A car wash mat is an inflatable basin that keeps the wash water from your car inside its rim, so it does not run off into drains or sewers. With the CarCare24 Car Wash Mat XL you unroll the mat, inflate the rim and park the car in the middle. After the wash you pump the water out. That lets you wash in places where you are not allowed to simply wash on the street.
A wash mat for your car is most useful on a driveway, in a workshop or on a site without its own drain. This containment mat catches shampoo, dirt and rinse water, even during a long detailing session, because the rim stands 25 centimetres high.
Key facts about the wash mat
Item | Details |
|---|---|
Type | Inflatable wash basin with a raised rim |
Outer size | 6 x 4 metres |
Inner size | 5.5 x 3.5 metres |
Rim height | 25 cm when inflated |
Material | PVC tarpaulin in black and blue |
Inflating | Fast-fill electric pump (included, with reverse mode) |
In the box | Nylon storage bag and repair kit |
Why use a containment mat for washing a car?
Wash water carries shampoo, road grime and brake dust. None of that belongs in the surface water drain. With a containment mat for washing your car the water stays in one place, and you decide what happens to it afterwards. It suits a business yard or a customer site, and it suits your own driveway if you do not want soapy water running into the street.
You inflate the rim, so there are no foam edges in it. That means the mat folds up compact and you do not wait for a stiff edge to spring back. The double valve keeps the air in while the cap is still off, and the pump has a reverse mode that empties the mat in a few seconds.
How to do it
Check the surface. Sweep the spot and remove stones, screws and anything sharp. Run your hand over it too, so nothing sharp is left under the fabric.
Unroll the mat. Unfold it on level ground. A slight slope shows up later, because water finds the lowest point. Position it so your car sits well inside the 5.5 by 3.5 metre inner size.
Inflate the rim. Put the electric pump on the valve and inflate the rim until it is firm. Tip: put the cap on as soon as the rim is full.
Wash. Put the car in the middle and work in the shade. Start with a pre-wash, then do the contact wash with the two-bucket method. Rinse inside the mat so the rinse water is caught as well.
Pump the water out. When you are done, remove the water with a water pump. The mat has no drain outlet, so the water stays behind the rim until you pump it away. Tip: pump the water out where you are allowed to and make sure it does not run into the street.
Dry and store. Let the pump pull the air out, wipe the mat dry and fold it into the nylon bag. Tip: store it dry, so it smells fresh next time.
Common mistakes and tips
Skipping the surface check. Always sweep the spot before you unroll, and nothing sharp ends up under the fabric.
Forgetting the cap. The double valve helps, but with the cap on you know the rim stays firm.
Rinsing everything at once. Rinse panel by panel and the water level in the mat stays low and easy to manage.
Putting buckets straight on the fabric. Use a wheeled dolly and you slide the bucket along without lifting.
Not having a water pump ready. Put it within reach before you start, so you are not searching for it after the wash.
What to combine with the wash mat
A good shampoo, for example Koch Chemie AS Car Shampoo, phosphate-free and suitable for hand washing.
A bucket with a Grit Guard, such as the Liquid Elements Shadow Bucket, for low-scratch washing.
A rolling base like the Grit Guard Bucket Dolly, so you slide the bucket across the mat without lifting.
For the workshop there is more in the garage equipment category.
You can read more about the technique in our guides: washing your car without scratches, the two-bucket method, using snow foam and which car shampoo to choose.