Stop by the Blue Crab Festival in Palatka For Caliber Freebies

May 20, 2022

Caliber Car Wash is honored to participate in this year’s Blue Crab Festival hosted in Palatka, Florida, from Friday, May 27 through Sunday, May 29. The family-friendly festival has become an annual tradition for almost 30 years and plans to host over 100,000 guests on the scenic waterfront property in 2022.

The Blue Crab Festival will host over 30 musical artists, including Urban Icon Award winner and R&B singer Ginuwine and Grammy-nominated country music band Little Texas. The festival will also feature an abundance of food trucks, carnival rides, games for both kids and adults, fireworks, and, of course, blue crab! Additionally, the Blue Crab Festival will also be hosting dozens of vendors, including Caliber Car Wash.

Palatka’s Caliber Car Wash opened in 2020 and has anticipated the return of this event after COVID-19. The current site manager and Blue Crab Festival event lead, Lilly Herrell, considers herself a Putnam County native and has always wanted to participate in the Blue Crab Festival.

“With Blue Crab being such an iconic event in Palatka, I am thrilled that Caliber gets to be a part of it this year,” said Lilly. “I see this as our chance to immerse ourselves in the community while getting to know our current and future customers outside of the wash!”

Because this event has always been a special place to her in Palatka’s history, she is looking forward to hosting a booth at the return of the Blue Crab Festival this year.

You can see Lilly at the Caliber tent in the vendor section, or you might catch her walking around, getting acquainted with the community and other attendees. If you see her, stop and chat! She might even be carrying some free Caliber swag!

Caliber will offer attendees free swag, including koozies, sunglasses, coupons, and more! There will be limited supplies, so make sure to find our blue tent and visit Lilly and the crew for some Caliber freebies.

Caliber Car Wash Announces Key Senior Leadership Amid Rapid Growth and Expansion

April 27, 2022

Peterson Santos named COO and Sanjay Sood named CFO of expanding express wash brand

Peterson Santos and Sanjay Sood, Caliber Car Wash — *Peterson Santos (L) and Sanjay Sood (R), were recently named as COO and CFO of Caliber Car Wash respectively.*

ATLANTA – Caliber Car Wash announced the naming of Peterson Santos as Chief Operating Officer and Sanjay Sood as Chief Financial Officer in April of 2022. Both Sood and Santos bring years of experience in the automotive field while specializing in company scaling.

The news comes at a time of sustained, rapid growth for the Atlanta-based company. Having over 40 announced sites and over 50 additional locations under development, Caliber is one of the fastest growth express car wash companies in the country as it expands throughout the east coast and into the Midwest.

Sood joins the company as CFO with an extensive background in senior finance positions at Jacent Strategic Merchandising, Pep Boys, Locals 8 Restaurant Group and Danka Office Imaging. A Philadelphia native, Sood has a history of growing financial teams and joins Caliber with an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from American International College and an MBA from Drexel University.

“One of Caliber’s core strengths is building and creating quick, quality wash experiences for customers, and to do so means having the right team in place,” said Danny York, Caliber CEO-Founder. “We’re happy to announce new leadership to guide our teams through their own career paths as we expand nationally.”

Santos, who joined the company as COO in April, began his career in the automotive industry over 20 years ago. Starting as a parts manager at ABRA Auto Body & Glass, he worked his way to Vice President of Operations after only six years. Santos maintained his senior leadership position in the automotive industry for 15 years at companies like Caliber Collison before accepting a position as COO for Caliber.

Santos received his undergraduate degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix and an MBA from Georgia State University.

“Caliber’s core values include building career paths and leadership skills, so we are excited to have senior leaders who understand what it is like to work throughout a company with those paths in mind,” York said. “Both Peterson and Sanjay will be able to relate to our employee’s needs while they continue to provide the best customer service experience in the car wash industry as we grow.”

Caliber Car Wash expanded to 14 locations in the Southeast since opening its first wash in Ocala, FL in 2019. With washes in Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, the company is quickly opening new markets, including Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and South Carolina. The company is projected to have over 150 operating washes by 2024.

