Motorists form a long queue at a car wash station in the aftermath of a severe sandstorm that hit Qatar on April 1. PICTURES: Shaji Kayamkulam

By Peter Alagos/Business Reporter


Long and time-consuming queues at car wash stations continue to be among the main reasons why many vehicle owners in Qatar are repeatedly calling for the availability of more cleaning facilities, it is learnt.
Earlier this month, this common predicament was aggravated by a severe sandstorm – the strongest Qatar has experienced in years, leaving major car wash stations attending to many motorists.
In the aftermath of the April 1 sandstorm, several independent car wash outlets within the city, including attendants employing “waterless car cleaning” methods, enjoyed brisk business as most cars were covered in dust and fine sand.
According to Leonel, an attendant at a petrol station in Doha, the ideal time to avoid long queues is between 5am and 6.30am during weekdays.
“Otherwise, it will take an average of two hours of waiting time if a customer arrives while four to five cars are already queued up at the station. Later in the day, the queues get longer as many motorists continue to arrive,” he said.
“Many motorists also try to save time by getting an automatic car wash. It saves the customer at least 25 to 30 minutes. He or she only has to wait for drying and the cleaning of the car’s interior.”
A vehicle owner who spoke to Gulf Times said he avoids going to car wash stations during the weekends: “I do not bother getting my car cleaned on the weekend because I’m sure I will waste a lot of time waiting since the queues are very long.
“To save money, I bring my car to the mall for a ‘waterless car wash’ at the parking lot, which only costs QR10 to QR15, depending on which mall. I also bought a heavy-duty vacuum cleaner so I could clean the interior once a week.”
Ramneran, a Nepalese national who works as a car wash attendant in the parking lot of a major mall in Doha, said he usually gets 12 to 17 customers per day at QR15 per car. He shares the parking lot with 74 other “waterless car wash” attendants.
“Many vehicle owners prefer the ‘waterless car wash’ method because it is quick and they can take leisurely strolls or go shopping while waiting for their cars to be cleaned,” he said.
But Leonel said getting a vehicle cleaned at a petrol station or an independent car washing outlet guarantees a thorough cleaning compared to the service provided by attendants in parking lots.
He explained that car wash stations use water and jet sprays, which washes away a considerable amount of dirt from the car’s surface.
“Customers can opt for a ‘jack wash’, which allows the attendant to go under the vehicle and spray the entire bottom area. The jet spray is also ideal for cleaning crevices, making sure areas like the bumper grill or side mirrors are washed thoroughly,” he said.