Splash Car Wash, the amusement park of car washes, is about to get a whole lot more fun
By Ken McEntee
Cedar Point this year made the summer exciting for roller coaster enthusiasts with the opening of Steel Vengeance, the world’s tallest and fastest coaster.
Not to be outdone, Fairlawn’s Splash Car Wash, the amusement park of car washes, has announced a major expansion that will soon add a longer wash tunnel, a detailing tunnel, a polishing tunnel and a vacuum arena. The date for completion of the expanded Splash campus hasn’t been determined.
Splash Car Wash may not have a 90-degree, 200-foot drop incorporated into its wash line, but the latest washing technology supplemented by a mesmerizing light display that will provide an even better customer experience than ever, says Joe Mallo, owner of Splash Car Wash.
“This has been our ongoing commitment since we’ve opened in 2015,” Joe says.
“We’re always tweaking things because any improvement we can make is good for our customers. The experience is going to be the same, but better. We’re still going to have the light shows that so many of our customers and families love. Most other car washes are dim and dull—a lot like pulling into a dark garage.”
During the past three years, Splash Car Wash has upgraded its drying system and has doubled its underbody flush.
“We put in a more powerful pump to enhance the cleaning capability, then we put in a second underbody flushing system, so now you get two rounds,” Joe says. “That really works out in the winter, when a vehicle picks up road salt and dirty slush.”
“Splash’s spinning top wrap—a staple in our car washes—is a giant spinning roller that rotates bottom-first toward your windshield, lathering and cleaning your grill and hood while your vehicle moves forward through the wash tunnel,” Joe comments.
The rotation continues across the top of the vehicle. By the time it descends down the rear of the car, the backside of the roller is applying suds in a downward motion.
“Our reversible top brush changes direction when it reaches the top of the vehicle, allowing for an upward spin when the backside of the roller descends the tailgate or trunk and rear bumper,” Joe explains. “That allows it to get into hard-to-reach areas, like downward facing grooves, and wash out dirt.”
The reversible spinning brush is one component in Splash’s 130-foot wash tunnel that is loaded with water jets, spinning microfiber cleaning cloths, foamy detergents and protecting agents—and optical scanners that tell the cleaning machines what to do. Joe says the expanded campus will have a new, longer tunnel with additional cleaning equipment. The existing tunnel, and a new one to be built next to it, will be used for express interior cleaning and polishing.
“A lot of customers have said they’d like some sort of interior cleaning, and Splash will be one of the first to offer this service in the area,” Joe says.
Also new will be a self-serve indoor vacuum arena.
“People don’t really want to be outside vacuuming their cars when it’s 95 degrees,” Joe observes.
“We also get people vacuuming in the winter when it’s 10 degrees with a minus 5 windchill. I think offering it indoors as well as outdoors is going to make them much more comfortable.”
Unlike Cedar Point, Splash Car Wash doesn’t offer a Fast Lane Plus option to cut in line. However, they do offer a Fast Pass Lane that generally gets you through the line quicker, eliminating the wait time between non-pass members. They do offer wash plans currently starting at $22.99 per month.
“Everybody understands that it’s good for your car to keep it clean, especially in the winter, when the roads are full of salt and other contaminants that can be harmful to the body and undercarriage,” Joe says.
“Our unlimited wash plans let customers come in as often as they want for an extremely reasonable price. Most people probably have had the experience of it starting to rain as soon as they got their car washed. That’s why when rain is expected, some people will stress out over whether to get their car washed, or wait it out. They don’t have to struggle with that decision any longer. You can get your car washed within your current monthly plan as often as you’d like at either one of our two locations.”
You can purchase monthly memberships and find operating hours and more details online at SplashCarWashCo.com. Splash Car Wash is located at 130 South Cleveland Massillon Road, just south of Route 18, in Fairlawn. A second Splash is located at 3405 S Arlington Road, in Green. You can be among the first to learn about the latest Splash offers and promotions on Facebook @splashcwohio.