Touchless Car Wash Membership

[RVAtom]

I have not done a great job of keeping my vehicles clean in the past, other than as a teenager who didn't have many responsibilities. I'm thinking about getting a discount card at a touchless car wash near my work once I get my MME and setting a reminder on my phone that it is car wash time. I figure this would be the most convenient way to make sure I get it done regularly.

It is my understanding that the touchless car washes are a little more safe for your paint than a drive through with a spinning brush. Is the touchless still safe though?

I know the safest bet would probably be to wash the car in the driveway on a regular schedule, but it always seems like something I never manage to make time for.

Sponsored

 

[zhackwyatt]

I have not done a great job of keeping my vehicles clean in the past, other than as a teenager who didn't have many responsibilities. I'm thinking about getting a discount card at a touchless car wash near my work once I get my MME and setting a reminder on my phone that it is car wash time. I figure this would be the most convenient way to make sure I get it done regularly.

It is my understanding that the touchless car washes are a little more safe for your paint than a drive through with a spinning brush. Is the touchless still safe though?

I know the safest bet would probably be to wash the car in the driveway on a regular schedule, but it always seems like something I never manage to make time for.

The safest way is a two-bucket hand-wash with grit guards. The issue with touchless isn't so much as safety but its effectiveness. They don't do a good job cleaning and any type of protection they offer is is also not good enough.

For the best protection you will want to:

1. Do a 2-bucket wash with grit guards
2. Clay the car
3. Polish the car
4. Wax the car
5. Repeat at least every 6 months.

In between, a 2-bucket wash with grit guards, and a nice spray wax can help maintain. A California duster and detail spray works great for daily work.

Now, with all that said, do I follow my own advice? No because its just too hot here (113 on Thurs). I do the 5 step every 6 months, but the in between washes don't get done as often as they should .

I'm a big fan of Meguiar's products and they have a very helpful forum where you can ask others the most basic questions and get help.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Coming back to this one. I don't have a heated garage and our vehicles are currently covered in salt. I'm with @RVAtom and wondering if the completely touch-free (spray only) car washes are alright. I'd like to get the salt off quickly even when I would otherwise have to brave the cold to wash the car.

Mind you, I have lots of insulated layers and a kayaking drysuit I could wear but washing a car by hand in freezing weather still doesn't sound fun.

 

[Ciero]

I've been wondering the same thing. Living on a dirt road makes for lots of dust and wintery sludge buildup on the car, and if you don't get it off somewhat quickly it turns into a caked on mess. We have a touchless wash not too far away. A garage wash isn't really possible for me, so any hand washing would only be done during the warm months.

 

[methorian]

Coming back to this one. I don't have a heated garage and our vehicles are currently covered in salt. I'm with @RVAtom and wondering if the completely touch-free (spray only) car washes are alright. I'd like to get the salt off quickly even when I would otherwise have to brave the cold to wash the car.

Mind you, I have lots of insulated layers and a kayaking drysuit I could wear but washing a car by hand in freezing weather still doesn't sound fun.

The biggest issue with touchless car washes is the harsh chemicals in the cleaning solutions they use. If you have any sort of chemical paint protection (ceramic, etc) or wax, these car washes will very rapidly strip those away.

I had a professional ceramic coating applied to my current car, and I try to avoid touchless car washes if possible, but I have had to give in when it's just far too cold and my car is covered in salt (ie - this past weekend). I've probably had around 10 touchless washes done on my car, and it's been almost 3 years since the ceramic was applied. You can definitely tell it's gone in some areas, but I also haven't been amazing at upkeep.

My goal with the Mach-E will be Xpel on the front areas of the car, then I will apply 303 Graphene over the Xpel and to the rest of the car. Seems like 303 Graphene has great reviews, and in the videos I've seen, can withstand harsher chemical removers pretty well. It's easy to apply myself, so even if/when I'm forced into an automated touchless wash in the winter, I can reapply Graphene myself.

 

[DaveRuns]

I have not done a great job of keeping my vehicles clean in the past, other than as a teenager who didn't have many responsibilities. I'm thinking about getting a discount card at a touchless car wash near my work once I get my MME and setting a reminder on my phone that it is car wash time. I figure this would be the most convenient way to make sure I get it done regularly.

It is my understanding that the touchless car washes are a little more safe for your paint than a drive through with a spinning brush. Is the touchless still safe though?

I know the safest bet would probably be to wash the car in the driveway on a regular schedule, but it always seems like something I never manage to make time for.

