Keeping your car clean is a matter of pride, but it's also a practical decision. It's easier to see and address blemishes on cleaner cars, helping maintain your vehicle's long-term resale value. However, not everyone has time to spend several hours on the weekend keeping their car pristine. Achieving spectacular results can also require some fairly pricey equipment.
A quick visit to the local car wash is the clear solution, but which one should you pick? And what's the difference? While the services offered by car washes can vary, they broadly fall into three general categories. This guide will help you understand their differences to choose the best one for your car and budget.
1. Automated Washes
You can find these washes at many gas stations, and they may be fully automated or have an attendant on staff. In most cases, you can pay at the pump or inside and then drive your car through. Automated washes are convenient and fast, making them a good solution for "maintenance" washes or after driving through a particularly muddy or dusty area.
Common options include soft-touch or no-touch. These options are gentler on your paint, although no-touch washes may do a less thorough job. Automated washes are better for dealing with regular dirt and grime than tough, stuck-on grit. If you haven't detailed your vehicle recently, you won't get the best results from an automated wash.
2. Hand Washes
Hand washes often look similar to automated washes at first glance, especially if you need to drive through a tunnel or garage. The difference is that these washes rely on a professional cleaning crew instead of automated sprayers, brushes, and dryers. Some washes may be "full hand," meaning they don't use automated tools, while others may use automatic sprayers or dryers.
These washes are a step up from automated options and typically include higher-end products and more thorough cleaning. Many will also offer options for interior detailing, waxing, and more. A reliable hand wash is probably all you need if you want your car to look shiny and clean. Automated washes or a quick rinse on the weekend can help maintain the shine for longer.
3. Full Detailing Services
Full detailing services are a step above hand washes and often cost substantially more. Unlike the two options described above, these services will either come to you or require you to leave your car for a few hours (or longer). Full detailing often includes extra services such as paint correction, intensive interior detailing, and high-end buffing, polishing, and waxing services.
A full detailing service is probably unnecessary if you don't want a showroom shine. Even if you like your car to look brand new, these services are only necessary once in a while. Once you have a fully detailed and beautiful vehicle, you can rely on less intense car washes to help keep it looking great for many months.
Contact a service provider to learn more about car washing options.
Share12 October 2022
For years, I really struggled with the fact that my car was a disgusting mess. It seemed like no matter how hard I worked to keep the interior clean, it was always getting destroyed by one thing or another. However, I realized that by keeping up with the car on a weekly basis, things could be a lot better. I started carefully focusing my energies on making things right, and then helping my kids to make choices that paved the way for a cleaner car. On this website, you can learn all about the details of washing your car and keeping the inside clean. Enjoy!