Give Your Car Some Love at a Car Wash Near You

Most things in life do better and last longer with some tender loving care, and your car is no exception. Your car carries you for thousands of miles, day in and day out, bearing the brunt of bad weather, long road trips, fast food runs, and shopping expeditions.

Eventually, the interior and exterior of your car will show wear and tear. Mud, road salt, and grime collect on your vehicle, especially on the undercarriage. On the interior, stains, dirt, and debris cover the seats and floorboards. Over time, these issues can become more than just unpleasant to look at, they can actually damage the functionality and lifespan of your car.

You love your car, and you want it to last a long time, but you might wonder: is cleaning your car regularly that important? Where can you get detailing? Can you find a car wash to clean the interior and exterior of your vehicle?

We can do all that for you—as a full-service car wash, we have exactly what you need.


How we can help

The contaminants that plaster the exterior of your car can eventually eat away at your paint job and lead to rust. Road salt also accelerates rusting. When you clean your car regularly you protect the paint from peeling and damage, slow the spread of rust, improve its appearance, maintain a higher resale value, and protect your vehicle’s trim and accessories where grime tends to build up.

We offer various automatic car wash options that can go from a quick exterior wash to the full “spa” treatment for your car. For your exterior we will soft wash, and get into the nooks and crannies of your door jams, undercarriage, and windows. For your interior, we can vacuum clean those hard-to-reach places. Our automatic washes include:

  • Exterior
  • Exterior Plus
  • Vac ‘n Go
  • Full Service
  • Works Plus

Our hand car washes are also designed for a vehicle of any size: car, truck, SUV, or van. We will clean your exterior, scrub your tires, and even offer interior vacuuming and cleaning of your dashboards and ashtrays. All car wash options include hand towel drying for your vehicle for a personal touch.


Detailing options

We also offer specialized services:

  • Express Handwax
  • Interior Super Clean Express
  • Shampoo Carpets Express
  • Shampoo Seats Express

Our waxing job will create a protective layer around your vehicle, preserving it from moisture, road salt, and sun damage, prolonging the integrity of your car’s paint and preventing rust. Waxed vehicles are also easier to keep clean and can be maintained with proper washing.

The interior of your car deserves some attention as well, beyond just vacuuming. There may be months-old smells from your summer vacation, melted candy or crayons, fast food crumbs that have begun to collect in the crevices, and dozens more sticky, smelly, unpleasant things that coat your vehicle’s seats and floorboards.

We can give your car the reset and refresh it deserves, with our interior cleaning options we will vacuum dust out of your vents, clean the hard-to-reach nooks and crannies, clean and condition your interior door panels, vacuum, pre-treat stains, and shampoo your seats and carpets. It’ll feel (and smell) like new.


Your car takes you everywhere, now you can take it to us, and we’ll show it some love. We can work on every inch of your vehicle, inside and out, prolonging its life and increasing the quality of your experience on the road.

Portage Car Wash has been servicing Portage, Hobart, Chesterton, and the surrounding areas for 40 years. We offer interior and exterior services, detailing, waxing, polishing, and more for an affordable price. Friendly faces plus professional cleaning services equals your car looking like new. Drive on over to see us today!

 

Wax On, Salt Off

Winter is upon us, meaning the battle against snow and ice has begun. Everyone’s chief weapon of choice? Road salt.

Road salt is fantastic for clearing roads and maintaining safe, dry surfaces for us to drive on. However, road salt does not come without a cost, and your car will be paying the price.


What is Road Salt and what does it do?

Road salt is primarily composed of sodium chloride, an expert at de-icing roads and accelerating the spread of rust on your vehicle. Road salt breaks down the protective oxide layer in the metal on your car, leaving it vulnerable to damage.

Your vehicle’s undercarriage and paint job are particularly vulnerable. Road salt can pile up in your fenders, wheel wells, and fuel tanks, which over time can cause damage and weaken these vital parts. Any paint chips or cracks are like open wounds on your car, exposing the bare metal beneath for the road salt to dig in and increase the rust’s spread.

So, how can you prevent road salt from damaging your vehicle? Can you apply a protective layer over the paint? Does washing prevent road salt damage? As a full-service car wash near you, we have a few ideas.


