AT SOME TIME OR ANOTHER, we’ve all probably heard that automatic car washes are bad for your car.
Some people say that automatic car washes cause swirls, scratches and other cosmetic “injuries” to your vehicle. So is there any truth to the claims?
The short answer is: It depends.
Some automatic car washes are good. Some automatic car washes are bad. It all depends on their features. In the past decade, automatic car washes have made great technological strives to improve quality and safety.
However, there are still a lot of car washes that use old technology that is not good for your vehicle.
Here are some features that you should avoid when selecting an automatic car wash.
- Brushes: If the car wash still uses those fast spinning barrel brushes, you will want to avoid it. These types of brushes can scratch your vehicle. Look for automatic car washes that use cloth brushes. Even better, look for car washes that only use water. This will protect your car or truck.
- Drying: Most car washes give you two options when it comes to drying. They either have high-powered dryers or people drying by hand. Surprisingly the automatic dryers are not as dangerous as the people drying by hand. Be sure the people drying your car are using clean cloths. Sometimes they will use the same towel on several vehicles. This is not good because dirt and debris trapped in the towel can scratch your vehicle.
- Waxes And Polishes: If you decide to go to an automatic car wash, hold off on the waxes and polishes. Many times these products are of low quality and are overpriced. It is better to go with the cheaper car wash that doesn’t have these options.
In short, automatic car washes are not bad if you do your homework. They’re great if you’re looking for a quick rinse.
How often should you get your car washed?
Naturally, the frequency of car washing depends on how quickly it gets dirty, and how dirty it gets. For most cars, once a month is sufficient, especially if you keep it garaged and use it occasionally. Cars parked outside are exposed to bird droppings, tree sap and other airborne contaminants and will benefit from more frequent car washes.
Finally:
Make sure your car’s OK before you leave. While many car washes will post a disclaimer that they are “not responsible for any damages that may occur”, that doesn’t mean you should automatically absolve them of any damage their equipment or personnel may have caused. If you notice something, ask to see the manager and point it out to him; whether “legally liable” or not, he may offer to fix the problem in the interest of customer relations. And even if he does not, you can still pursue the matter with a higher-up (such as the company headquarters if the wash is a franchise, as many are). If you have a mobile phone with a camera, use it to take a photo of the damage in order to support your claim. And it goes without saying that you should never leave your purse or other valuables in the car if you use a wash where an attendant will have access to the vehicle’s interior.