Is an unlimited car wash membership worth it? Do the math first

When our son Greg suggested a monthly membership back in 2006, I told him nobody in Omaha would pay for a car wash they had not used yet. Twenty years later, more than half the cars through our tunnels are Wash Club members. I was wrong, but I still believe in doing the math before signing up for anything.

The break-even rule

Divide the monthly price by the single wash price. That is how many washes a month you need for the membership to pay for itself.

• Hometown Basic: $19.99 / $10 = 2 washes a month.
• Deluxe: $26.99 / $14 = 2 washes a month.
• The Works: $34.99 / $19 = 2 washes a month.
• Hometown Ultimate: $42.99 / $25 = 2 washes a month.

In other words, if you wash twice a month, every wash after that is free. Prices shown are sample figures for this demo.

Who saves the most

Commuters and winter drivers

Anyone driving I-80 or Dodge Street daily from November to March will wash weekly for salt alone.

Families with more than one car

Additional vehicles on the same account are $10 off each month, which makes a second car on Deluxe just $16.99.

People who hate waiting

The members lane skips the pay station entirely. On a busy Saturday that alone can save fifteen minutes.

When it does not make sense

If you wash once a month or less, or you are away for a season, pay per wash or pause your membership. We would rather you come back happy than feel stuck paying for something you do not use.

Pick the plan for how you drive in February, not in June. That is usually Deluxe or The Works in Omaha.

No-hassle cancellation

You can cancel online or at any counter, no phone call required, and pause up to three months a year. That was my one condition when Greg started the club, and it is still the rule.

Sample article content for this demo website.