1) Avoid driving behind snowplows.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, snowplows often drop extra road salt, and you do not want to be the first one to pick it up.


2) Wash your vehicle frequently.

Washing your car regularly cleans the road salt off and prevents build-up. Automatic car wash or hand wash, clean the salt, and slush off your vehicle all through the winter. Give special attention to your car’s undercarriage and any paint chips or rust spots. We offer multiple car wash options that will give your vehicle a good wash in every crevice, keeping it clean and maintained throughout the harsh winter.


3) Get a protective wax layer.

The best prevention for salt damage? A good wax job. To adapt a line from Mr. Miyagi, “Wax on, salt off.”

Waxing your car creates a protective layer that shields your paint job, preventing damaging substances such as road salt, dirt, and grime from coming into direct contact with the paint and any exposed metal surfaces.

Waxing on a regular basis also prevents paint chipping, which means your car will be less vulnerable to rust and corrosion when you encounter road salt. A good wax coating will cause water to bead up and roll right off your vehicle, reducing the amount of moisture your car is exposed to. Wax can also protect your car from the harmful sun rays that fade paint and reduce that beautiful shine you fell in love with when you first bought it. Finally, waxing your vehicle makes it easier to wash and maintain as grime and dirt will have a harder time clinging to the surface.


At Portage Car Wash, we offer an EXPRESS HAND WAX. It:

  • Is applied with a low-speed orbital buffer
  • Cleans, polishes, and protects your vehicle's finish
  • Provides a long-lasting, durable finish
  • No appointment necessary, just come in and we will take care of it for you so you can get back on the road and drive over that nasty road salt with confidence.

Winter is already here, so why don’t you drive over to the car wash near you that can give you the wax job you need to protect your car. We can wash your vehicle and wax it, keeping it clean, shiny, and looking like new for years to come.



Portage Car Wash has been servicing Portage, Hobart, Chesterton, and the surrounding areas for 40 years. We offer interior and exterior services, detailing, waxing, polishing, and more for an affordable price. Friendly faces plus professional cleaning services equals your car looking like new. Drive on over to see us today!

7 Reasons To Consider an Automatic Car Wash Over a Hand Car Wash

automatic car wash portage indiana

Have you ever wondered if automatic car washes are better than hand car washes? What are the benefits of choosing an automatic wash? Does an automatic car wash get your car cleaner than a hand car wash?

All good questions, read on for seven reasons why you should consider an automatic car wash.

 

1) Convenience

Not everyone has time to wait for someone else to hand wash their car, we all lead busy lives, and you need to get on with yours. An automatic car wash can be conveniently fit into a few minutes between work and home, or while you are out running errands. Washing your car is a regular part of car maintenance, but that doesn’t mean it has to take up much of your time.

 

2 ) Consistency

Automatic car washes are designed to get every nook and cranny of your car, all the time, every time. Human error can account for missed spots and smudges, but an automatic car wash will maintain the same speed, water/soap velocity, and movements, ensuring a consistent wash for your car every time you drive up.

 

3) Cleans your undercarriage and tires

Your vehicle’s undercarriage takes the brunt of every mile you travel, and understandably, this part is difficult to clean in a hand wash. Your tires and hubcaps also need to be cleaned regularly to remove debris and chemicals that can damage your tires.

Automatic car washes can reach those hard-to-get spots with soap, water, and cleaning sprays, removing harmful mud, chemicals, road salt, and other debris from your vehicle.

 

4) Effective and efficient

Automatic car washes apply more water and chemicals to your vehicle than a hand car wash. The consistent, systemic wash releases a precise amount of materials every time, making automatic car washes more efficient and cost effective than hand car washes.

 

5) Safe and comfortable

Driving up and selecting an automatic car wash without ever having to leave the comfort of your vehicle is a big advantage of automatic car washes. Rain or shine, cold or hot, slick or dry, you never have to be personally involved with cleaning your car which can expose you to the weather, clothing damage, or accidents or injuries. For parents or caregivers, this is a gamechanger (the kids may even get excited to drive through a car wash).

 

6) Safer for paint

One type of automatic car wash is a “touchless car wash” which cleans your entire car through spray, no implements or materials other than water or chemicals ever touch your vehicle, protecting your vehicle’s paint job from scratches or scrapes.

