Gas station car washes are on the rise because they save time and hassle.
But are gas station car washes safe for your car? In fact, they are the safest option for many car owners who want to keep their car clean.
I nearby gas station car wash is actually much better for your vehicle than washing it yourself because a lot of people that wash their own vehicles use a garden hose that does not provide enough water pressure to remove the dirt and mud, or they wash the vehicle in direct sunlight that can create sun shots on the finish or your car. Another area of concern with do it yourself wash at home is people tend to use common dish soap which removes protective wax and leaves a chalky residue on the finish.
Having a great finish and a clean car has financial benefits too. A vehicle with a nice finish can command a resale value of 10 to 20 percent more than a car that is dirty and has sun spots but is otherwise exactly the same.
A question I often hear is how often should I wash my car? That is a simple enough question but it requires a more complex answer. I say it depends on several factors. If your vehicle is lightly used and stored in the garage I would say that once a month should be find to wash it. However, if you park outside where your car is prone to getting hit by bird droppings or tree sap among other outside elements such has living in a area that gets heavy snow and the city uses salt to clear the road you should wash your vechile more often you should wash it about once a week.
So what should you look for in an automated gas station car wash?
Brushless car wash: most people have heard horror stories of someone using an automated car wash and having their car’s paint scratched. This should not happen if you make sure that the car wash you pick is using cloth brushes. If your local car was uses any other brushes besides cloth skip it and go to www.carwashhq.com and find a nearby car wash that does use cloth. It will save you time and money in the future.
Another automatic car was that is safe to use that will not scratch the finish on your vehicle is a “touchless” car wash. In these systems high pressure spray nozzles and soap are used that do not touch your vehicle at all eliminating any chance of your car from being scratched.
The after wash wipe down:
Most car washes after the wash you drive through a high pressure air tunnel that blows the water off of your vehicle but some automated car washes offer a service were people will hand dry your car off removing streaks of water that an air dryer does not. My advice is simply to decline this service because if the clothes that are used to dry off your vehicle are being reused from the previous car in front of you it can have dirt on it that can scratch your finish just like sandpaper. Not to mention you save yourself from having to pay a tip after the service that is customary. If you want to remove any streaks that are left from the air dryer do it yourself with a clean cloth towel.
Extras:
If the car wash offers the extra undercarriage bath always elect to do it. This will remove dirt and mud from underneath your vehicle that would be very hard and messy to try yourself at home with a hose. A lot of rust will start on the undercarriage of your vehicle because it is an often overlooked area when it comes to cleaning your vehicle.
Spray-on wax is not as good as hand waxing it yourself but if you do not plan on doing it make sure you take advantage of it. Another extra you should always elect to do is wheel cleaner. The mixture of chemicals and high pressure water at automated car washes do a great job of removing brake dust from your wheels.
Last but not least:
Make sure you check your vehicle over after the wash and before you leave for damage. If you find any point it out to the attendant and have them determine if the damage was caused by improper use by you or if their equipment is faulty. A lot of gas station drive through car washes will have sign up stating they are not responsible for damages but show them anyway because if it is their fault it is just morally right for them to fix the damages. If they refuse make sure you write a review on www.carwashhq.com does others are aware that the equipment was faulty so they do not run into the same issues as you did.