Do automatic car washes scratch your car?

Car washes with brushes.

Like other vehicles and items kept outdoors, cars will quickly become dirty. Many car owners do not have the inclination, time, and space to wash their cars manually. Hence, many car owners are considering automatic car washing since it is quick and inexpensive compared to other car wash options. However, they are worried that the car will develop scratches if they choose automatic washing for their car. However, there are different automatic car washes, so the car wash may or may not scratch the car depending on the exact technique used. So the car owner should find out the exact design of the car wash before deciding. Contact us to learn more about auto detailing charlotte nc

Most automated car washes use brushes to clean the cars, removing dirt or dust particles from the car. The brushes usually have hard bristles since they are more durable and effective for cleaning. Usually, more pressure is required to clean the car surface with car brushes. So, in addition to removing the dirt on the car, the brush will also remove the paint on the car and scratch it. Depending on the frequency of automatic washing, the size of the scratches will vary.

Since automated washes are inexpensive, they are washing a large number of cars daily. After each car is washed, some dirt and debris will likely adhere to the car’s surface. Usually, due to many cars being washed, the car wash owner does not have the time to wash each brush properly after a car has been washed. So, the car brush may contain dirt debris from the previous cars washed at the car wash. This dirt and debris in the brushes could cause scratches on the surface of the car being washed.

The car washes with a soft cloth.

Since it is observed that brushes can scratch the car paint at automatic washes, some car washes are opting for soft cloths to replace the brushes to remove the dirt. Usually, microfiber cloth is used instead of the brush. However, like the brushes, the cloth is also not cleaned thoroughly after a car is washed at the automatic wash. So, like the brush, the cloth may also be covered with dirt, debris, sand, and other abrasive material. This material in the cloth will also scratch the car paint. Additionally, there is a risk that the cleaning cloth can get entangled in the car part, and torn off.

Contactless car washes

Realizing that car scratches are a major concern for the car owner, some car washes offer washing without a brush or cloth. A high-pressure jet of water is used to clean the car to remove dirt, and this method is safer compared to other car cleaning techniques. However, these methods may not remove all the dirt from the car surface. Some car washes also use harsh chemicals to clean the cars, which can damage the car in the long term. So, this method should not be used regularly.