Hand car washes always have the potential to accidentally scratch your vehicle from particles and items caught in the cloth and sponges.

 

7) Better prices

Automatic washes are priced very cost-effectively for the limited amount of time, effort, and convenience they require of you. A good automatic car wash can be paid for with a few dollars and finished in a few minutes, while hand car washes will cost more of your time and money.

Automatic car wash technology has made car maintenance easier than ever before. At Portage Car Wash, we offer both automated car wash and detailing services for your vehicle, with interior and exterior cleaning and detailing options. We can clean your vehicle inside and out until it looks brand new, helping you maintain your car for years to come.


Portage Car Wash has been servicing Portage, Hobart, Chesterton, and the surrounding areas for over 39 years. We offer interior and exterior services, detailing, waxing, polishing, and more for an affordable price. Friendly faces plus professional cleaning services equals your car looking like new. Drive on over to see us today!

Top 4 Car Detailing Services You Didn’t Know You Needed

car detailing in portage indiana

Car detailing services may be a topic you have questions about. What are essential car detailing services? Are there any auto detailing services near me? Where can I get professional car detailing?

Car detailing is not just a luxury service, it’s an important part of regular car care and helps your vehicle run better and last longer.

At Portage Car Wash, we offer four car detailing services:

TECH SHIELD EXPRESS HAND WAX

A specialized car detailing service designed to protect and maintain your vehicle’s finish. Wax is applied to your car using a low-speed orbital buffer, which creates even coverage and a smooth finish.

This process cleans, polishes, and maintains your vehicle’s finish, protecting your car from damaging pollutants, UV rays, and road salt, and preventing the erosion of your vehicle’s paint.

The wax is long-lasting, maintaining a glossy look and layer of protection for your car. This detailing service is useful for:

  • Proactive winter preparation
  • Landscapers, farmers, and construction workers (vehicles in these occupations are frequently exposed to the weather, harmful elements, and chemicals)
  • Preparing a vehicle to sell

 

INTERIOR SUPER CLEAN EXPRESS

A lot of life gets lived in your car, from fast food after school or work to road trips, your car has seen it all. This car cleaning service can give you a refresh in your car’s interior.

We will clean dust and dirt out of vents, crevices, and hard-to-reach areas. This service includes cleaning and conditioning all interior door panels, dash, and cup holders. We also give special attention to vacuuming all the tightest areas (the ones you can never reach but every crumb seems to hide out in). Your interior glass, mats, and air fresheners are also included.

This essential car detailing service is helpful for:

  • Road trip preparation
  • Maintaining your seat covers, storage spaces, and floorboards
  • Rodent prevention (removing the buffet of smells and crumbs from your vehicle discourages rodents from getting into your car)
  • Preparing a vehicle to sell

 

SHAMPOO CARPETS EXPRESS

Your vehicle’s carpets take a beating, which is why this professional car detailing service is an important part of car maintenance. From stains to smells, your carpets remember everything that has happened in your vehicle whether you want them to or not.

Our process involves cleaning out between and under all seats and vacuuming carpets with special attention to hard-to-reach areas. We will pre-treat all soiled areas and shampoo all carpets and mats with a hot water extraction machine.

This detailing service is helpful for:

  • Seasonal cleaning (resetting your vehicle for different weather and seasons)
  • Road trip preparation
  • Preparing for special events/occasions

 

SHAMPOO SEATS EXPRESS

Finally, your car seats. Everyone wants to maintain the cleanliness and comfort of their seats as long as possible, but that can be challenging. That’s why we offer this car cleaning solution. We will pre-treat your seats for stains and shampoo your seats with a hot water extraction machine.

This shampoo service is helpful for:

  • Stain removal from incidents and spills
  • Preparing a car to sell
  • Cleaning before transporting guests in your vehicle
  • Preparing a vehicle for a life event such as a wedding, birth, or funeral

Car detailing is not just an extra, it’s an essential part of caring for your vehicle and maintaining your vehicle’s longevity. At Portage Car Wash, we clean until it looks brand new, helping you maintain your car for years to come.

