Rain Is Not a Free Car Wash
The first real storms of the season are rolling into Sonoma County, and a lot of drivers figure the rain will take care of the dirt. It usually does the opposite. Rain picks up dust, pollen and road grime as it falls and as it splashes up from the pavement. When the water dries on your paint, that grime stays behind as spots and streaks. After a dry summer and fall, the first rains tend to be the dirtiest of the year.
What Rain Leaves Behind
Most of what you see after a storm comes from three places:
- Dust and pollen in the air. Raindrops collect it on the way down and leave it on the hood, roof and glass when they dry.
- Road spray. Tires throw up a film of oil, brake dust and dirt that coats the lower doors, wheels and rear of the car.
- Mineral spots. As water evaporates in the sun, it can leave chalky rings that are harder to remove the longer they sit.
When to Wash After a Storm
The best time is once the rain has passed and the roads have started to dry, so you are not driving a clean car straight back through standing water. If more storms are on the way, a quick exterior wash between them still keeps grime from building up on the paint and glass.
Pick the Right Easy Breezy Location
Santa Rosa Express Tunnel
Our Express Tunnel at 1240 Mendocino Ave is the fastest way to get the storm film off. Single washes run $11.99 for the Express, $17.99 for the Gold and $22.99 for the Diamond. It is open Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm and weekends 9am to 5pm, and the pay pavilion is covered, so you stay dry while you pay.
Santa Rosa Self-Serve
If the wheel wells and rocker panels took the worst of it, our self-serve bays at 1450 Sebastopol Rd let you aim the wand exactly where the mud is. There are 5 bays with foam brushes and spot-free rinse water, and they are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Cotati
Our Cotati location at 930 E Cotati Ave has 5 self-serve bays, a touchless automatic bay and 8 vacuums. Self-serve is $3.75 for 4 minutes, and the touchless automatic is $10.75 or $14.75. Cotati is open every day from 7am to 10pm.
Rainy Season Is When a Membership Pays Off
From now through spring, your car may need a wash every week or two. Our Wash Clubs start at $25.99 a month for the Express, with Gold at $31.99 and Diamond at $39.99. Every plan works at all three locations, and you can cancel anytime. If you have more than one car in the household, the Value Plan gives you 10 washes a month for $39.95 to share across any vehicle.
Get a Text When It Is Time to Wash
Want a heads-up after the next storm? Sign up for Easy Breezy Text Deals and we will send you offers and reminders. You can opt out at any time.
Clean Car, Clean Conscience
Washing at home sends soapy runoff into the storm drains, and in the rainy season that water flows straight to local creeks. Easy Breezy recycles its wash water and is Sonoma County's only Green Certified car wash. We have been locally owned since 1997. Questions? Call us at (707) 664-1540.