Manual, touchless or automatic car wash? How to take better care of your body

Appropriate cosmetics are the basis for keeping the car's paintwork in good condition. Therefore, car manufacturers recommend regular washing and waxing of the paint in the owner's manual. However, inept choice of cleaning methods can do more harm than good.

The paintwork of modern cars most often consists of two layers. "Base" - a colored and colorless varnish that gives the body a gloss, then applied to the primer, which covers the bare sheet. Depending on the manufacturer, the total thickness is approximately 80 to 150-170 microns. Manufacturers from Asia paint cars more economically, and European brands make thicker coatings.

Hand wash - remember to brush with natural bristles or microfiber

In order for the varnish to remain shiny for a long time, the driver should remember about his cosmetics. The basis is a thorough car wash, which is recommended to be carried out at least once a month.

- We wash the car starting from the roof and moving down with cleaning. This ensures that the dirtiest items are cleaned last. Especially in winter, when the roads are full of salt and sand, you need to thoroughly wash the wheel arches, sills and lower parts of the doors. This is where the most deposits accumulate, which accelerate paint wear and can contribute to body corrosion, says Paweł Brzyski, owner of a car wash in Rzeszow.

So that the remover is not aggressive to the varnish, it is recommended to use natural bristle brushes and high-end cosmetics. During washing, the brush should be rinsed regularly and the water changed. Sand and debris pulled from the body get between the hair and scratch the varnish when combing.

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The risk of scratches is even higher when washing the vehicle with a synthetic bristle brush or sponge. A good product that gives good results with regular rinsing are microfiber washers, usually smooth on one side and fringed on the other. Such equipment is used in professional car washes. Their owners, as a rule, also do not save on cleaning products. Only top class shampoos and detergents provide good cleansing properties without being too aggressive on the varnish. In the case of low-quality products, moreover, too little diluted with water, frequent use ends in tarnishing of the colorless layer.

Hand washing in a professional factory costs from PLN 15-20 and more. The more additional services, the more expensive the service. For about PLN 50, the car will be washed, wiped, and in winter they will protect the locks from freezing and seals from sticking to the door.

You can also invest in your own equipment and cleaning products. A good brush costs around PLN 50, shampoo around PLN 20, suede around PLN 70. The problem, however, is finding a place where you can legally wash your car. It is forbidden to do this in the parking lot under the block. You can even get a ticket from the municipal police. A place where you can legally own a car must have a drain into a domestic sewer, not into a rainwater sewer.

Touchless car wash - fast, safe enough for paintwork, but sloppy

An alternative to hand washing are touchless car washes, usually found in gas stations and shopping malls. They work on the basis of high-pressure devices that throw water mixed with detergents onto the car according to predetermined programs. As a result, the washing method can be adapted to the degree of body soiling. Always flush the car with clean water. You can limit yourself to them if the paintwork is only dusty. High-end car washes use softened water so that once dry, the paintwork does not leave as many bright marks as regular water. More soiled varnish can be washed with water and an active cleaning agent, whose task is to soften and remove dirt. After washing the body in this way, rinse it with clean water, and then, by selecting the next program, you can choose between waxing and polishing.

The biggest advantage of such car washes is the ability to quickly wash the car without fear of scratching the body. Only the jet of water is in contact with the body. Active foam brushes are only available at select car washes as an optional extra. They are useful, but if we use them, then you can’t say about contactless washing.

The biggest disadvantage of limiting yourself in water is inaccuracy. A persistent, dried layer of dirt on the body cannot be removed without a brush or sponge. After washing the car, the paint shines without contact, but when you run your finger over it, you find that there is still a lot of dirt on it.

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In addition, there is a risk of damage to the car's paintwork due to improper handling of the spear. High-pressure water can also be dangerous for repainted cars, where the paint flakes and peels off more easily. Touchless washing costs about 1 PLN per minute. A skilled driver can wash a compact class car in about 10-15 minutes, i.e. for about 10-15 zlotys.