Automatic Carwash.....are they safe for our ride?

[nyrfan]

Originally Posted by TOMS1SS

Does it go down like this?

LMAO!!


Back on the subject. I don't care how dirty my car is, or how many times a week I need to hand wash and dry it myself, my Camaro will never see the inside of a car wash!!

[67 Convertible]

Originally Posted by CamaroCowboy

The key with touch less is once you are done pull off to the side and wipe it down.

I disagree. The touchless car wash does not remove all the dirt and grime. Wiping it down after the wash will grind the leftover dirt and grime into the paint causing swirl marks.

The touchless washes are ok between hand washes, but I wouldn't wipe it down after. Avoid the "standard" car washes with the swirling brushes at all costs for the same reason.

[Chiefish]

I only hand wash my baby, no car washes ever. To avoid the white spots all you have to do is wipe it down with a nice clean towel. Or you can install a water softener in youre house which will save all youre appliances in the long run too. So its a win win situation.
Ill even hand wash it in the middle of the winter, but sometimes there is a sheet of ice left on the drivway when it freezes up , but that just makes things more fun.

[nyrfan]

Originally Posted by 10forty2

Gotta be careful with the blowers too....unless they're filtering the air and regularly changing the filters....you're just sandblasting your baby with all the dirt that gets sucked up into the intake of the air blower.

For me? I'd take the extra time and hand wash in my driveway with clean rags and mild soap so I know it's done right and hasn't been damaged. If you're worried about mineral water from wells, get one of those Mr. Clean Auto Dry car wash units with the water filters built in.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...=1314270480305

I hope you mean nice microfiber towels.

[denny2188]

No Car Washes for my car!! Not even the touchless! I once read on here that the touchless car washes uses harsh chemicals in the water!!

[daveagogo1]

At home only. If you get spots do this. While car is wet mist whole car with adams detail spray. Dry it then go over whole car again using double soft microfiber towels. Zero spots shiny and no damage.

[10forty2]

Originally Posted by nyrfan

I hope you mean nice microfiber towels.

Actually I meant angel's wings coated with unicorn giz........

I'm not so sold on the whole microfiber towel craze. If it's been used, then it's got dirt in it too....just like a good ole cotton rag. I think proper marketing can create a perceived need for lots of things that really don't do any more than standard products that have been used for years...they just cost more to cover the marketing. Cotton baby diapers have been used to wash/wax vehicles for years and work really well. I also don't believe that a Sham-Wow can suck up a 2-liter soda through a carpet just by laying it on top. Lots of people do...but I'm not one of 'em. I'm just sayin.....

[metthem]

If I go thru a touchless car wash, I can write my name in the layer of dirt that they don't clean. I use them for bird poop, thats about all they're good for.

[blackSSRS]

Other person has it right, drying you car even with microfiber after touchless will leave swirls because of the left over dirt you are rubbing into the clearcoat and the same for car wash that touches your car, those big swirly brushes collect dirt n whipe it all over your car scratching it. Like the guy above said, use Adam's products. their detail spray with microfiber will get rid of spots. also the mr. clean thing that filters water (haven't used but heard it works, but i use nothing but adams on mine and hand wash). Mine gets dirty if i don't have time to wash it by hand

[Tyler360]

Originally Posted by CamaroCowboy

The key with touch less is once you are done pull off to the side and wipe it down.

There's still a thin film of dirt left on the car after a touchless, so if you wipe it down, your still going to get swirls.



So long as you use a touchless its fine. I like to use the touchless in between washing mine by hand. I also use a touchless before washing by hand when the car is really dirty(kind of a prewash of sorts). Might be excessive but I take washing my car very seriously The underbody flush is also a plus.

[NYJets77]

Car washes are fine as long as you don't mind your finish being destroyed.
From too strong detergents to the crap-ass towels the drying guys use, its a horror show.

[tpower]

I use touchless 3 times a week and just dry it off when I am finished

[TheCamaroKitty]

I tried the touchless car wash once, and even with wiping her down she was still dirty. I think hand washing at home is the absolute best thing to do.

[LIM3]

well if you go to a place that people wash , you have to see there technique. if they dont rinse the sponge after washing half the ride then they are dragging all that dirt causting swirls. also drying the car with micro towels is a must , and if they are new the better.
as for machine wash dont do the auto mop ones they have years of collected dirt from other cars that is being left on yours and causing swirls.