do the brushes at car wash's **** your paint

[fuzzy2308]

haveing a black car i have noticed to day that all over my car it has very small scratches in the clear the only thing i can think of is the car wash. my rear wing almost looks matt black from this and look like someone has gone over it with really fine sand paper.

[Tim Smtih]

I voted yes only because i have not and will not be taking my car to a car wash. By hand or not at all for me!

[nathanVY]

really sucks if you've got wax on your car. I had waxed my VR up nicely looked great, took it through one of those things in SA (don't have any in Geelong haha) and came out de-waxed looking fairly average + more scratches lol.

[flyjoe180]

By hand is the only way.

[TVR-190]

you have a car?

i have used 1 once, on a boat, i didnt notice any additional scratches.

[dannyVT]

The brushes at the carwashs do leave micro scratches on your paint surface. I personally dont use them, it just depends how dirty the brush it self is. Thats what leaves behind the scratchs the dirt build up. The automatic carwash is the worse for this and it does'nt even do a good job!
(Y)

[Blown V6 Hatch]

Long and the short of it is...YES. Sponge FTW!!

[50LTRv8]

A lot of the time they look like they have been left on the ground, this picks up dirt and then puts it over your car, can't be good.

[W84N01]

I used to work at Champagne Carwash in Kenwick many years ago (WA) and we used to have so many people come in and ask us to wash their cars manually, coz the car washes they have gone thru (the automated ones) used to scratch their paint work. I refuse to take my car thru an automatic one. (Champagne never had automated washes when i was working there)

I do take the cars to carwashers and wash them by hand. If you wash down the brusk before using it, you won't have a problem with scratches..........they work brilliantly if done right ; )

[ari666]

they pick up grit from really dirty cars and then whip your paint with it... plus they destroy aerials.

[az_sv6]

just think of the ppl that wash there 4x4's after there caked in mud.
and the recycled water leaves soapy marks even after a wipe down.

and iv heard of ppl haveing bits of class in there brushes.
so when i do use brush i go over it with the high pressure just to wash everything out of it.

[illusionalvr]

i re-paint my car instead...

[satos]

After seeing a friend of mine going through the car wash in his Nissan patrol covered in hard dry mud,(he takes it off road a lot) I vowed to myself never to take my car through a car wash ever again.
Think of all that mud stuck in the car wash's brushes and how abrasive it will be on your paint.

[acarmody]

If I'm in a massive hurry I will use a touch-less automatic wash, otherwise when I'm really lazy (most of the time) I go to the car-wash and use the high pressure hose combined with my woolen cleaning mitt.

[sleepa]

I have never and will never use an automatic car wash on any car, much prefer to have it dirty, at least the dirt doesn't get scratched into the paint.

I never use those brushes they have either, I did once in a little spot to see how bad it was and on a dark green car after it was dry the patch was all scratched up, had to spend a bit of time with the polishes and waxes to get it looking nice again.

[MPRSSV]

YES THEY DO!!!! I was always advised not to go through one but I was in a hurry one day and needed the car cleaned - Worst mistake Ive ever made with the car, I now have some pretty nasty scratches on the bonnet where the guy used the broom to get the bugs/bird crap off and swirl marks all over the car from driving it through - NEVER AGAIN!!! Its not worth it!!! I now have to take it to a professional detailer and hopefully they can get rid of most / all of it, not going to be cheap though...

[dirt drifter]

If I'm in a massive hurry I will use a touch-less automatic wash, otherwise when I'm really lazy (most of the time) I go to the car-wash and use the high pressure hose combined with my woolen cleaning mitt.

same here. i religiously chamois mine after hosing all the soap suds off and i havent had any dramas with my paint

[Bravotwozero]

haveing a black car i have noticed to day that all over my car it has very small scratches in the clear the only thing i can think of is the car wash. my rear wing almost looks matt black from this and look like someone has gone over it with really fine sand paper.

Google 2 bucket method.

