Introduction:
Automatic car wash services are convenient for helping maintain your automobile in a clean state. However, various dangers may pose a threat to the functionality and appearance of your car. This article will explore knowledge of these risks and how to minimize them so that you can make more informed decisions regarding the use of automatic car washes.
Why automatic car washes are bad?
Automatic car washes can be worse and cause various damages, including:
Microscopic scratches:
Brushes utilized for automated car washing are usually harsh and may harm your car’s paint, even if the scratches cannot be viewed clearly. These scratches build up as time passes, and the clear coat of paint tends to lose its sheen and look old. Brushes that are not cleaned properly can carry dirt, grit, and even small stones that, again, act like abrasives and further exacerbate the destruction of the paint.
Chemical damage:
Most automatic car washes use strong chemicals in their process to clean the car’s surface. It can remove waxes and sealants from your vehicle’s surface, exposing the paintwork to different circumstances. In areas that experience winter or periods of snow and ice, the road salt may stick to the vehicle. The salt might not be washed off effectively in an automatic car wash, and this may lead to corrosion or rusting of the car body.
Corrosion of the undercarriage:
Some parts of the automobile are more vulnerable to rust and accumulation of dirt, such as the undercarriage, which is bound to come into contact with road salts, particularly in winter, and has a high tendency of not being adequately washed by the automatic car wash services. So, automatic car washes can result in cases of rusting and weak structures of your vehicle.
Misaligned or faulty equipment:
Automatic vehicle washers rely on complex systems that can sometimes be faulty or misaligned. Damage or deformation, such as a cracked mirror surface, distorted antenna shape, and scratches that may be caused by misplacement or loosening of some of the components in the process, are consequences of automatic car washing.
Tire damage:
The support carrying the car through an automated car wash system may be jagged or uneven, which may cause your tires or rims to get scratched. Some car wash methods, like using high-pressure water to clean the tires, may wash off all the dirt and debris, but can be harmful if not well handled.
Water spotting:
If the water used in an automatic car wash contains minerals, these will precipitate on the surface of your car and cause water spots on the paint. It is also important to note that if your car is not dried properly after the wash, the water spots might become deeper and harder to clean.
Environmental concern:
Automatic car washes also may not have proper measures to minimize the discharge of these chemicals to water sources, with negative effects on marine life and the ecosystem. It is also important to mention that car washing consumes a lot of water, which can be a problem in areas where there is water scarcity.
Alternatives to automatic car washes:
These can be various alternatives to automatic car washes:
Hand Washing: You do not have to take your automobile to the washing bays to have it washed by big machines. As hand washing is very gentle and takes a lot of time, though, you have to use microfiber towels and mild detergents.
Touchless car washing: Touchless car washes use high-pressure water and particular wash solutions that do not physically come into contact with the car and therefore do not cause scratches. They could, however, not be as effective in removing difficult stains and marks on the wall surfaces.
Professional Detailing: Make a call to an expert in car detailing to help with cleaning and adding a layer of protection to your car. You can take advantage of specific methods and supplies that offer to return the shine to your car and protect its outer layer.
Final thoughts:
While automatic car washes may be appropriate, they come with risks of chemical damage, scratches, and ineffective washing techniques to your car. The following are some of the reasons to be careful of these hazards, which would help to enhance the performance of your car. Being aware of the possible disadvantages of automatic car washes and researching other methods of cleaning your automobile will help in maintaining the look of your car.