Portage Car Wash has been servicing Portage, Hobart, Chesterton, and the surrounding areas for over 39 years. We offer interior and exterior services, detailing, waxing, polishing, and more for an affordable price. Friendly faces plus professional cleaning services equals your car looking like new. Drive on over to see us today!

What Kind of Car Wash is the Best?

hand wash car wash, automatic car wash, and car detailing in portage indiana

People have been washing their cars since they were called “horseless carriages”, from a bucket of soapy water and a sponge in the driveway back in the 20th century, to the fancy automatic carwashes of today, cars have always needed to be washed.

You know you need to wash your car, but you might wonder what kind of car wash is best for you. What kinds of car washes are there? Is one better than the others? Does your car get cleaner in an automatic wash or a self-serve manual wash? What are hand wash services? Is there even a car wash near you that provides the services you need?

Car washing is our specialty, so we’ve learned a few ins and outs over the years. Here are a few things that will help you determine what kind of car wash is best for you.

 

Automated Car Wash

This is what comes to mind for many people when they think of a car wash. You can drive up and select your preferred washing option, and then drive into the car wash without ever leaving your vehicle. At Portage Car Wash, an automated car wash ranges from $8-$26 depending on the level of service you prefer.

Customers typically choose automatic car washes if they:

    • Want to stay inside their car
    • Have limited time
    • Only need a quick exterior wash


Types of automated car washes:

    • In-Bay Car Wash: You drive into the car wash and remain stationary while the machinery moves around your car until the wash is complete.
    • Tunnel Car Wash: The machinery remains stationary while your car is pulled through the wash via an external mechanism like a conveyor or belt. This is the automated car wash we have.


Washing types include:

    • Touchless car washes clean your car without any external elements touching your vehicle. High-pressure water and chemicals are sprayed onto the car to clean it. Other terms for this type of wash include brushless, no friction, frictionless, soft-touch, and no-touch.

    • Friction car washes use cloth, brushes, and other implements that have contact with your car and clean using friction. Most car washes are friction washes.

 

If you have heavily caked mud, road salt, or bird poop, a friction car wash may be the right choice to attack that grit and grime. For a simple clean-off for pollen, dust, or post-rainstorm, a touchless car wash can do the trick. A touchless car wash is also a good option for vehicle owners concerned about external implements touching or scratching their vehicle.

 

Hand Washing Car Wash

Hand wash services are more specialized. At Portage Car Wash, our hand wash services range from $20-$40 depending on your selection:

Outside Only: exterior hand wash and drying of your vehicle

    • Washed by hand.
    • Tires are scrubbed.
    • Door jams are cleaned.
    • Hand towel dried.

       

In & Out: interior and exterior manual cleaning and drying of your vehicle

    • Washed by hand.
    • Tires are scrubbed.
    • Door jams are cleaned.
    • Hand towel dried.
    • Interior is vacuumed.
    • The dash is cleaned.
    • The ashtrays emptied.
    • Air fresheners are applied under the vehicle seat

       

Customers may choose our hand wash services if they:

    • Don’t have the time to clean the inside of their car 
    • Are going on a long trip
    • Are preparing to sell or gift their car
    • Plan to transport guests in their vehicle
    • Would like a fresh start for their car

 

Our hand wash services give your car a detailed, intentional clean that can make it feel like new. However, it differs from our car detailing services. If you're seeking a comprehensive interior deep clean that includes thorough interior cleaning, waxing, and surface treatments for long-lasting protection, our car detailing service is the better choice.

The truth is, there is no “best car wash”, but instead, you should pick the right car wash for your specific needs and vehicle. How much time do you have, what level of cleanliness you need, and do you want to wash your car yourself are all questions you can answer to determine the best car wash for you. 

At Portage Car Wash, we offer automated and hand-washing services for your vehicle, with interior and exterior cleaning and detailing options. We can clean your vehicle inside and out until it looks brand new, helping you maintain your car for years to come. 

Portage Car Wash has been servicing Portage, Hobart, Chesterton, and the surrounding areas for over 39 years. We offer interior and exterior services, detailing, waxing, polishing, and more for an affordable price. Friendly faces plus professional cleaning services equals your car looking like new. Drive on over to see us today!