Caliber Nominated in the 2022 Emerald Coast Best of the Best Awards

April 8, 2022

Caliber is honored to be a nominee for the NW Florida Daily News Best of Awards.

The news outlet, which invites community members to honor their favorite businesses through nominations, publishes an updated list each year to highlight customer favorite businesses in more than 25 categories. Readers who participate are also entered in for a chance to win a $250 gift card to spend at their favorite local spot.

Nominations are accepted between April 8 and April 30 as the first part of the competition.

To vote, participants can simply choose a category, make a nomination, and fill in their contact information. Categories include beauty and health, dining, entertainment and leisure, finance, home and home services, kids and education, pets, services, spirits, shopping, sports and fitness, top employers, and more.

We appreciate all the Caliber votes, but more so appreciate you choosing Caliber every day!

Pre-Soak Bug Splats to Save Your Paint

April 4, 2022

As we enter pollen season, bugs are naturally coming with it!

It’s getting warmer, and with all that summer travel, it is important to maintain your car’s paint in order to protect the long-term value of your vehicle. While out and about this spring and summer season, bugs that get stuck on your car can eventually corrode the paint due to the acid the bug emits. These enzymes also break down automotive paint, resulting in etching. It is best to get bugs off the paint as soon as possible.

At every Caliber Car Wash, the tunnel attendant sprays each car’s front and back windshield with an alkaline liquid detergent that is a concentrated and environmentally friendly chemical to help break down bugs and other pollutants on your car’s surface. Most other car washes use a brush with tough bristles that smear dirt and grime over your bumpers which may cause scratches. Because we want your car to come out of our wash looking like it just left the showroom, we use a stronger solution so that we can provide you with a touchless experience.

Our pre-soak is an effective, non-corrosive, non-caustic treatment for glass, rubber, chrome, plastic, and painted surfaces – basically every component you will find on a modern vehicle! The high pH formula of our pre-soak breaks down and dissolves grime, bugs, road film, and dirt that rest on your paint faster than your standard car shampoo without corroding your paint.

By using this pre-soak, your car will be more ready than ever for pollen season! The best part is this is included with every wash. And for those truly troublesome bug areas, feel free to also check out our bug prep stations for extra soaking and brushes specially made to help scrub pollutants off of car paint.

We hope you have a bug splat-free pollen season and look forward to seeing you soon!

What Is a High Pressure Car Wash and Do I Need One?

March 28, 2022

Have you ever washed your car at home and realized the cleanliness just wasn’t the same? That’s because of the lead and other harmful pollutants come out of the water in your hose. These pollutants can cause your car to become stained with water and chemical spots leading to corrosion of paint on your vehicle. Not only do hoses spray harmful debris on your car’s exterior, but the water pressure doesn’t have enough strength to clean out those hard-to-reach areas. Because of this, high-pressure washes are preferred to get that showroom shine!

High-pressure spray is a detailing car wash’s tool of choice for a reason. Not only do high-pressure sprays usually include clean, recycled water (like here at Caliber Car Wash), but they also get into hard-to-reach areas, giving you a thorough wash in three minutes or less.

High-pressure spray’s ability to supply a high volume of pressurized water and ultra-sudsy car shampoo helps remove dirt, stuck-on debris, and other contaminants quickly and efficiently. Without this debris on the car, your paint is less likely to scratch when being brushed later in the tunnel.

When paired with the high-pressure spray, Caliber’s tunnel technology ensures that you leave the lot with that showroom shine every time.

Check out some of these FAQs about what kind of water is best to use when washing your car.

Is it bad to wash my car with a hose?

Washing your car with a water hose is never the best option. By doing this, you could potentially damage your vehicle’s paintwork. Water hoses can lead to a buildup of residue on your vehicle that won’t look good and could eventually erode the wax on your car, causing your paint to deteriorate over time. Washing your car in direct sunlight can also cause spots to be burned in the paint. Instead, consider using filtered water.

Is it bad to wash my car at home?

