America’s Love Affair With (Clean) Cars

Car washes help maintain what may be the second-largest investment many will make. Learn more in this America Counts story.

America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers America's Love Affair With (Clean) Cars For many Americans, their car, SUV or pick-up truck is the second-most expensive item (after a house) that they will purchase and maintaining that investment on wheels is paramount. And because many see their cars as an extension of their personality, maintaining an image by keeping their cars clean also matters. While some may cherish pulling out a hose, wash mitt and soap to give their "baby" a customized shine, others opt for a more convenient ritual: trips to the local car wash. Read More According to the 2019 County Business Patterns program, there were 16,976 Car Washes with paid employees in the United States, 6.8% or 1,074 more than in 2015. These businesses had 163,178 workers (up from 153,970 in 2015) who earned an average annual salary of $21,911 (up from $18,703 in 2015). Continue reading to learn more about: Car washes are mostly small businesses Services that car washes provide Who owns car washes? Help us spread the word about America Counts. Share this story on social media or forward it to a friend. Share This You May Be Interested What is a Small Business? Newly released "Establishment and Firm Size" data from the 2017 Economic Census show how important small businesses are to the U.S. economy. Learn More About America Counts America Counts tells the stories behind the numbers in a new inviting way. It features stories on various topics such as families, housing, employment, business, education, economy, emergency preparedness, health, population, income and poverty. Contact our Public Information Office for media inquiries or interviews. Don't miss an America Counts story! Subscribe here.

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