JEDDAH — Illegal car washers are taking to the streets of Jeddah, gathering in front of malls and government buildings and openly flouting laws banning them, Al-Madina reported.

 

They have also reportedly gotten more aggressive, chasing down passengers parking their cars with their cleaning supplies ready.

 

Some even distribute their phone numbers to attract customers in a bid to avoid having to compete with other washers.

 

Car wash areas are not only packed but their services are also considered costly in the long run.

 

Charges have been recently soaring, ranging from SR10 to SR15 a visit.

Many have complained to the authorities about the situation. Local residents have to live in front of constantly wet streets and claim the city is suffering with roads worn out by chemical substances used by car washers.

 

Citizen Mohammed Al-Ghamdi said: “There are also questions over where they get their water from. 

 

“Seeing those violators steal water from water tanks in the middle of traffic is a strange scene.”

 

However, many have been encouraging this market, according to Mansour Al-Zahrani.

 

With the high charges of legal car washes, many people have been dealing with these alternative individual washers for a better deal. In addition, the authorities are not seen as doing enough.

 

Another citizen, Saad Jaralnabi, stated that the streets are filled with diesel and gasoline that are sometimes used by the illegal car washers instead of soap.

 

Municipality spokesman Mohammed Al-Bugmi stated that the city is offering to help the authorities in combating this problem.

 

He added that the municipality’s role is restricted to the maintenance and cleanliness of the streets.

 

Jeddah Traffic Police refused to comment on the situation.