Using Automatic Car Washes: Tips to Avoid Damage from a Largo area Kia Dealer

Apr 29, 2013

It’s important to keep your car clean and the automatic car wash is one of the easiest ways to keep up with the task. Convenience sometimes comes with a price, however, as an automatic car wash can cause physical damage to your vehicle. Most car washes are designed carefully and are well maintained to prevent damages, but there is always a possibility that the brushes will scratch the paint or the force of the water will damage something on your car. Here are some tips to avoid damage from automatic car washes from a Largo area Kia dealership:

Types of Damages from Automatic Car Washes

The most common types of damage from automatic car wash can be avoided with a few precautions. Before you go through the car wash, try the following:

Put retractable antennas down before entering a car wash to avoid having them ripped off or bent during the car wash.

If your side mirrors are loose, avoid automatic car washes which are likely to rip them off. If your side mirrors fold in, push them in before entering the wash.

Remove all cargo from the roof racks as the force of the wash can push them off or break things.

Only use well maintained car washes that have new brushes. Car washes with old brushes put you at risk for metal bristles or wires sticking out that will scratch your paint finish.

Do not use an automatic car wash if you have any water leaking issues around your doors or windows. Don’t forget to make sure all windows are closed tight before entering the car wash.

Reducing Risks at Automatic Car Washes

When you drive your car, you put it at risk for scratches and damages and short of leaving your car secure inside a garage all the time – there is no foolproof way to prevent every possible opportunity for damage. If you can hand wash your car, then you eliminate all of the potential for automatic car wash damages but if you must use an automatic car wash – look for touch free versions that do not use brushes as these have less risks for damage to vehicles than car washes that use brushes to clean the dirt off your vehicle.