Whether car washes are bad for your vehicle depends on the type of car wash you take your vehicle to. Sadly, automatic car washes can potentially damage your car, but some types of car washes are worse than others. Even when you carefully hand wash your car, using abrasive brushes and strong chemicals on your vehicle, you can cause scratches and swirls of its finish. That's the bad news.
The good news is that car owners can minimize the damage done to their vehicles' paint finish by making careful choices when washing it. Additionally, most modern vehicle finishes done at the factory come with a durable coating that should last for over a decade. It's also essential to note that the effectiveness of a car wash varies with your car model and the type of car wash you choose.
Some of the most popular types of car wash you can choose for your vehicle include:
Tunnel Car Wash with Rotating Brushes
Traditional tunnel car washes with rotating bristles are misaligned in favor of new technologies described as gentle to your vehicle's finish. However, head-to-head comparisons between the two options show that old-school tunnel car washes cause less damage to your car.
Old-school car washes are considered a safer option for your vehicle as the bristles don't hold on to abrasives like soft cloth scrubbers. However, when the brushes aren't properly maintained, they can make deep scratches known as swirl marks. These swirl marks can appear with only a single visit to the car wash.
Soft-cloth car washes
Also known as brushless car washes, soft-cloth car washes use soft felt cloths and closed foam instead of the stiff nylon brushes used in traditional car washes. These car washes gently apply friction to your car and removes any contaminants from the surface.
Pros of a Soft-Cloth Car Wash
The benefits of soft-cloth car washes include:
- Applies mild scrubbing action to remove contaminants from your car's surface.
- Removes inorganic matter like salt, road films, and hard water spots.
- Effectively cleans organic matter like bugs, bird droppings, dirt, and pollen.
- It thoroughly cleans your vehicle.
- It's the most effective way to clean hard-to-reach spots around the rocker panels, the front license plates, and the rear of your vehicle.
Cons of a Soft-Cloth Washing
Of course, the friction applied to your vehicle can potentially dull the car's paint. Physical contact can also worsen existing conditions like severe corrosion or loose trim. However, a trustworthy soft-cloth car wash can minimize the adverse effects on your car's finish.
Some of the downsides of soft-cloth car washes include:
- The soft-cloth strips can exacerbate other pre-existing issues on cars that aren't properly maintained.
- If the debris, dirt, and grime on your car aren't properly emulsified and rinsed before using the cloth strips, scratches can result.
- Dual-wheeled trucks and vehicles with highly oversized tires aren't compatible with some automatic soft-cloth car washes.
- Soft-touch car washes must be diligently maintained to keep the cloth strips clean. If a subpar automatic car wash fails to maintain its equipment, the cloth strips won't effectively remove dirt and will cause scratches on your car's clear coat.
Touchless car washes
When using an automatic soft-cloth car wash, you approach the wash tunnel, choose the wash service option you need, and pay before your vehicle goes on the conveyer belt. However, some automatic car washes keep your vehicle stationary as the cleaning apparatus moves around. That's how touchless car washes work.
Touchless car washes are similar to soft-cloth car washes, but your vehicle stays stationary while laser-guided devices work around your car. However, nothing touches your vehicle besides water and cleaning products. No cloth or brushes are used, keeping your car clean while avoiding the negative effects of friction.
Pros of a Touchless Car Wash
The benefits of a touchless wash on your car include:
- There's no direct contact when washing the car, which reduces the risk of damaging your car's professional detailing.
- The laser-guided sensors detect your vehicle's shape and location to maximize the coverage of water jets.
- Because the lasers see your car's shape, the water volume is reduced to minimize waste and environmental impact.
- A touchless car wash might be compatible with vehicles that can't be washed in a traditional car wash, like dual-wheeled trucks.
Cons of a Touchless Car Wash
While a touch-free car wash might feel like the best option to minimize the automatic car wash damage, it has several downsides:
- A touchless car wash might not effectively remove organic and inorganic compounds, especially when the grime and dirt are considerable.
- It might not adequately clean hard-to-reach places like crevices and cracks.
- Using harsh chemicals instead of spinning brushes and microfiber towels can strip away your car's ceramic coating.
- The cleaning process involves continually monitoring and adjusting the cleaning products used to account for environmental variables.
Hand car washes
A hand car wash is the best option to remove all the grime and dirt from hard-to-reach places that automatic washes can't reach. The human effort also helps you minimize the harsh chemicals a laser wash uses. However, this labor-intensive and time-consuming car washing option is more expensive than most options.
Pros of Hand Washing your Car
- Hand washing removes dirt and grime from all the hard-to-reach places.
- Hand washing results in gentle washes.
- Hand washing results in complete drying without leaving water spots behind.
- Reduced chances of body damage.
- Most hand car washes offer more professional detailing options than an automatic car wash.
Cons of Hand Car Wash
- It's more expensive due to the incredible attention to detail.
- Poorly maintained cleaning materials can cause fine scratches on your vehicle.
Looking to effectively and safely clean your vehicle while minimizing damages in Dayton, Ohio? Vehicle Enhancement Inc is here for you!
Vehicle Enhancement Inc is a unique detailing brand that delivers high-quality interior detailing, exterior detailing, and ceramic coatings to residents in Dayton, Ohio. Call (937) 296-0328 to get help safely removing blemishes from your vehicle today!
