The dangers of tunnel car washes

Why pay more for a simple car wash? Isn’t it the same thing?

Is a touchless car wash okay?

“I only get it detailed once or twice a year”

These are some of the things detailers get asked, or that customers ask themselves when shopping for a detailing service. So my aim for this first blog post is to explain why you should refrain from, or at least minimize the use of these types of washes.

When detailers say not to use tunnel washes whether it has brushes or its touchless, it might sound like were just trying to drum up more business, but that’s simply not the case, particularly here in Watertown, NY and the surrounding areas. Let me explain… tunnel washes see potentially hundreds of vehicles a day covered in sand, salt, and other road debris. When they go through a wash, the contaminants are of course transferred onto the brushes, floor, and basically the entire facility over time. This is then rubbed, sprayed, and ground into your vehicles paint and wheels. most of these contaminants are harder (think moss hardness scale) than your vehicles paint work, resulting in marring, scratching, and hazing that is not ideal for maintaining the clarity and finish of those surfaces.

So what about touchless? Sure, they may not grind things into your vehicles surface with brushes, however, lets take a moment to consider how a wash can be “touchless”… very strong chemicals. The use of acids (or extreme alkaline)… very high or low ph chemicals are what does the cleaning, along side much higher pressure water than professional detailers often use. What does this mean? Chemical stripping, etching, and damage to your vehicles clear coat and other surfaces. Even the best forms of paint protection can be damaged or removed with extremely harsh chemicals. So, best case scenario, you get a few washes and the sacrificial barrier that is meant to protect your vehicle, is gone. Once it is, these chemicals along with the abrasions and pressure from the high water pressure, will begin to take their toll. Chips will start to grow, UV radiation from the sun will start to degrade the clear, rust will begin to form, and you’re basically looking at the beginning of the end of your vehicles finish.

So how does professional detailing help preserve a vehicle in our harsh climate?

A proper detailer should use the least aggressive methods possible to achieve the desired results. Whether it's by effective pre washing methods, pH neutral soaps, acid free cleaners… or using equipment that’s specifically made for detailing like lower pressure, higher flow pressure washers, there are multiple precautions that can be taken to minimize the risk and damage associated with washing and drying. There is always a risk, and almost certainly some form of marring associated with washing in any form even if its on a microscopic level, but with the right care and expertise, this can be reduced to a basically negligible state.

Next, a detail isn’t a detail unless it leaves some form of protection. Whether the vehicle is ceramic coated, waxed, or a modern polymer sealant is used, this provides a sacrificial barrier over a given term to protect the paint from the dangers mentioned above. This reduces friction on the surface, helps fight off any etching, and makes the next wash easier, which all contributes to preserving the finish. Proper washing methods alongside regularly cared for and protected paint will provide the absolute minimal damage that is possible over time.

Now tell us this… have you ever been through an auto wash, came out the other side and said “wow this thing is SPOTLESS!” anyway? I know I never have…