It seemed like a great idea to wash your car in the driveway (2 bucket method) when you posted this in July.....well now it's December. I'm in the DC area (recently moved from Boston), and temps hover around 35-40 degrees. Going outside with a bucket of water doesn't seem like such a great idea now. I'll need another option when my MME arrives.

 

[ChasingCoral]

The biggest issue with touchless car washes is the harsh chemicals in the cleaning solutions they use. If you have any sort of chemical paint protection (ceramic, etc) or wax, these car washes will very rapidly strip those away.

I had a professional ceramic coating applied to my current car, and I try to avoid touchless car washes if possible, but I have had to give in when it's just far too cold and my car is covered in salt (ie - this past weekend). I've probably had around 10 touchless washes done on my car, and it's been almost 3 years since the ceramic was applied. You can definitely tell it's gone in some areas, but I also haven't been amazing at upkeep.

My goal with the Mach-E will be Xpel on the front areas of the car, then I will apply 303 Graphene over the Xpel and to the rest of the car. Seems like 303 Graphene has great reviews, and in the videos I've seen, can withstand harsher chemical removers pretty well. It's easy to apply myself, so even if/when I'm forced into an automated touchless wash in the winter, I can reapply Graphene myself.

I’m planning a similar Xpel/303 Graphine protection. However I’ll be adding Xpel to all the plastic panels and the hood.

 

[AndyS_OSU]

We need to invent some sort of Roomba like car wash system. As I tell my wife, the Roomba does a REALLY crappy vacuum job...but it does it every day with no effort from me ?

 

[Ciero]

We need to invent some sort of Roomba like car wash system. As I tell my wife, the Roomba does a REALLY crappy vacuum job...but it does it every day with no effort from me ?

I thought about having some automated sprinklers at the end of my driveway fire on via proximity just to get the dirt off when I come home, but I started getting concerned about all that water causing more harm than good. The wife also told me I had other projects to finish first, so there is that.

 

[generaltso]

well now it's December. I'm in the DC area (recently moved from Boston), and temps hover around 35-40 degrees.

That's above freezing, so what's the problem? It's downright tropical!

 

[GoGoGadgetMachE]

That's above freezing, so what's the problem? It's downright tropical!

he meant 35-40 Freedom Degrees (F), not Communist Degrees (C).

??

 

[zhackwyatt]

It seemed like a great idea to wash your car in the driveway (2 bucket method) when you posted this in July.....well now it's December. I'm in the DC area (recently moved from Boston), and temps hover around 35-40 degrees. Going outside with a bucket of water doesn't seem like such a great idea now. I'll need another option when my MME arrives.

Move.

 

[zhackwyatt]

Coming back to this one. I don't have a heated garage and our vehicles are currently covered in salt. I'm with @RVAtom and wondering if the completely touch-free (spray only) car washes are alright. I'd like to get the salt off quickly even when I would otherwise have to brave the cold to wash the car.

Mind you, I have lots of insulated layers and a kayaking drysuit I could wear but washing a car by hand in freezing weather still doesn't sound fun.

Maybe a basic wash that sprays the majority off, but I'd skip any extras that will just spray more chemicals on top of the remaining dirt. The biggest issue, in my opinion, is that touchless doesn't work. They don't get all the stuff off. Better than nothing though.

 

[stroszek]

I’m planning on using a rinseless wash product like ONR, should work OK in winter on days that get above freezing and faster/easier than two bucket (gloves probably advisable).

 

[jhalkias]

We need to invent some sort of Roomba like car wash system. As I tell my wife, the Roomba does a REALLY crappy vacuum job...but it does it every day with no effort from me ?

Got a Roomba after we replaced our carpet with laminate a few months ago . . .I spend a half hour getting the place ready for it. Pick up dog toys, pick up any blankets, make sure no cords are hanging down close to the floor, pick up runner, put weights on each corner of the one area rug so the stupid thing doesn't get stuck.
I think I could do all the vacuuming myself in the time it takes to get the rooms ready, but that would not be as much fun to watch.

We have a heated and insulated garage. One of the best investments I made when I built our house. I just wish I would have made it bigger.

Another option I do once in awhile is go to one of the self-wash places where you feed the machine quarters and just use their high pressure water to take the salt off when winter is bad and I don't have as much time. So no harsh chemicals if you bleed the washing gun from the previous guy until it runs clear.

Sponsored