Automatic Car Washes: The Quickest Way To Destroy Your Car

 The drive-through car wash is a staple of many busy American’s lives. Whether they use the gas stations tunnels, or the “professional” car washes on the corner, most people run their vehicles though an automatic wash at least once a month. In principle, washing a car once a month is fine, its the method used that can either destroy or prolong a like-new finish.

With the rise of the “unlimited” wash plans at a lot of local car washes, now is the time to learn how detrimental these “Car Washes” can be for a vehicles paint system.

Swirl Factories:
These swirl inducing monsters are slowly becoming extinct but until they are completely gone all cars are at risk of having their paint destroyed by these outdated machines. They claim to have the “cleanest” brushes and “softest” towels, but you must be look past these claims and see what these machines actually do to your paint.

Imagine every bristle and towel as a tiny piece of sandpaper. They slap against your car and take off the dirt and grime, while leaving behind millions of tiny scratches. The car comes clean, but at the what cost? Every time a car leaves these types of tunnel washes, they leaved more damaged than the last. Every $3 car wash and complimentary car wash from your dealership leaves your car looking more swirled than ever. In the long run, these washes will will cause your paint system to degrade until the vehicle will need to be re-painted or restored by a very good detail shop.

High Pressure Acid Baths:
You’re probably thinking, “But I only use touch-less washes!” Unfortunately, this type of tunnel wash can be just as harmful to your vehicle as the swirl factories of old. Most “touch-less" washes rely on using extremely high pressure nozzles paired with extremely harsh chemicals to remove the dirt and grime from your car. These harsh chemicals can strip the best waxes in seconds and leave your car unprotected from the elements. If you don't apply a new coat of wax on a regular basis the chemicals can seriously damage your paint. It’s almost like going out on a 110 degree day without any sun protection and expecting to not get sunburn. You would not do that to your skin, so why would you do it to your cars paint?

Protecting Your Paint:
Washing your car at home you can save money, water, and your vehicles paint systems. All you need is 15 - 20 minutes a week, some high quality microfiber towels, and a good rinse-less wash product (we recommend Optimum No Rinse). We cover this amazing process in another blog post here.


Another great way to protect your vehicle from swirls is Paint Protection Film (Clear Bra) paired with a Ceramic Coating.
If you can't find the time, get it touch with your local detailer and set up a regular maintenance plan so you can ensure your vehicles are getting the love and care they deserve. Mobile Detailing services are a convenient option for regular maintenance