Car Wash Vs. Personal Detail

[Stangg87]

When it comes to detailing your own car for numerous hours under the sun, or a "quick and easy" car wash, what would your choice be?

Generally speaking, take into consideration that many contaminants;dirt and rock debris will be stuck in the pads that are used to "clean" your vehicle, thus leaving thousands of new small scratches on the paint.

[WrightDetail]

Re: Car Wash Vs. Personal Detail

When it comes to detailing your own car for numerous hours under the sun, or a "quick and easy" car wash, what would your choice be?

Generally speaking, take into consideration that many contaminants;dirt and rock debris will be stuck in the pads that are used to "clean" your vehicle, thus leaving thousands of new small scratches on the paint.

My truck rarely sees a commercial car wash --- only when coated in so much salt wash, the color is white and usually that is just a pressure wash to get most off....till temp above 45 in Sun to wash myself at home....will always prefer home wash where I CONTROL the soap and mitts and cleanliness factors....

New home slated to have insulated garage, drains in floor and hot/cold tap to wash anytime

[yalerd]

Re: Car Wash Vs. Personal Detail

The only person that touches my car is me, I just think that I've put so much into my car (time, dedication, effort, money for products) giving it to another person is just going back.

It's like the same thing with the body shops, I hate it because you can have your car in excellent condition and when they return your car to you it's like going back to the beginning and starting over.

Just my personal thought

[Mort Corey]

Re: Car Wash Vs. Personal Detail

I don't do mechanical car washes nor detail in the sun.

Mort

[Jeepster04]

Re: Car Wash Vs. Personal Detail

Many hours detailing under a shade tree for me!

[brickyardz]

Re: Car Wash Vs. Personal Detail

I never take my cars to a car wash. I also don't do any work in the sun. Even the wash is usually done early in the morning when there is still mostly shade in the driveway or in the evening before it gets dark for the same reasons. I don't always do a full detail, sometimes it is just a wash and dry. Did that this weekend and it took 1 hour and would much rather spend that time than pay someone to mess my car up.

[03mach1]

Re: Car Wash Vs. Personal Detail

Well I would definitely prefer to detail my own car because I work at a car wash and man those rags are full of stuff and are used over and over for a very long time. Most of the cars that come out are full of scratches all over them. We do wash some nice cars sometimes. I do like my job though. It pays nice and I am around cars instead of making sandwiches at Sub way.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Car Wash Vs. Personal Detail

Prefer to always do the washing myself. As for a complete detail every time. No I do what I feel is needed. It may be more attention to the interior one week oe the tires another. Whatever is needed.

[TKDDAD]

Re: Car Wash Vs. Personal Detail

=New home slated to have insulated garage, drains in floor and hot/cold tap to wash anytime

When I get my mid life crisis car, part of the plan is a new garage for it with the same things as you are getting. Some day, some day.....

[TXShine]

Re: Car Wash Vs. Personal Detail

No way I'm taking any of my vehicles to a car wash where something or somebody is going to touch the paint. I'll go to a coin-op once in a while for rinsing or for the undercarriage, but that's about it.

I'd whether have them be a little dirty longer than I'd prefer (if I don't have the time or bad weather) than have someone have a swirl and scratch fest on my paint.

It's hard enough to keep your vehicle in great shape with all the things that are out of your control, like bad weather, road debris, shopping carts and just plain idiots just to name a few. I'm certainly not going to willingly put my vehicles through something that I know is bad.

[Ryan L.]

Re: Car Wash Vs. Personal Detail

I always wash them my self, but some of my customers that I can't get to when they need it washed, I recommend a local place that does very good work. They use all Meguiar's and the manager and owner keep the employees on line. Also another thing I found nice was that if you ask, they will use a new wash mitt and bucket along with new towels to wash and dry your car. I know it seems like a joke, but I have had people tell me that they actually do replace the bucket and so on like they asked.

So I think if you don't want to or can't spend the time on your own car, find a quality shop in your area and take it there.

Ryan