Washing your car yourself can lead to damage. Some people make the mistake of using dishwashing detergent, which can leave residue and remove wax. Plus, if you wash your car in direct sunlight, you can burn spots in the paint. In the right conditions and with the right tools, you can successfully wash your vehicle at home, but just remember that damage will occur over time if you don’t use the proper cleaners and tools.

Should I use a pressure washer to wash my car?

Some people use a pressure washer to clean their car, and it will get debris off your vehicle; however, it can do more harm than good. Using a pressure washer can damage or nick the paint, leading to rust. If you do use a pressure washer, consider using it on areas like tires where paint is less likely to chip off and because it focuses on the dirtiest area of the car.

What PSI should I use to wash my car with a pressure washer?

If you do decide to wash your car with a pressure washer, the appropriate PSI setting that’s safe to use and won’t damage your car is generally 1200-1900 PSI. Another feature that’s necessary for a car cleaning pressure washer is the right GPM (gallons per minute), meaning the amount of water flow per minute, which is 1.4-1.6 GPM. Please note that using a pressure washer comes with the potential to damage paint, so it is recommended to consult your owner’s manual, consult a professional, and use proper tools and cleaners.

Caliber Partners With Alzheimer’s Association Chapter in Pensacola, Florida

March 12, 2022

The Alzheimer’s Association leads the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. The organization works on a national and local level to provide care and support for all those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias. As the largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer’s research, the Association is committed to advancing vital research toward methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure.

The Alzheimer’s Association offers many chapters that you can join to form your own community, and Caliber chose to partner with a local chapter in Pensacola, FL called Remember Me Today. Remember Me Today honors those who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s by raising money to donate to the Alzheimer’s Association. One of the events this chapter held to raise money is the 3^rd Annual Axles for Alzheimer’s. Axles for Alzheimer’s is a judged car show that encourages all years, makes and models of cars to join for the chance to win prizes.

The event will have scavenger hunts, food trucks, games, raffles, a photo op area, and more! Vendors and sponsors of the event will have their own table set up where attendees will have the opportunity to walk around and explore their local community all in one place. Caliber Car Wash is thrilled to be a part of an event that supports a cause that affects so many people around the world. Our local Caliber teams in Fort Walton Beach and Pensacola will attend the event and will be giving out freebies and swag to anyone who stops by our table!

Launching into Lovebug Season

March 2, 2022

It’s nearing the time our Floridians know best, lovebug season. However, motorists can make sure that their paint stays intact by washing these little critters off their cars regularly.

Lovebugs cause damage to cars in various ways. Their acidity can lead to paint erosion and discoloration, and if overlooked, lovebugs can enter a car’s radiator or engine causing serious internal damage to the vehicle.

Fortunately, Caliber Car Wash offers a solution. Most of our locations feature a bug prep station that we encourage customers to use prior to the tunnel wash. Located before the pay station, these stations help pre-soak lovebugs that need some extra scrub love.

“The first step to saving your paint job is making sure all the lovebugs are wet before entering the tunnel,” said District Manager Josh Johnson, “doing this should loosen the bugs making them easier to remove. After that, we do the rest.”

Our tunnel technology ensures that bugs and smears are removed while also providing preventative measures. Our triple shine wax and ceramic coating provide an additional layer between the paint and the environment to keep paint safe until the next wash.

“The wax and ceramic coating that we use not only repel lovebugs,” said Johnson, “but they also keep your car safe from dirt, grime, grease, or other environmental elements that may harm your paint.”

To keep paint looking fresh and clean, lovebugs need to be removed immediately. Even a week without a wash can cause irreversible paint damage. Caliber offers its Florida residents membership options for a low monthly price with our Limitless plans. For more information, motorists can visit www.calibercarwash.com.

How Much Does a Car Wash Cost?

December 10, 2021

It is becoming increasingly important to understand the price associated with everyday expenses. Costs of goods and services are rising quickly, and car washes are no different. It is important to understand what you’re paying for and if the asking price is fair for the service and amenities that you’re receiving.

How much does a car wash cost?

