:  
 

1. Deploying emergency water treatment equipment into Ukraine and assembling hygiene kits for those displaced by the conflict. Water Mission was one of the first nonprofits to produce water in multiple cities in Ukraine.     

2. After the August 2021 earthquake in Haiti, Water Mission utilized its nearly 40 safe water projects in southern Haiti to produce extra water for neighboring communities that had lost access to water. They helped ensure the uninterrupted flow of safe water for impacted communities, deployed emergency water treatment systems from their Haiti warehouse and North Charleston headquarters, and sent Water Mission engineers to help repair municipal 
   water systems.  

3. During the February 2021 arctic freeze across the state of Texas, teams restored safe water access by mobilizing skilled plumbers and providing urgently needed supplies due to water shortages and widespread power outages. 

Thanks to our incredible Tommy’s Express guests, we have positively impacted over 9,100 lives with Water Mission. That number continues to grow with each wash. 

Water conservation and Water Mission

Water Mission’s mission is to honor God by developing, implementing, and sharing best-in-class safe water solutions that transform as many lives as possible as quickly as possible.  

This pairs closely with our goal to be a sustainable car wash. 

At every Tommy’s Express location, our advanced water reclamation technology safely cleans vehicles with less than 30 gallons of fresh water per car.  

Other car washes on average, use 40+ gallons per wash, and usually, the water is not repurposed or contained, causing runoff into storm drains and natural waterways. 

Each Tommy’s Express is purposefully designed with high-efficiency water-saving equipment.  
 
We engineer our buildings to dispose of used water in a responsible manner. Everything from booster pumps and specialized nozzles to water reclamation tanks and precise detergent dilution rates contribute to a green car wash. 

About Water Mission

Water Mission is a nonprofit Christian engineering organization that designs, builds, and implements safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) solutions for people in developing countries and disaster areas.  
 
Since 2001, Water Mission has used innovative technology and engineering expertise to provide access to safe water for more than 7 million people in 57 countries.  
 
Water Mission has over 400 staff members working in its headquarters and around the world in permanent country programs located in Africa, Asia, North, South and Central America, and the Caribbean.

Notably, Charity Navigator has awarded Water Mission its top four-star rating 15 years in a row, a distinction shared by only 1% of the charities rated by the organization.   

Making a difference with every green car wash

When we know better, we do better. And we can all make a difference today. 

Water Mission is a nonprofit that saw a need, had the skills, and adapted to help.  

Their website shares an impactful World Health Organization (WHO) stat: Every $1 invested in safe water yields $6.80 in economic return.

Solving the global water crisis won’t happen overnight.  
 
But step by step, wash by wash, we can make a difference.

You directly impact the global efforts every time you visit a Tommy’s Express.  
 
Thank you for washing with us.  

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You love your ride. You’ve invested a lot of money into it, and you know your purchase is a reflection of yourself and your personality. Googling “car wash near me” and going to the first result isn’t going to cut it for you when deciding to get the car cleaned because you are different. Letting some machines clean the dirt, grime, and bug guts off your pride and joy isn’t a decision you take lightly. That’s why we have what is called “the fingernail rule.”  

The Fingernail Rule

We love your ride, too, and want to keep it looking great for you. If a fingernail is required to scrape off the material, our gentle brushes won’t do the same on the first try. Why? To keep your vehicle’s paint and clear coat pristinely intact.

Luckily, with an Unlimited Club membership at Tommy’s Express, the bug guts and grime won’t have a chance to get baked on.

Wash Often

The more often you visit, the better off your car will be. And when we say unlimited, we mean Unlimited. No daily or monthly restrictions here!  

Our soft-touch car wash is designed to keep your vehicle as safe as possible. We know you’re trusting us with a lot, and we don’t take that lightly. Over the years, our engineering teams have used their car wash expertise to design the ultimate experience for you.

Come, give us a try. We promise you won’t be disappointed, and with an Unlimited Club membership, you’ll love your ride even more.  

For more information about TommyClub, click here or visit your closest Tommy’s Express and take the cashier lane. Our team would be happy to answer any questions! 

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