Automatic car washes - bad?

beauf

Maybe an odd question for this forum, but I think if anyone will know you guys will know. Also you will be more particular than most car owners about washing cars. I used a car wash a few times recent, after many years of hand washing cars. I got to thinking I don't know much about them.

What are the do and don't of using a car wash. I know some cars, can't go through due to spoilers or Antenna's. My last car had a warning about it. Also don't use them when its cold, and brush-less is preferred. Though I don't know wheres a better one around D.15.

Any thoughts.

JoeA3

Yes - very bad. And mostly for logical / obvious reasons. Big rotating brushes smacking the sides of your car. The same harsh brushes that have already "cleaned" 100's of other cars before yours. So they're filthy.

The parts of the car it does "clean" it will leave scratches in the dirt's place. And due to the contours / curves / shapes of different cars it will inevitably only half do the job.

Avoid!

Esel

What about the auto washes that don't use brushes? Like the one in Omni Santry...

EPAndlee

Stay well clear of those

Rubberchikken

My car means nothing more to me than a vehicle to get me from a to b when its too far to walk but ive never brought any car ive owned to a car wash. They look like medievial torture chambers designed to destroy a cars paint. Imho.

TeaBagMania

just wait until one of those rotating brushes rips off your antenna and starts beating your car with it... yeah avoid is a good option

bazz26

beauf wrote: »

Maybe an odd question for this forum, but I think if anyone will know you guys will know. Also you will be more particular than most car owners about washing cars. I used a car wash a few times recent, after many years of hand washing cars. I got to thinking I don't know much about them.

What are the do and don't of using a car wash. I know some cars, can't go through due to spoilers or Antenna's. My last car had a warning about it. Also don't use them when its cold, and brush-less is preferred. Though I don't know wheres a better one around D.15.

Any thoughts.

beauf

lol we don't all have the luxury of treating all our cars as we like all the time.

However even our beat up family MPV annoys me if it gets too dirty for too long. It's car wash friendly.

Curran

Brush Washes - bad; as explained
Jet Washes - bad, but better; they use aggressive TFRs (Traffic Film Removers) to lift dirt, but these are bad for trim, window rubbers, if youve had a coat of wax applied it will remove it, etc
Attended Washes; not great usually - there are a few very good ones, but unless you see wash mitts and drying towels, they are probably best avoided - dirty brushes in manky water, drying cars with water blades, etc are all bad signs

Best way to wash your car, and for many its a main in the backside; is to use a decent shampoo, with a good wash mitt and two buckets. Using the Two Bucket Method to wash the paintwork. Even with just that, it will be much better than any of the rest of the options. If you've no power washer or access to water, bring it to the jet wash, hose it down with just the rinse option which is just water; will lift the heavy dirt and wash using the Two Bucket Method at home.
Obviously thats a very basic option, but better than aforementioned options.

demanufactured

Some of the automatic washes have very soft brushes... There's one near me that I sometimes use.
Most times I use the local manual jet wash and my own buckets mitt etc.