[ddriver03]

Thoughts on using an automated car wash every couple of weeks vs hand-washing?

 

[longhornaccord]

Personally I have always hand washed my cars. But it's more because I enjoy doing it than anything else. Many people run theirs through the auto wash. As long as you choose a good one that doesn't have scratchy brushes, your car should be okay. Maybe wash it by hand every other time.

 

[Angelja]

I think it depends how particular you are about the finish of the car. For the vast majority of people, a regular wax or coating with automated car washes is normal and they're quite pleased. However, automated car washes can be pretty rough on the finish and in some cases leave swirl marks, etc. But again, many folks are fine with the result. I have heard anecdotally that people have damaged their rims (esp since the 19 inch rims stick out a bit more) at some of these places so worth being careful to avoid that.

I have a touchless place near me and for winter months is a good middle ground for me to get the salt off and freshen up the car without me having to freeze my soaking wet hands off in 35 degree temps!

 

[MrWasabi]

I usually never have time to hand wash so I get a yearly plan at one of the local automatic washes. What's everyone's thoughts on adding one of the top level ceramic sprays? Just a waste of cash?

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I've been rolling with the 'Good' package for $350 a year and usually hit it at least once a week. I've been happy with the results so far relative to the cost/convenience.

 

[Angelja]

It really depends on how long you want the paint to look new. People put their vehicles through automated washes covered in dirt and mud and pollen that's built up over months if not years. All that dirt and grime gets wiped off with the cloth that beats up against the car. A good bit of that crap sticks to the cloth and then it beats up against the next car that goes through and can act like sandpaper. This is what causes swirl marks and other damage to your clear coat.

It's also not that great for things to beat against your car. I've had an automated wash actually knock a side mirror off before and of course the car wash had signs up saying "not responsible for damage" and wouldn't compensate me. It was about $400 for the replacement mirror and to have it painted.

I paid a shop to do a ceramic coat on my new Accord so that keeping it clean will be easier and the paint will hopefully stay looking new for (hopefully) 5 years. I also picked up some supplies after reading through the auto detailing subreddits for routine washes.

My plan is to use P&S rinseless wash every other week and then once every other month do a full two bucket wash. I have a Ryobi pressure washer from Home Depot that I paid $88 for and a Twinkle Star foam cannon from Amazon that I paid $26 for and it makes for a good combo. I use Meguiar's Hyper Wash in a 5 gallon bucket and use the foam cannon to coat the vehicle in a nice thick foam. After 5 minutes of it soaking I rinse it off to get the bulk of the gunk off the car. Then do a two bucket wash with some microfiber mitts to get anything the foam didn't pull off.

I haven't washed the new car yet but the above worked fine on my last vehicle. I am excited to see how the ceramic coat does as I imagine the foam cannon + rinse will be enough to get everything off the car.

Very true that with a good ceramic or graphene coating it doesn't take nearly as much to get/keep the car clean.

 

[Splashman24]

I never take my car through an automated car wash. I use the two bucket hand wash every other weekend. I have to wash the wife's car on the alternating weekends. If I'm travelling, I will stop at a spray wand car wash and skip using the brush. I have managed to keep cars relatively new looking using these methods for the last 25 years. I keep cars for about 5 years.

 

[2007Accorddriver]

I know my car is old and things are bound to get loose, but if you have door edge guards then auto washes are a no-go. The force against them will rip them right off, never to be seen again

 

[Angelja]

I never take my car through an automated car wash. I use the two bucket hand wash every other weekend. I have to wash the wife's car on the alternating weekends. If I'm travelling, I will stop at a spray wand car wash and skip using the brush. I have managed to keep cars relatively new looking using these methods for the last 25 years. I keep cars for about 5 years.

Agree with you and would as well if I didn't have several weeks in a row each winter when we don't get above freezing! That's where auto/touchless really comes in handy!!

 

[mitka]

Always hand wash. Never use automated car wash.

(I generally wash car in the driveway. In winter I use self service carwash. I never use provided brush. I dump soap into a bucket and use microfiber towel. I do use power wash.)

 

[ddriver03]

It really depends on how long you want the paint to look new. People put their vehicles through automated washes covered in dirt and mud and pollen that's built up over months if not years. All that dirt and grime gets wiped off with the cloth that beats up against the car. A good bit of that crap sticks to the cloth and then it beats up against the next car that goes through and can act like sandpaper. This is what causes swirl marks and other damage to your clear coat.

It's also not that great for things to beat against your car. I've had an automated wash actually knock a side mirror off before and of course the car wash had signs up saying "not responsible for damage" and wouldn't compensate me. It was about $400 for the replacement mirror and to have it painted.

I paid a shop to do a ceramic coat on my new Accord so that keeping it clean will be easier and the paint will hopefully stay looking new for (hopefully) 5 years. I also picked up some supplies after reading through the auto detailing subreddits for routine washes.

