Shinefind

“A car’s finish is perceived to be a direct reflection of the car’s owner.”

Well, at least that’s what our fathers told us back in high school. And while it may be true, let’s face the facts, not all of us have the time it takes to put in the driveway hours needed to keep our daily drivers looking great. And with a cost effective car wash on seemingly every other street corner, convenience often rules.

However, the unfortunate truth is that a car wash - whether it is full service, drive-through tunnel, touch less, mobile detailer, or even a self service (jet spray) - may actually do more harm than good to your car. Most commonly, if not properly managed and maintained, a wash can leave marring and “swirl marks” in the car’s paint that look bad and can cost hundreds of dollars to correct. Car washes can also use harsh chemicals that strip away all the wax we spend countless hours and/or dollars applying.

We have compiled a quick, 5-point list to give you the best chances at receiving a quality experience through a “tunnel” wash:

 1. Modern Equipment: In general tunnel washes either use Touch-less or Friction Automation. Touch-less is the process of applying strong chemicals without brushes to clean the car. Friction uses a soft touch approach that will pull the dirt away by applying micro-fiber or soft foam padding that is spun and draped across the car’s finish. The risk with touch-less is that the strength of the chemicals needed to clean a car also strip away wax or sealant. The brushes in a Friction wash can actually cause micro-level scratches to a car’s clear coat of paint.

In recent years there have been advancements to both types of tunnel washes to help alleviate these risks. Therefore, it is key to avoid older washes that may not have been updated. As a basic rule, the best odds are to seek out the newest wash or the most recently updated wash. Typically when updating a tunnel wash, the wash will be closed for a few days. If you’ve noticed your local wash closed it’s a good indicator that it has been recently updated.

 2. Stay Dry: Although tempting, driving fast down the interstate is not a good way to dry a car! In addition to potentially leaving streaks, debris in the air can get mixed with the water from the wash and be pushed rapidly down the car’s paint. – not good.

Blowing clean air or towel drying with a micro-fiber towel immediately after the wash is the safest. Avoid tunnels that do not have automatic dryers or drying attendants.

 3. Clean Facilities: Take notice of how well the wash environment is being maintained. Are the trashcans always full? Are the vacuum hoses clean and properly stored? A poorly maintained wash environment can be an indicator that the equipment in the tunnel is also not being properly updated and maintained.

 4. Tire Shine: Many new tunnel washes offer automatic Tire Shine application in the tunnel. This “feature” allows the wash to charge a higher price. However, in almost every case we’ve seen, Tire Shine gets applied to the paint or slings off the tires within minutes of leaving the wash. Tire Shine is not good for the paint or the visual appeal. Avoid this “feature” whenever possible.

 5. Inspect the Results: Immediately after the wash pull over and inspect the car. The most we can hope for from a Tunnel Wash is 80%. Look for issues such as:

  a. How dry is the car?

  b. Is soap still on the car (check the side mirrors)?

  c. Are there spots that look like they haven’t been touched?

  d. How clean is the windshield and back window?

  e. Are there bugs and debris still on the front bumper?

If you feel the wash hasn’t gotten to 80% of where you believe it should be, scratch that one off your list.