Or click here (Specifically designed for with black cars in mind.) -----> Final Inspection Recommended Washing Process - Detail Addiction - The Car Care Enthusiasts Forum

The Final Inspection Recommended Washing Process

This informative blog is to educate on proper washing technique. It was developed as a solution for fussy owners to help dramatically reduce swirls (micro scratches) and spider-webbing caused by harsh and incorrect washing techniques, products, methods etc.

The instructions incorporate two new and very different procedures designed by me for Black car owners but should be adopted by all enthusiasts:

1. The Pre-rinse technique. A proven valuable process (specially designed for Black car owners).
2. The single bucket method (allowing easy, but safe rinsing).

The instructions are broken into 5 easy steps showing how to wash the car including wheels, wheel arches and glass - safely and easily.

Tools & Products needed.

1. Water, either a trigger hose adaptor or high-pressure unit is necessary (water restrictive technique is described in another blog available from the Final Inspection Website).
2. One clean bucket filled with Hot Water (~60 deg Celsius).
3. Two Microfibre Wash mitts, one for Wheels, Wheel Arches & Tyres and one for the Body.
4. A Microfibre Drying Towel
5. Final Inspection Auto Detailing Body Shampoo
6. Final Inspection Auto Detailing Power Wheel Cleaner.
7. Final Inspection Auto Detailing Tyre Dressing.
8. Final Inspection General Purpose Cleaner.



Step 1 – Cleaning Wheels, Tyres & Wheel Arches

It is a good idea to regularly clean your Wheel Arches to stop build up of dirt on these plastics (or sound deadening fabric e.g. Alfa Romeo, Audi etc.)
Spray gentle, non-caustic General Purpose Cleaner or degreaser onto these plastics or fabric as well as your tyres to remove and stop build up of old Tyre Dressing. Agitate if necessary.

Spray gentle, non-caustic Wheel Cleaner onto wheels and agitate if necessary.

Rinse Wheel arches first, then Tyres and Wheels (High Pressure Recommended).



Step 2 – Initial Rinse

High Pressure (recommended) your vehicle from top to bottom removing all co****, loose debris.



Step 3 – Pre-Rinse Technique

Spray a small amount of Body Shampoo at the top of each panel. There is no need to use too much product. If you have a foam gun, this will be useful to apply body shampoo here.

Rinse your Body Shampoo off the vehicle starting from the top down.

This is the Pre-Rinse method and ensures more of the dirt on the vehicles exterior surfaces is removed.
The Body Shampoo will pick up and hold the dirt ‘in suspension’ and upon rinsing the car, the soap ‘holding’ the dirty material will be rinsed off the surfaces.

The surfaces are not clean but will appear cleaner as there is less dirt on the surfaces. The washing now removes what is left on the vehicle with minimal dirt being pushed into the painted surfaces greatly reducing the chance of causing swirls (micro scratches).

Swirls are caused when abrasives are moved across the surface, reducing the amount of these abrasives on the surface prior to washing reduces the degree of damage.

Every time you wash your car, you will be causing damage to your paint. It is impossible not to cause micro scratches and on dark colours they appear to be worse. It is even worse if you do not wash at all as the dirt will be harder to remove when you have to and cause greater damage. The trick is to wash the vehicle as safely as possible and the Pre-Rinse technique helps dramatically.



Step 4 – Body Washing

Wash the car with a Microfibre Mitt and Body Shampoo.

Dip the Mitt into the bucket of water to moisten it. Spray the Mitt with Body Shampoo and wash a panel from top to bottom without overlapping the strokes. Overlapping means over washing, you don’t have to wipe the same area of the surface more than once and doing so is unnecessary.

After washing the panel, dip the Mitt into the Bucket of Hot Water and with your fingers, push the dirt from the Mitt into the water in effect, cleaning the mitt of all the dirt it has picked up from the surface.

The dirt will fall to the bottom of the bucket and the top section of the bucket will remain clean.

The Micro fibres in the Mitt will ‘open’ in hot water and release all the dirt in them, when it is removed from the bucket and squeezed dry it is ready for use again.