My plan is to use P&S rinseless wash every other week and then once every other month do a full two bucket wash. I have a Ryobi pressure washer from Home Depot that I paid $88 for and a Twinkle Star foam cannon from Amazon that I paid $26 for and it makes for a good combo. I use Meguiar's Hyper Wash in a 5 gallon bucket and use the foam cannon to coat the vehicle in a nice thick foam. After 5 minutes of it soaking I rinse it off to get the bulk of the gunk off the car. Then do a two bucket wash with some microfiber mitts to get anything the foam didn't pull off.

I haven't washed the new car yet but the above worked fine on my last vehicle. I am excited to see how the ceramic coat does as I imagine the foam cannon + rinse will be enough to get everything off the car.

I think I might check out P&S rinseless wash. Looks like a good product.

 

[WiiMaster]

I don't care about my paint looking absolutely showroom perfect, so I use automated car washes for all my cars. Rarely do I hand wash. I did it on my 2010 once, that's it.

Sure, my paint probably has some small swirls, but it's not something I notice, and my paint wasn't perfect to begin with anyway, with small chips and clearcoat damage spots.

And even now, the paint on my Odyssey cleans up very well after an automated wash, over 16 years of using automated washes later. I don't get it washed very often, once a year at best, but when I do, it comes out really nice.

 

[edmoiler13]

Typically I hand wash only, but living in Michigan it becomes a bit of a pain to try and accomplish properly in Winter. In those months, I have a monthly plan at a car wash that does a pretty good job. I go at least 2-3 times a week then, but always make sure in October I put on a good multi layer coating of wax and sealants

 

[Splashman24]

I don't care about my paint looking absolutely showroom perfect, so I use automated car washes for all my cars. Rarely do I hand wash. I did it on my 2010 once, that's it.

Sure, my paint probably has some small swirls, but it's not something I notice, and my paint wasn't perfect to begin with anyway, with small chips and clearcoat damage spots.

And even now, the paint on my Odyssey cleans up very well after an automated wash, over 16 years of using automated washes later. I don't get it washed very often, once a year at best, but when I do, it comes out really nice.

For me it’s more than just the paint. I need to detail the car including adding tire shine to the tires to make sure she looks her best at all times.

 

[WiiMaster]

For me it’s more than just the paint. I need to detail the car including adding tire shine to the tires to make sure she looks her best at all times.

I usually get that done too. Tire shine, and if needed, a simple interior clean.

 

[ddriver03]

I’ve used ONR and P&S and both are great products. They really change the game when it comes to washing your vehicle. Gotta love advancements in technology that change how we do things.

Ordered! I want to be more active and wash my car I've decided.

 

[bender218]

Call me crazy, but I find hand washing the vehicle both gentler on the paint (which seems thinner than in years past) and also therapeutic....if there is anything coming loose, damaged, or otherwise out of place....I will see it relatively sooner than if I always ran it through the public swimming pool equivalent of a car wash. I'm not totally against automated car washes, but if I have the choice, I will always choose hand wash.

 

[MartyV6]

Call me crazy, but I find hand washing the vehicle both gentler on the paint (which seems thinner than in years past) and also therapeutic....if there is anything coming loose, damaged, or otherwise out of place....I will see it relatively sooner than if I always ran it through the public swimming pool equivalent of a car wash. I'm not totally against automated car washes, but if I have the choice, I will always choose hand wash.

Sure but not everyone wants to take the time to hand wash their cars

 

[glen e]

The problem with the thread like this is, you are mixing people that look at their cars as a hobby versus people that look at their cars as a tool. I used to detail my car and hand wash all the time, and I simply just don’t want to do that anymore. I believe in having a clean car that doesn’t show scratches and you can do that with a touchless car wash and spray sealant follow up. It doesn’t take two hours to do and fits into my lifestyle Much better now as I get older. You have to make a choice, both are correct, Depending on your situation.

 

[MartyV6]

The problem with the thread like this is, you are mixing people that look at their cars as a hobby versus people that look at their cars as a tool. I used to detail my car and hand wash all the time, and I simply just don’t want to do that anymore. I believe in having a clean car that doesn’t show scratches and you can do that with a touchless car wash and spray sealant follow up. It doesn’t take two hours to do and fits into my lifestyle Much better now as I get older. You have to make a choice, both are correct, Depending on your situation.

Agree

At one point I got the detailing bug and bought all the products and spent literally 6 or 7 hours a few Saturdays doing all the polishing with random orbital and clay bar and various waxes and sealants.

Then I haven't done anything basically for years

Now that I am getting new cars again I picked up a pressure washer and foam cannon to play around with and also some ceramic spray. But at this point it needs to be fast to do myself. I'm not wasting a whole Saturday to shine up my Hondas

 

[Spuds_Mackenzie]

I pay for the unlimited carwash at Sphinx that includes the "ceramic coating" (however good that could possibly be) and run it through at least once a week sometimes twice. I'm quite happy with the way it turns out. So far, I haven't noticed any scratches or anything. Granted it's a 22 and I've only had it for 4 months, but I've done it like clockwork every Friday or better since I bought it.