Car wash, how much is too much?

[logicbomb.de]

Hey there TN members,


Just got my LE last month and I'm loving it.

Its my first brand spanking new car in 10 years and of course I want to keep it as flawless and clean looking as possible.

I realize now that in an effort to keep it clean, I've taken it to the car wash more times in the past 6 weeks than I've gone in the past 6 years!

Anyway, other than wasting money, what possible bad side effects would arise from frequently going to the car wash, lets say - once a week?

I always go to the "no-touch" car wash where the only contact with the car is the water stream.

any bad effects from any of this?


oh, and how often do you guys wash your 'rollas (by hand or carwash)?


Cheers!

[vibebreaker]

i'd say touchless is okay but i'd go every 2 weeks at most.

[joeylgarcia]

car washing for me is like an every week affair. unless of course it is going to rain the next day or the week.

for the longest time that i have driven my 1st car since i was a teen i have always done the car wash myself.

those "no-touch" car washers are good in the sense that no brushes or scrubs touch the car body paint but the thing is it doesnt really clean your car. nothing beats hand wash. but with hand washing just make sure you use very soft wash mitts.

the way i wash my car by hand is doing all the windows first using a 1st pair of wash mitts. then comes the painted part of the car body. washing with a 2nd pair of wash mitts going from top to hood and trunk then all the side doors going down to the bumper and side skirts. i just make sure that the car wash shampoo mixture is really foamy upon application. rinse your wash mitts frequently so as to loosen the dirt from the mitts. dry the car then car wax.

[7th Crow]

Watch out for those guide rails that some car wash have... They'll do a nice number on your rims...

[vibebreaker]

touchless usually doesnt have guide rails but i do hate them too

[logicbomb.de]

Thanks for the feedback, guys!


I live in an apartment with a car port so a full hand wash isn't a viable option at the moment.

I probably wouldn't have taken it to the wash so often except that I have the worst timing when it comes to rain and weather. Forecast will show rain all week, but it won't actually rain - then I decide the hell with it and get it cleaned cos I'm sick of the spots, then it rains the next day even though forecast showed sun all day!

can't beat Michigan weather!

Originally Posted by joeylgarcia

the way i wash my car by hand is doing all the windows first using a 1st pair of wash mitts. then comes the painted part of the car body. washing with a 2nd pair of wash mitts going from top to hood and trunk then all the side doors going down to the bumper and side skirts. i just make sure that the car wash shampoo mixture is really foamy upon application. rinse your wash mitts frequently so as to loosen the dirt from the mitts. dry the car then car wax.

I'll have to give this a shot at my buddy's place once I get free day. should be able get all the spots and hard to reach places ultra clean this way.

Thanks!

[joeylgarcia]

one more thing... when you are at the rinsing stage, do not sprinkle water on your car like a shower head does. remove any sprinkler tip on your hose and just let water flow regularly. that way the water just drips down the car body evenly without leaving droplets. its easier to dry using a good sham.

[trucknut1]

I refuse to take an of my vehicles to an auto car wash, regardless of type. I wash my car 4 - 7 times a week depending on the forecast (and not just because its new, my 12 year old tacoma had the same treatment). Washing is always hand wash (i keep the mitt in a ziplock bag when not in use, and a seperate mitt for the wheels) and chamios dry. Wax once a week for the most part, unless something else prevents me from doing so. In fact I am on my way out to wash it right now, cheers

[REN69]

I haven't washed my car in like a month... then again it's been raining almost everyday for like a month.

I usually do every 2 weeks, and my car is old.

[vibebreaker]

Originally Posted by trucknut1

I refuse to take an of my vehicles to an auto car wash, regardless of type. I wash my car 4 - 7 times a week depending on the forecast (and not just because its new, my 12 year old tacoma had the same treatment). Washing is always hand wash (i keep the mitt in a ziplock bag when not in use, and a seperate mitt for the wheels) and chamios dry. Wax once a week for the most part, unless something else prevents me from doing so. In fact I am on my way out to wash it right now, cheers

lol 4-7 times a week is just ridiculous and a waste of water. at the most, that's once a day! lol..

to each their own, i suppose.

[jdub907]

Originally Posted by vibebreaker

lol 4-7 times a week is just ridiculous and a waste of water. at the most, that's once a day! lol..

to each their own, i suppose.

Not to mention a waste of time. How does one have time to wash their vehicle every day?

[trucknut1]

Originally Posted by vibebreaker

lol 4-7 times a week is just ridiculous and a waste of water. at the most, that's once a day! lol..

to each their own, i suppose.

Originally Posted by jdub907

Not to mention a waste of time. How does one have time to wash their vehicle every day?

I have no shortage of water. We live in the country, take the cap off my well and the water level is always above ground. And yah quite often its once a day. As far as having the time, well I have little interest in sitting on my ass watching TV all evening for starters, suppose that helps, doesn't take long, an hour maybe. And I still have time to go for a 2 hour jog and work on whatever else needs to be done. I guess it just depends on how well you want to take care of your vehicle... in 10 years mine will look better then most 6 month old cars out there, will yours?

[sinnaever]

Originally Posted by trucknut1

I have no shortage of water. We live in the country, take the cap off my well and the water level is always above ground. And yah quite often its once a day. As far as having the time, well I have little interest in sitting on my ass watching TV all evening for starters, suppose that helps, doesn't take long, an hour maybe. And I still have time to go for a 2 hour jog and work on whatever else needs to be done. I guess it just depends on how well you want to take care of your vehicle... in 10 years mine will look better then most 6 month old cars out there, will yours?

I'm with you on that. I wash mine an avg. of 2 or 3 times a week. I also enjoy doing it that way because it allows me to thoroughly inspect my car numerous times a week and if/when i find rock-chips i immediately touch them up with the Paint Pen. So far i have found TWO. Both on the hood (midway up) and none on the front fascia/grill.

[hendrix8989]

Thats crazy...washing once a week is good enough...or maybe every other week... then wax every month....My car will look as good verus if I washed it everyday... There is a thing called too much!!

[jdub907]

Originally Posted by trucknut1

I have no shortage of water. We live in the country, take the cap off my well and the water level is always above ground. And yah quite often its once a day. As far as having the time, well I have little interest in sitting on my ass watching TV all evening for starters, suppose that helps, doesn't take long, an hour maybe. And I still have time to go for a 2 hour jog and work on whatever else needs to be done. I guess it just depends on how well you want to take care of your vehicle... in 10 years mine will look better then most 6 month old cars out there, will yours?

I drive 5 miles round trip a day, and park in the garage at night. Once a week is suffice for me, as the car just doesn't get dirty.

1 hour x 7 days x 52 weeks x 10 years = 3,640
1 hour x 1 day x 52 weeks x 10 years = 520

3,640 - 520 = 3,120

That is 3,120 hours that I can spend with my family and friends.