Microfibre is also much less abrasive than Lambs Wool, sponge or cotton and thus is gentler to use.

Continue washing all panels & Glass with this method.



Step 5 – Final Rinse & Drying

Rinse the car (High Pressure Recommended) and dry with a Microfibre Drying Towel.
After the 1st Final Rinse (and only if local coucils permit) use a watering can or hose without attachment to 'sheet' water from the top of each panel down to help disperse water from the panel. This will leave less water on the surfaces and help reduce Drying time and the amount of overlapping passes with your Drying Towel, again, reducing contact with the surface and reducing Swirls (Micro Scratches).

Polish & Wax the car if/as you normally would. For information on correct Polishing & Waxing see the Final Inspection Website.

really sucks if you've got wax on your car. I had waxed my VR up nicely looked great, took it through one of those things in SA (don't have any in Geelong haha) and came out de-waxed looking fairly average + more scratches lol.

Mainly because the chemicals used to do the cleaning are alkaline.

same here. i religiously chamois mine after hosing all the soap suds off and i havent had any dramas with my paint

Chamois are bad. Microfiber Waffle Weave Drying Towel is good!

See link ----> Car Care Products / Mint / Car Accessories / Cloths & Chamois / Microfibre Drying Towel Waffle Weave Large

Long and the short of it is...YES. Sponge FTW!!

Sponge = Fail! Use this instead -----> http://www.carcareproducts.com.au/pr...i_purpose_mitt

[partymixx]

any brush in a car wash that touches your paint work is bad IMO
the car wash around the corner uses the laser wash but the do it your self areas use the brushes, def do not use those lol.

[vicarious]

wouldn't touch the car washes with my own car & i just use the 2 bucket method & a hose on the front lawn, but when i had a company car i didn't care

[Bravotwozero]

any brush in a car wash that touches your paint work is bad IMO
the car wash around the corner uses the laser wash but the do it your self areas use the brushes, def do not use those lol.

The problem with the touchless washes is the alkalinity of the water. Will strip any sealant off your car.

[dirt drifter]

The problem with the touchless washes is the alkalinity of the water. Will strip any sealant off your car.

so im guessing the diy washes have the same alkalinity problem? what sort of paint care program would u recommend for someone no has no other option but to go the diy wash?

i would wash it no more than once a week using only the hi pressure soap and rinse cos i rarely drive it when im workin, always chamois (make that 'drying towel') the water straight off, its outdoors but always hiding under a top notch car cover and i give it a hit of meguairs paint cleaner followed by polish every couple of months.

is this ok or is there anything i could be going better?

[Bravotwozero]

so im guessing the diy washes have the same alkalinity problem? what sort of paint care program would u recommend for someone no has no other option but to go the diy wash?

i would wash it no more than once a week using only the hi pressure soap and rinse cos i rarely drive it when im workin, always chamois (make that 'drying towel') the water straight off, its outdoors but always hiding under a top notch car cover and i give it a hit of meguairs paint cleaner followed by polish every couple of months.

is this ok or is there anything i could be going better?

The problem is the detergents they use make the water alkaline so if you just use the final rinse at the DIY place you should be ok. I would suggest this.

Final Inspection Online Boutique
Prepare your own wash solution and then take it with you to the DIY. Use the high pressure for rinsing with just water.

If you don't mind spending the extra money you could get this kit which also has quality microfiber wash mitts and an awesome Waffle Weave Drying Towel. I use all the products in that kit and they're all awesome. In fact I use a lot of FI stuff!!!

Final Inspection Online Boutique

Another option... ( I have this.)

Waxit - Premium Car Care Products

Just one last thing, it seems you're using a paint cleanser and polish without any thought of protecting the finish. You need to re-apply sealants waxes after using paint cleansers or polishes.

[savage1987]

LOL who the hell said no!?

[Bravotwozero]

LOL who the hell said no!?

The members with swirls in their cars.

1. Chris P
2. daggett
3. Jecs
4. rb26dett
5. Timmos