Automatic car washes??
 

Curious on others thoughts re the automatic car washes and the long term impact on a car paint's finish. Have been taking my new car to the car wash once a week for a year. (Those washes like Sweetwater or Mister Car Wash). Have been reading lately about the negative impact of those washes on a car's finish, from the "soft brushes" used by them and the strong chemicals in the soaps and detergents. Curious if others use the auto car washes often and any impacts you have seen or what others might do to protect the car's finish. Thanks in advance.

I only use the drive in hand wash bays as it’s good exercise and I enjoy it. I have not used a drive through car wash since I was up north and the constant winter salt dictated it. If you have been doing auto wash once a week for however long the damage has been done already. It’s a depreciating asset and when you sell it unless there is obvious damage I doubt it will make any difference.

I use the touchless car wash at Sam's. The one on the right is touchless and the one on the left uses brushes. They both cost 7 dollars. It doesn't seem to affect my paint.

Since I’ve in Florida my car rarely gets dirty enough for car wash. I use spray bottle and towel. Maybe drug the water hose out 3 times in 10 years here. My car looks like new outside, inside, under hood and underneath. 2012 Honda Not rust spot on it. 73K miles. I did have to recharge for second time this week, blows 38 degrees.

Having lived in pa and my where salt, mud ice etc really gets cars dirty every week I could never understand why there where so many car washes here when cars never seem to get even remotely dirty. I prefer the do it yourself car wash when I get the urge which isn't often and perhaps a few times a year I'll splurge and use Sam's to keep my wife happy.

Own a black vehicle and tell me why you shouldn't use any auto car washing systems.
Black over time will show all the fine scratches that doesn't come with hand washing.

Another area where car washes are useless is road dirt from driving in rain
especially if it hasn't been waxed regularly.

Also ask yourself what happens to the water in those car wash units with
the price of water today.
Is it filtered or just recycled.

This is the one reason I'll only drive white cars.

Does the Sam’s car wash provide you rags and vacuum so you can dry it yourself? We’ve always done that ourselves. If not, where can we take our car when this service? We’re new here.

Big Dan’s Car Wash in Lady Lake has free vacuums, fresh towels, air hose, spray, mat cleaners. The best!

Unless the car wash is "touch less", I would never take my car through a car wash. You will dull the paint in a short period of time.

Even the touchless washes have enough chemicals in the mix to eventually destroy your paint.

Touch, touchless, it doesn’t matter. They will each harm the paint in different ways. I would like to see Gregg’s paint just to see what a years worth of car washes has done to his paint. I detail cars and see imperfections that others don’t see. If anyone has any detailing or paint questions, send me a message. It’s a topic I love talking about

If I were to use a car wash. Nothing that spins at high speed, no bristle brushes, no ‘touch less’ high pressure water jets. Find one with the wide flat cloth curtains that just get moved back and forth.
I had my SUV paint corrected then ceramic coated. Stays a whole lot cleaner to begin with. Cleans a whole lot easier when I do wash, in my driveway. Then towel dry. My water softened water doesn’t leave any hard water spots, as a bonus!

Car wash
 

Doesn't matter, have you seen the price of used cars? Florida sun and heat are probably the worst. When the last time you went to buy or sell a used car and asked how many times has it been through a car wash?

Curious about “paint corrected” and ceramic coated. What is this and who does it?

Big Dan’s on Rt 441 is the best! Provides drying rags, strong vacuums, window cleaning fluid,
Tire shine & more. I go once a week and paint seems fine.

Automatic car will effect the finish in a bad way. They use recyled water, plus the method of the heavy rubber paddles to clean the vehicle is not good.
Touchless is a better alternative but again it is recyled water.

Wrong
 

That is just so wrong.. You have proof of this.. People wouldn't go if that was a true statement

Total recon in Leesburg does 'paint correction' and ceramic finishing. It's not cheap, but your car will look amazing.

