Can Automatic Car Washes Damage Your Car?

[Zembonez]

The age old battle on how to best wash your vehicle... HINT: A little common sense goes a long way.

Automatic/drive-through car washes are more popular than ever because they save time and hassle.

But are automatic car washes safe for your car? In fact, in many instances, they are the "safest" course of action for many car owners who want to keep their car clean.

In fact, automatic car washes can be safer for your car's finish than washing your car yourself because do-it-yourselfers sometimes don't use enough water to safely remove dirt; or they wash the car in direct sunlight -- which can burn spots in the paint. Or they use the wrong type of soap -- such as dishwashing detergent, which removes protective wax and leaves a chalky residue on the finish. Or any one of several common mistakes can end up doing more harm than good.

Here is the whole article from AOL: CAR WASH TIPS

 

[Black02Silverado]

I use it to keep it kind of clean. I'm getting lazy in my old age. Not to mention we got a few free car wash coupons one time for when we went and it wasn't working. The owner sent us 4 of the "superwash" coupons.

 

[Zembonez]

I am a clean nut. I keep ours clean and always garaged. I don't even like dust on my vehicles... but I am a bit of a freak.

 

[Black02Silverado]

Not to mention most car washes recycle their water as well.

 

[OG-TERROR]

Yeah they can damage your vehicle, take a look.


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[Zembonez]

What a dumbass.

I never go to a car wash that has anything that touches my car.

 

[Bernie]

Mine is too big for anything but a truck wash, and those are expensive, plus all the lights and antennas on it make it difficult to clean, so I generally do it in the driveway with a hose and a kitchen sponge mop. The wife's Dakota has been through a few car washes, especially when we lived in an apartment. But now it too gets washed by hand in the driveway.

 

[Bigredmariner]

I do the touchless laser wash ones from time to time. I never liked the spinning brush washes.

 

[Nick The Great]

Yeah they can damage your vehicle, take a look.


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[Bernie]

What a dumbass.

I never go to a car wash that has anything that touches my car.

Your loss...