Car Wash Science: The Chemistry

When you pull into a touchless wash, you see foam, water, and shine.But hidden inside that foam are microscopic workers called surfactants—the chemical backbone of every cleaning product at Rice Street Car Wash. These tiny molecules are the reason dirt loosens, oil dissolves, and water sheets away from your car’s surface. Without them, even the highest-pressure rinse would leave grime behind.

Here in St. Paul, Minnesota, winter salt, spring mud, and summer UV rays test every car’s finish. At Rice Street Car Wash, we’ve learned that great protection doesn’t come from one miracle product — it’s about understanding the chemistry behind each option. From classic carnauba waxes to modern ceramic and graphene sealants, every generation of car-care chemistry has built on the one before it — getting glossier, stronger, and longer lasting.

Learn how high- and low-pH presoaks at Rice Street Car Wash loosen road film, salt, and grime before washing — the chemistry that makes touchless cleaning work in Minnesota.

It’s More Than Soap and Water, At Rice Street Car Wash in St. Paul, clean cars are the result of chemistry, not just pressure and rinse cycles. Each stage of your wash—presoak, detergent, rinse, wax, and protectant—uses specialized formulas engineered to react with specific types of grime. Here’s a look at the science that makes your car sparkle, rain or shine.

Ceramic coating is a premium protective layer applied to your car's exterior during the wash process. It’s made from advanced nanotechnology that creates a clear, durable shield over your vehicle's paint, protecting it from the elements.