Rightlook Wash Mat

I got this washmat from Michael (dust2glory) a few months back in anticipation of yet another crappy winter. Let me say that if you have a shop in a climate that does not lend itself to washing outside in the winter, this is the ticket. It has a 4" foam berm around it to hold all the wash water so your floor doesn't get wet. I've used mine about 6 times now and once you have a system, its not that big a deal to use. They retail around $1200 I believe but if you charge say $250 a day for your services, it'll only take a week to make your money back. The other option is to be not able to work at all. Hell, I'd put one in my garage if I had one! The waste water is pumped either into a water recovery tank normally but I just ran my hose into a nearby drain. I stay warm and the parking lot isn't a skating rink. Thanks again Michael!:thumb:

 

that looks great Ken!

 

Looks good, how fast is the removal of water from the pad? Will have to put that on the list of t hings to get once I get a garage.

 

Total time to floor squeegie all the water to one end and then set up the pump ( 2 minutes), pump it all out and put everything away is around 20-25 minutes. Its a bit of time, but I get to work and make money that I wouldn't otherwise be able to.

 

saweeeeeet! do they come with the pump or do you have to get your own?

 

I believe they come with one. Have a look at rightlook.com

 

Looks very nice Ken!

 

At least one of the counties in NC (Durham) is requiring mobile detailers to use similar devices. As of July, I believe, it became a requirement, in order to get a business license, to show proof of ownership of such a device. If water and sewer catches you out doing your thing without one, you can be fined. Not only that, waste water HAS to be taken to the water treatment facility, which is all the way on the far side of town. A friend of mine who works in wastewater management claims that the same is coming for Wake County soon. I'm sure Orange is soon to follow.

I'm all for saving the planet and everything, but it's a huge pain in the ass. I haven't done anything about it yet.

(Durham, Orange, and Wake are the three counties that make up "The Triangle," a.k.a. most of the Raleigh-Durham area)

 

wish i had the extra $ to get one of these, i was going to carry out washing vehicles even with the cold but you just reminded me the water and the cold will make and ice rink :/

 

Cool I've been waiting for this, thanks for taking the time on writing the review.

I'm curious, when you drive the vehicle over one of the edges is there potential on damaging the edge? If so how long would it last?

Another question, you can literally wash your vehicle like you would outside and all water wont overflow?

I agree our climate makes it nearly impossible to do a traditional two bucket wash to a vehicle when outside it's literally freezing, right now temperatures is -27C, feels like I'm living in a freezer :cold: :cold: oh and to make things worse the vehicles are dirty, dirty...can't stand it.

 

The berms are foam so you just drive over them without issue. I would think that you would get years out of these things. They appear to be very well built. I actually washed a car on it today ( my Passat ) and then wanted to try my pump out so I just let the hose run on it for about 3 or 4 minutes with no overflowing. It'll hold approx 450 gallons. I think you're safe.

 

Interesting. I had not read anything about this in Wake County.

I guess pouring it down the drain (assumes it is connected to the overall system) is not the same as getting to the waste waster facility.

The mobile detailer who embraces this can get ahead of obstinate ones.

 

Thanks for the feed back, 450 gallons huh that should be plenty to wash a vehicle...now about the berms, what I was trying to say wear and tear on them. I mean if you driver over and over and over and over on them eventually the foam will loose it's shape or tear or something like that, do you think if you left it laying on your floor/garage all year round that the berms would last that year or fall apart within that year? Here's what I'm thinking, when I get one I'd like to leave it laying down in my garage floor all year round. Technically our bylaws don't allow us to wash vehicles outside so what I'm thinking by leaving the wash mat laying all year round I can wash the vehicle all year round regardless of temperature outside, but I'm just thinking that the berms/foam would wear off faster. Everything breaks down in due time I'm just trying to determine how durable that portion seems to you that's all.

 

Looks like a nice addition. I'd assume you'd wanna rinse with a free flow or very limited pressure water, like showerhead style. I still have dreams for my garage. Waterproof floors and walls, slight incline for water runoff, channel drain at the base... ah pipe dreams.

 

Maybe you could make some ramps that arches over the raised edge if you wanted to reduce wear and tear.

 

You beat me to it. Exactly what I was going to suggest. I may do this so I can leave mine on the floor in my shop everyday through the winter as well. That way I can park my own car inside on crappy days and keep the floor dry. Not that I'm anal (nohomo) or anything.

 

That's correct, there's nothing official on the books for Wake, at least, not as last I talked to my friend in wastewater management. He seemed convinced, though, that something similar was likely to come to pass in Wake.

 

great post, we will have to pick something up soon.

 

You'll love it Phil. Especially if you get snow there! LOL I like having it just so I can park my own car inside this time of year. Keeps all the slush and crap off the floor.

 

Ken
Did you pick up the drain that fits in the corner that right-look sell? What do you do with the water after a wash?