Car wash prices vary depending on amenities, location, and other factors. On average, a single automatic car wash costs between $10 – $25. The lower-priced wash is usually a basic wash and includes free vacuums. On the higher end, the customer should be receiving the best wash with waxing, ceramic coating, and tire shine along with a free vacuum. However, at Caliber Car Wash, we think every customer deserves the best wash in their price range, which is one reason why we don’t upcharge for state-of-the-art ceramic coating!

Caliber’s Classic Wash includes an exterior wash, dry, and wheel cleaning. After your car leaves the tunnel, you will be directed to our boom station that includes detailing freebies with all washes, including our Classic package. Each station includes a vacuum, air freshener, multi-purpose cleaner, window cleaner, microfiber towels, and detailing air. You’ll also have access to other amenities, including our free automatic carpet mat cleaner.

Caliber’s Customer Wash includes all previously mentioned amenities plus an underbody wash, paint protectant, and spot-free rinse. The spot-free rinse differs from a standard rinse because the water has been filtered and softened to prevent leaving any residue or harmful contaminant on your vehicle.

The Caliber Wash is our top-tier wash that provides the customer with everything from the previously mentioned washes in addition to a triple foam bath, rain guard, Caliber wax, tire shine, triple shine wax, and ceramic coating. The Caliber Wash ensures that each customer leaves with a stunning shine along a topcoat that protects the paint on your car after you leave the wash!

Another component to keep in mind regarding cost is the membership option that most washes are now offering. The membership pricing is typically the price of about two single washes; this will likely be the best option for customer who are trying to stay cost efficient.

3 Reasons to Work at Caliber Car Wash

December 3, 2021

Did you know that car wash jobs are on the rise? Team members are in high demand across the country, including here at Caliber, because we know the value each team member brings to the wash. That’s one reason why our employment program aims to set you up for career growth here at Caliber and throughout the rest of your career.

Here are three reasons why we hope you’ll consider a car wash career with Caliber.

1. Career Advancement
When you work for Caliber, you’re working towards a career. Currently, 80% of our management team started in a different position before being promoted. That’s because Caliber believes in creating opportunities for their internal community.

Because Caliber is expanding so quickly, now is a great time to start with the team. Our company will be opening dozens of washes in the coming years – and all of those sites need managers. Our hope is to continue to promote from within. We’ve even had star employees promoted in a year or less in some cases!

2. Competitive Pay with Benefits
Team members with Caliber can expect to start at $13 per hour with commissions. As a team member, there are tons of ways to make more money through sales and career advancement. By completing training and goals, you’ll start to make more. In some cases, star employees are making $20 per hour before being promoted due to sales and prizes.

Once you hit Manager, you can expect to have 100% of your health insurance paid by Caliber. This includes vision and dental. As you progress through the company, you’ll continue to receive even more perks and benefits.

3. Flexibility
Life happens, and we get that! Caliber team members are offered great flexibility, so you can find a schedule that works for you.

Interested in learning more? We’d love to connect. Feel free to stop by our careers page for more information.

Caliber Gives Back To Local Veterans This Veteran’s Day

November 16, 2021

Caliber Car Wash is proud to support our local organizations. On Veteran’s Day this year, Caliber was able to host a fundraiser to support The Memorial Post 71, American Legion in Lake Wales, Florida. Caliber also participated in the Lake Wales Veteran’s Day Parade. The parade went through downtown Lake Wales, and employees of the wash handed out candy and stickers that honor the armed forces.

After the parade, our team was proud to host a fundraiser for the local American Legion post. We are grateful for the men and women who serve and have served, and we’re thrilled we were able to honor them on this holiday.

“One of the best aspects of this job is giving back to our community,” said Lake Wales manager, Nestor. “The American Legion Post 71 does great work, and I am so glad we were able to support their cause.”

The American Legion Post 71 has a mission of making a positive impact in its community. They run a variety of veteran-based programs such as a community food bank, community connections, and Volunteer Service Sundays, where every Sunday they mobilize their team of volunteers to make a difference in the community.

For more information on how to host your own fundraiser with Caliber Car Wash, visit https://calibercarwash.com/fundraiser/.