Abstract: A method for preparing an inflated car-wash-configured slide assembly for recreational purposes. The method includes inflating a deflated car-wash-configured slide assembly to produce an inflated car-wash-configured slide assembly comprising a tunnel including a tunnel side wall; passing a slide mat through the tunnel such that after the slide mat passes through the tunnel, the slide mat is detached from the tunnel side wall; and dispersing water inside the tunnel onto the detached slide mat. An inflated car-wash-configured water slide assembly comprising an inflated climb section; an inflated platform section coupled to the inflated climb section; and an inflated slide section coupled to the inflated platform section. The inflated car-wash-configured water slide assembly further comprises an inflated pool section coupled to the inflated slide section and a tunnel assembly having a tunnel which extends through the inflated car-wash-configured water-slide assembly. The tunnel has a tunnel side wall.