Washing the family car in the summer is one of the most enjoyable pastimes for many people. Grabbing the bucket and hose, washing the car and enjoying the fruits of your labor is great fun for any age, even adults. In addition, it’s pretty much a fact that every kid loves to sit in the car while it goes through a drive-through car wash. Watching all the different soaps and brushes going around them is super fun – and hey, you know you still love it, too!

Hosting a car wash to make some extra cash or even just washing your parent’s car for some extra allowance is a great way for kids to spend their time, get outside, get some exercise and learn some hard work. There’s also no shame in taking advantage of the kid’s little fingers being able to get into all those nooks and crannies of the car and rims!

If your kids love to help you wash the car, then they will love playing car wash with this tunnel. They can have their very own right in your front or back yard, and we’ve rounded everything you need. Keep on reading!

Giant Sensory 9.5 Ft Walk-Thru Tunnel

Our Giant Sensory 9.5 Ft Walk-Thru Tunnel is not only a great sensory item, but it also looks just like a drive-through car wash! With streamers coming down throughout the inside, your little one will feel just like they’re going through a car wash.

This tunnel was originally designed to be large enough for kids to walk or run through, but is also accessible for children in wheelchairs to interact with and pass through. With a tunnel this large the possibilities are endless! This tunnel promote the use of a child’s imagination while helping develop their sensory skills and muscle strength! It can also teach kids cooperative interaction and is perfect for group or family play. Workin’ at the car wash, yeah!

Make the Perfect Car Wash

Now that you’ve got your car wash tunnel, it’s time to set up shop. Grab these items that you likely have around the house and get to washin’! Your kids will have a ton of fun just going through the car wash over and over again and pretending to wash their cars. For more added fun, set up a shop and have multiple kids involved. One person can work the cash register while others work the inside of the tunnel, and have children at another end blowing bubbles or spraying the hose at their friends!

What You’ll Need

  • Two cardboard boxes
  • Box cutter
  • Packaging tape
  • Spray paint
  • Four paper cups
  • Twine or string
  • Brass fasteners

How To Make It

Car Wash Water Games to Play

Car Wash Relay

Put two buckets on either end of the tunnel, four buckets total. Fill two at one end with water and keep two at the other end empty. The first team member takes a sponge, squeezes it in the bucket filled with water and runs through the tunnel to squeeze it in the empty bucket before giving it to another team member. The first team to empty the original bucket of water and fill up the empty bucket of water – wins!

For an added challenge, have them wear the DIY Box Cars and transfer those between relay members, as well! You can also have them start over if they drop the sponge or the boxcar along the way, and disqualify them if anything spills!

Sponge Pass

This is a variation of Car Wash Relay. Each team lines up with a bucket filled with water and sponges placed at the front of the line, then a second empty bucket at the other end behind them. The team passes wet sponges over their heads through the tunnel to the end of the line, where the last person squeezes the sponge into the second bucket and runs to the front to start again. The team with the most water in the bucket behind them after a period of time wins!

For an added challenge, have two or three sponges going at the same time for some extra fun and laughter. You can also have the person in the back of the line go to the front in their DIY Box Car!

Water Balloon Race

Have each child wear a DIY Box Car and attach a LOT of water balloons to it. Seriously – really overload them! Have them run through the tunnel and see how many balloons survive to the other side. Whoever has the most, wins! For an added challenge, spray the hose at them or blow bubbles at them in the tunnel to really throw them off their game.

Balancing Act

There are a few ways you can play this game. One variation is to have kids lay down in the tunnel and place a half-full cup of water on their forehead. Have the kids stand or sit up without spilling the cup or using their hands!

You can also play using a water balloon on their heads and have them walk through without dropping it. For both games, you can turn up the difficulty by spraying them with water or blowing bubbles at them. This can also be especially difficult if they are wearing their DIY Box Cars!

More fun with DIY Cars

For more fun with your DIY Box Cars check out this blog post from last year, where we first got the idea for these cars!

Let Us Know!

Do your kids love to help you wash the car? What are some of their favorite water games to play in the summer? Let us know in the comments below, or reach out to us on social media!