Anybody never use a car wash?

[Nick1994]

The Avalon is 5.5-6 years old now, and has never been to a car wash. I’ve only ever hand washed it every 3-4 months. It used to be 100% garaged for the first 4 years, now not anymore. It’s usually dirty, but under that dirt is almost swirl-free paint! Lots of rock damage on the front though.

But it’s too hot, I broke the streak and took it for a wash and they cleaned up the inside. Looks better than I thought it would.

Anyone else typically refuse to use car washes?

 

[JoelB]

I have a few local touchless places I trust. But I'd rather it be dirty than take it through a touch wash. Same goes for any place they have someone hand drying.

 

[walterjay]

I use car washes as a last resort. Occasionally use one in a pinch. Only two here that I trust.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Not a fan of car washes. I held out for the first 12 years or so of my car's life, but after that it just became my winter beater and I caved in. Still, the car wash does a really poor job cleaning the car, IME, regardless of swirl marks.

 

[Malo83]

I'll use them on occasion, car comes out pretty clean.

 

[RooflessVW]

I haven't used an automated car wash since 2015.

Unless you count rental cars.

Then twice.

 

[Hyundai Respecter]

I’m subscribed to a monthly car wash plan and use it quite a bit. Especially in the winter when the car is covered in salt. I upgrade the car wash plan in the winter to include the under body blast to get some of the salt off underneath. I can’t imagine not using a car wash. The only time I hand wash is before I apply a paste wax, the rest of the time I use a spray wax after going through the car wash. I should add, I usually only use the touch free, but they have a soft touch one available too when things get really crusty.

 

[sk_pete]

no matter what, bristles will smear the sand/dirt on paint and "polish" it.

 

[Pew]

I do but only if it's touchless. I'll use them for a quick wash if the car is exceptionally dirty a ad ay before or the same day before I hand wash like a or has a lot of bugs on the front.

 

[PF52]

I have a couple cars that I only hand-wash; I also don't drive them in the winter. I'm not even sure I could hand-wash them in the winter when it is bitter cold.

 

[carviewsonic]

Touch less car wash is my go to these days, as opposed to the manual wand wash I used to always use. Getting lazier I guess.

 

[Duffyjr]

Stopped hand washing about 5 years ago, vehicles are just transportation to me any more. Shell has a pretty decent one with a discount when I fill up I use every couple fill ups. My wife gets the garage, it's always been a pain to keep cars clean when they sit out side all the time. I care more about the interior and keep it dust/garbage free, I keep a swifter duster in the cabin.

 

[bilibako2]

Used few times a year on winter months especially snows that car looks so bad.

 

[Spyderman24_7]

I’m subscribed to a monthly car wash plan and use it quite a bit. Especially in the winter when the car is covered in salt. I upgrade the car wash plan in the winter to include the under body blast to get some of the salt off underneath. I can’t imagine not using a car wash. The only time I hand wash is before I apply a paste wax, the rest of the time I use a spray wax after going through the car wash. I should add, I usually only use the touch free, but they have a soft touch one available too when things get really crusty.

Yep same here as it's a good way to help minimize any issues underneath from winter crap. In this state (NC) it's far from any real concern, but the roads do get plastered at times to ease the minds of those scared to commute in 1 microgram of snow/ice, bwahahaha...

 

[DriveHard]

Interesting question...

Compare the damage to your paint if you don't often use car washes, and don't often wash your own at home - as the OP describes "It’s usually dirty" when someone just casually walks by your car and brushes up against it. The dry silicates, etc. that are ground into the finish.

Now compare that against the damage done by a respectable touchless car wash that removes a good portion of that dirt, as well as leaving some sort of protective coating to help shield against someone touching the car.

Now further...what if that car is in the rust belt, and you can actually get a good portion of that salt off your ride once a week or so?

I use car washes. I think they help...choose wisely, but they help keep contaminants off the paint, help keep things from "soaking in", and keep something of a protective coat to make it easier to remove tough contaminants. Is it all I use - NOPE! But, it is a good tool to help keep her clean.

 

[atikovi]

Only go to a car wash to wash the engine, and that I will cut down on since getting the pressure washer unless it's really greasy.

 

[Passport1]

Never in my lifetime except once. Ducked my vehicle into a self-wash stall to avoid a viscous hail storm. Didn't cost me a thing and saved my car. Best use of a car wash ever.

 

[fsdork]

Never in my lifetime except once. Ducked my vehicle into a self-wash stall to avoid a viscous hail storm. Didn't cost me a thing and saved my car. Best use of a car wash ever.


View attachment 104897

Did you send a hail sample to Blackstone?

 

[AZjeff]

Never have. Used to hit the wand ones in Pa to get winter salt off but that's it. I've never been too busy or lazy to hand wash our vehicles.

 

[Owen Lucas]

I am the car wash. For the our new cars I hand wash, 2 bucket method with pressure washer and foam wand attachment.

For my 17 year old Scion, either car wash or foam wand and brush instead of microfiber mitt used with the new cars. The paint is fading on the bumpers and trunk, no need to baby it really.

Reason I don't like car washes is the vehicle in front of you or earlier could have been really dirty and I don't trust the brushes / material spinning at 700 RPM slapping some other vehicles dirt into my paint, no matter how clean they say the equipment is. I wont take that risk. Touchless power washer style carwashes might be good for removing mud but I cant see them thoroughly cleaning the paint, though I haven't used one in a while, maybe the tech is better.