Best Carwash options???

[Jay_D]

I'm sure this question has been brought up many times, but I can't seem to find any clear answers for my area. I'm wondering what the best carwash places; options, in the twin cities MN are? Is there any good hand wash places you can take your car to in the area, or safe auto wash options? If not what are other people doing to keep their car's clean? I know the best choice is washing and waxing it by hand yourself, but a lot of the time I either don't feel like doing it myself, or don't have time. I get conflicting info on wether or not it is safe to use the gas station touchless car washes, the general opinion seem's to be that they are ok in a pinch, but should be avoided due to the caustic properties of the soap's they use. And everyone seem's to agree that any friction based systems are the equivalent of washing your car with a chainsaw. And of course there is always the option of paying a professional detailer $150 - $250 to do it for you . I'm just looking for a reasonably priced, paint safe option for those days I don't feel like doing it myself.

[Ron_MA]

Touchless end of story, trust me.

[Fred 6528]

Due to back issues I have used touchless for 2 years with me finish drying with wax as you dry spray, I can't see any difference in paint.

[Jeff1981]

I hand wash mine with a microfiber cloth and dry with a leaf blower to get excess water out of all the crevices, then hand wipe with a clean cloth. If it's to cold out, I will take it and have a touchless wash done. I'd use caution when taking it to regular auto car washes with those brushes and id monitor the practices used at your local car washes. Here in my town a certain car wash store uses brushes on the front and sides of your car before it is sent through the car wash tunnel and they also use dawn dish detergent in the bucket. I'll send my work car through these, but never my Camaro.

[Moto-Mojo]

YOU, a microfiber wash rag, leaf blower dry, microfiber damp 'mop up' and microfiber rag with spray wax of your choice. Pass any automated car wash like it was a Prius with Hillary stickers plastered all over the bumper!

[maroonponyina1LE]

I am in the same boat as you. My best results so far are by typing my zip code into www.findacarwash.com. Beyond that, there is a professional car wash place at I394 and Louisiana, on the north side of the highway that has been there for years.

[len_eng]

Touchless with wax as you dry and a clean microfiber cloth.

[grahak2]

Hi,

My opinion is you got to wash it yourself. If you just get 2 buckets, wool mit, and some microfiber towels you could wash it in a hour or so.

It takes me 3hrs but I usually take my time and get it as perfect as I can.

I haven't ever taken it to someone or a car wash. But then again I got lots of free time so don't know what it would be like not to have some days off.

Kevin

[Ice Baby]

Touchless when really dirty, no wax. Tends to streak and swirl when I use a microfiber towel on it. I will be trying a waterless wash product, testing its effectiveness on my old Blazer first.😋 I am getting used to the fact that it's a car that gets dirty and sometimes I just don't have time to clean it, and that's ok.

[Cyber10]

Originally Posted by Jay_D

I'm sure this question has been brought up many times, but I can't seem to find any clear answers for my area. I'm wondering what the best carwash places; options, in the twin cities MN are? Is there any good hand wash places you can take your car to in the area, or safe auto wash options? If not what are other people doing to keep their car's clean? I know the best choice is washing and waxing it by hand yourself, but a lot of the time I either don't feel like doing it myself, or don't have time. I get conflicting info on wether or not it is safe to use the gas station touchless car washes, the general opinion seem's to be that they are ok in a pinch, but should be avoided due to the caustic properties of the soap's they use. And everyone seem's to agree that any friction based systems are the equivalent of washing your car with a chainsaw. And of course there is always the option of paying a professional detailer $150 - $250 to do it for you . I'm just looking for a reasonably priced, paint safe option for those days I don't feel like doing it myself.

It's not necessarily the soaps, but the crap that is left over on the material whipping across your car from previous vehicles. That's why it's best to hand wash your car with your own wash mitt(or whatever you use).

Touchless would be the best alternative, but if you get any dirt or grime build up from driving behind your wheels, a touchless wash will not get that out from my experience.

[Nor Cal ZL1]

Touch less used harsh chemicals, they usually strip LSP's over time. I do a rinse less, or water less wash. Takes about 10 minutes. My Camaro is coated so it is super easy to keep clean,

[Hetfield03]

I go to touchless. I use the car wash bay to spray it down with pressured water, get off any bird crap, anything that a touchless should but doesn't fully get off. Then I run it through the automated touchless, with air dry. Then I drive it on highway and usually dries anything that didn't dry.

[pyroguy]

Avoid all car washes. They leave extra scratches, swirl marks, and eventually make your paint look like junk. Hand washing is the way to go.

[Kenny Camaro]

Originally Posted by pyroguy

Avoid all car washes. They leave extra scratches, swirl marks, and eventually make your paint look like junk. Hand washing is the way to go.

Hand wash,leaf blower, microfiber wipe down. Get about ten micro towels. Wash, rinse, and dry in sections. Waxerup. Hit the hand sprayer in a pinch. That soap will strip your wax down. Keep a few towels in the cargo netting so you can spray and hand dry quickly, like 20min in and out.