Doha

Some motorists have expressed concern over the quality of services provided by “mobile” car wash attendants stationed in the parking lots of malls and hypermarkets.
Vehicles washed by such attendants are often found with scratches at various places, including on the windshield, windows and sometimes the body paint, it is learnt.
As dust storms are expected to continue over the next few days, “mobile” car wash attendants are anticipating brisk business due to an increase in customers who seek to avoid long queues at car wash facilities at petrol stations as well as standalone centres.
But some motorists have complained that despite the convenience, services of attendants working in the parking lots of malls and hypermarkets come with several risks.
“Rinsing the car with a high-pressure spray removes dust and grime thoroughly and prevents dirt from clinging onto the towel. Otherwise, the towel will leave scratches on the body, windshield and other parts of the vehicle,” a vehicle owner said.
He added, “Motorists who opt for the waterless car wash service expose their vehicles to such risks when the layer of dust and dirt is thick, especially if their cars have not been washed for several days.”
Another risk, according to the owner, is the use of “special chemicals” or industrial grade detergent, which could leave hard-to-remove stains or, in some cases, lead to permanent discoloration of the car’s body paint.
Another motorist argued that even if parking lot car wash attendants use water, the dirt is mixed with the towel when it is dipped into the washing bucket.
“Car wash services inside parking lots are very cheap at QR10 to QR15 per car compared to the standard rates charged by petrol stations. However, these attendants only use one bucket of water when cleaning a car,” he said.
The motorist added, “Petrol stations still provide better services but the long queues force many vehicle owners to look for car wash services elsewhere. Not even the independent car wash shops could accommodate the huge demand for better services.”
The demand for more cleaning facilities was felt after the severe sandstorm that hit Qatar in April. Motorists trooped to petrol stations and other car wash shops for cleaning the following day, causing long queues and congestion.
Qatar is expected to be lashed by strong winds and a resultant dust storm between Sunday and Wednesday, the Met department has forecast.
To avoid long queues after the dust storm, an attendant of a petrol station in Doha suggested early-morning schedules - between 5am and 6.30am – on weekdays.
He said the waiting time would be an average of two hours later in the day, and even longer during peak hours.