Washing the Camry- CarWash or Do It Yourself?

[amazin]

I was going to take my 07 Camry to the CarWash today and then it occured to me that those damn machines could mess up my paint. What do you guys think is best just take it to the carwash or Hand wash it myself.
Im just worried that those machines will mess it up and the black wont look as shiny as before.

[WhiteRabbit]

wash it yourself, please, youll thank yourself. if you dont want to do it yourself, take it to a detailing shop.

[98CamryLE]

Wash it yourself.... but every once and a while take it to a touchless car wash that has an underbody flush... especially in winter if you live where it snows.

[darksparkz]

Wash it yourself of course.

The automatic car washes can scratch your paint and/or leave swirl marks in them. There's lots of threads in the detailing and car care forum. Also there's a nice write-up thats in the stickies.


Just a plain wash yourself would only take about 20 minutes or so usually including the whole wash+drying parts, doing more things after that is the most time consuming, ie claying, polish, wax.

[Mcthings]

I wouldn't let anyone but a pro detailer or me touch my car. Even 'touchless' auto washes can messup your paint.

[edmonton99]

I go to the do it yourself coin wash, every time you put in a dollar you get around 2-3 minutes of your choice soap brush, pressure washer rinse/soap/wax/dry and vacuum.
I usually get it all done with $5 and no machines to scrath anything.

[DarkMastyr]

lucky bastard. the DIY car wash around my hometown is one quarter for 20 seconds.

[213solider]

go autozone if it close by and buy where thing u need only the best will cost about $$25...it's worth it the long run if ur want ur paint to stay fresh. plus tire and other accersoriy.

[Maim Menu]

Touchless is good for underneath during winter in general, other than that I do it myself

[amazin]

Thankx imma wash it myself tomorrow. Black gets dirty quick but looks hot when clean

[Ferrat]

lol, i love the DIY near me :P you get 2 minutes per dollar and after 5 dollars you get a bonus 6 minutes :P, and it doesn't damage the car

[knotquiteawake]

DIY places are interesting, i was thinking of trying one, but i'm afraid that the brushes arn't very clean and i will end up putting scratches in my paint. But there they do have a spotless rinse nozzel, thats whats the most appealing to me

[marc780]

Where i work we have an automatic car wash, with brushes for fleet cars. And before that we had a brushless kind. So i know plenty about these.
The brushes scratch your paint after awhile and i never go to these in my own car. And the brushless kind just basicaly throws chemicals and acid-like soap on the car and doesnt really clean it well.
Run your hand on the paint after a brushless wash, expecially the rocker panels etc. and see how much dirt they leave. Plus you are dumping caustic chemicals on your paint, which is bound to do it a world of good .
So i just use the $2 car wash or the garden hose and a little dish washing soap and dry it with towels etc.

[Mike Gerber]

I only hand wash all my cars using the garden hose. I also never use any soap. I just wet everything down with the garden hose and then losen up the dirt with a wet 100% cotton towel. Then rinse everything again with the garden hose and dry thoroughly with another 100% cotton towel. I even do this in Winter here in the Chicago area, whenever the temperature reaches the upper 30's. Just got to get that salt off. In the Winter I also rinse the undercarriage with the garden hose. The paint on all my cars still looks like new.

Marc780,
I never use dish washing liquids on any of my cars. They strip the wax right off. If you feel the need to use soap, use a car wash soap. That won't take the wax off.

Mike

[02whiteLE]

I've never heard of washing a car without soap of any kind. I handwash mine and use Eagle One soap, and then wax with Meguiers Gold Class. Still looks good. Except for the fact that it's rusting.