Building a mega Splash
By Laura Briedis
With advanced car wash technology at both its Fairlawn and Green locations, Splash Car Wash is making a mega splash in Northeast Ohio. And on its sprawling five-acre location in Fairlawn, plans are underway to add an auto detailing facility as well as electric charging stations—providing everything necessary for auto care in one location.
With new car washes popping up all over town, Splash Car Wash—which opened in Fairlawn in 2015 and added a second location in Green in 2017—stands out for its continuing innovation.
At the cornerstone of the Fairlawn car wash is a wash tunnel equipped with the latest technology that meticulously washes vehicles, moving them through on an upgraded, innovative belt system.
The all new wash tunnel opened last fall and a leading-edge express interior tunnel, which is being built parallel to the car wash tunnel, is projected to open as early as spring 2021.
The wash tunnel is 175 feet long and features a new and improved innovative conveyor belt system that allows customers to effortlessly load into the wash tunnel.
The grand entrance features an automated system that preps vehicles to be washed with 360-degree coverage. At the end is a new frictionless turbo blow-drying system.
With a bright red and blue color scheme and fun vibe, the new tunnel has a wall of windows on the west side and a curved glass roof allowing light to stream in, making it feel less claustrophobic and more open for customer comfort.
In addition to the soft cloth wash, there are numerous add-on options, such as an underbody flush, tire shine, hot wax and ceramic coating.
“One of the options is a robust double undercarriage flushing, which can help remove road salt and sludge from your vehicle, along with a rust inhibitor—perfect when road salt is spread on the streets during the winter months,” says Joe Mallo, who, along with his father, John, and brother, JJ, is part of the locally owned and operated family business. And this year, Joe’s daughter, Danielle, and nephew, Vincent, are also working at the car wash—definitely making it a family affair.
Coming in 2021
A separate Express Interior Tunnel is currently under construction and will focus on cleaning the inside of your vehicle. This includes vacuuming carpets, floor mats, seats and trunk, and wiping down the dashboard, center console, windows and doorjambs. Vehicles will be loaded onto a conveyor belt where the Splash team will thoroughly clean the interiors as they travel through the tunnel. From the time your vehicle enters the Express Interior Tunnel, it will take approximately 10 minutes from start to finish.
Once the interior cleaning tunnel is completed in 2021, this service will be available as an add-on option customers can choose prior to washing their vehicle.
For those who want to clean out their own interiors, every wash or package includes access to the “Rolls Royce” of vacuuming—high-powered vacuums designed to get vehicles to a higher level of clean, located outside the tunnels.
“Within our Express Interior Tunnel, we are also adding eight fine detail bays for auto detailing, where customers can set up an appointment for one of our many fine detail services,” says Joe. “We will offer services such as hand waxing, clay barring, carpet shampooing, leather conditioning, headliner cleaning and so much more.”
Also coming are electric charging stations, which will be installed on the south side of the original wash tunnel for electric automobiles to recharge batteries.
Even with all the high-tech touches, Splash still offers personable customer service, with a kiosk area where customers are greeted and their needs met in an efficient manner, all from the convenience of their vehicle.
Become a Member!
Splash Car Wash offers a choice of four packages with unlimited washes, currently priced as follows:
• The Splash, for $9 per wash, or $22.99 a month
• The Big Wave, for $14 per wash, or $32.99 per month
• The Tidal Wave, for $19 per wash, or $42.99 per month
• The Tsunami, for $23 per wash, or $49.99 per month
For the convenience of its members, Splash has installed a touchless hands-free scan-and-go system that opens the gate for easy access. You can purchase unlimited wash plans at the Fairlawn or Green locations. For more details on each wash plan, visit SplashCarWashCo.com.
Fairlawn’s Splash Car Wash is located at 130 South Cleveland Massillon Road (next to Aldi Grocery), just south of Route 18. The phone number is 330-576-3940. Green’s Splash is located at 3405 S Arlington Road (in front of Lowe’s). The phone number is 330-536-WASH (9274). Monthly memberships are available online at SplashCarWashCo.com. Winter hours for both locations are Monday-Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.