If you’ve been taking your new car through the wash religiously every week for a year, you’re the best judge of any ill effects on your car’s finish .

You have the first hand experience and you are the best person that can answer your own question ….

I take mine to Big Dan’s as military discount saves a few$$ and I DO NOT purchase the waxing as was informed when I bought the car that the protective coating I bought extra would be harmful.

Occasional use is probably ok but every time you go through there is always a chance of damage. It is best to wash your own car but many people don’t like to do that. If you are going to use an auto car wash I would recommend that you have your car professionally ceramic coated. For me washing my car is therapy LOL

I doubt that I have been through more than 10 car washes since buying my first car in 1962. I don't like the swirl marks, the fact that dirty water is used to spray under the car, and who knows what chemicals are in there. It takes 30 minutes once a week to wash a car, it's good exercise, and shows you have pride in your ride. I polish and wax them twice a year which might be an overkill but I like them to shine. The most recent car I purchased new came with a ceramic coating and with that it only requires a touch up once a year but if I would have had the choice I would have not let them put the ceramic on the car, they do it ahead of time as a gimmick to get more dollars out of the buyers. If you're healthy enough, just wash it yourself and todays polish and waxes are easy to apply.

What ever happened to high school kids, having car washes to raise money? I always pull in on the rare occasion that I see one.

I recently traded my 2018 Chevy pickup, and the paint looked like new EVEN AFTER I ran it through the automatic carwash AT LEAST TWICE a week EVERY WEEK since it was new. Between salt, snow, mud, road dirt, etc. and my monthly unlimited carwash subscription, why not get it washed anytime it was even a little dirty? The carwash was not touchless (fast spinning brushes) and the only wax I ever put on it was from the carwash, so my opinion is relax and don't worry about the carwash unless maybe you have some expensive vintage car.

DuckDuckGo

I’m afraid I only get a car wash maybe twice a year. I’ve tried various places. Those brushes and strips of fabric remind me of getting a shoeshine. Not getting it washed does save on paint wear. The car is in the garage nearly all the time, and I’ll walk a block extra to park in the shade. A weekly car wash seems wildly excessive.

Had my new car ceramic coated. Person that applied said I should never take it to an automatic car wash. In addition to the harsh chemicals the brushes could easily contain dirt and grit from that dirty car ahead of yours.

Our car was done by GTFO Detailing. Excellent job.

I've no issues. Make sure you have your car physically waxed (not that spray on stuff at the car wash) once every three months and you'll be fine

Touchless no good. Its like you standing under a shower head, no soap and no wash cloth, and say you've showered

You can take your dry towels with you in a laundry basket and then put the wet ones in the basket to take them home. Most home vacuums have tools that will work for the inside.

That would be no and no

Sweetwater has the vacuums and last I was there , you have to ask for the towels .

They used to have them out by the vacuums but people kept stealing them . Imagine that ! 😂

Best option as has been suggested, bring your own towels .

I drive a Jeep. What are these car washes of which you speak? :-)

Total Recon in Leesburg does an excellent job @ ceramic

I had used them many times when I lived in LA. I can't really say there was damage to my car.

I don't think the detergent in a car wash will damage your paint. I think that road grime including bugs, tree sap and tar if left on there will eventually etch the finish.

The danger of car washes to me is more mechanical. Side mirrors, windshield wipers, rood racks and tires are all potentially at risk depending on the set up. I like the no touch laser controlled ones. They do a bad job removing dirt, but they don't hit anything nor pull my car on a track. I also just like to let the dealership wash it when they service the car. Most do that for free (as part of their expensive service)

Sweetwater was pretty good when it first opened but when I went there on a repeat visit, I decided a big “no” and have never gone back. I see no need to car wash a car here very frequently but do occasionally take it up to Spanish springs for an inside outside clean. Have not tried any of the new guys nearer to me but may do so. I always clean the bugs off. If you do not, it can and will damage your paint.