If you needed yet another reason to avoid drive-thru car washes...

Adam's Polishes

Adam's Polishes

New member
Just a quick backstory:

Had to run to the local home improvement store this past weekend. Stopped to get gas when I was leaving, and the station had one of the drive-thru washes that so many of them have. As I filled up and was driving away, I couldn't help but notice the somewhat startling condition of the brushes in the wash bay:





Of course, the first thought that crossed my mind, and I'm sure the same as all of you, was "STAY AWAY!!!"

However, I have some prototype goods at home that need some testing. Because of this, I made a sacrifice for the greater good, and $8, much gnashing of teeth, and about 90 seconds of tears later, here is what my paint looked like in the bright sun later that day:





And the following morning in different light:








In the interest of full disclosure, my paint was not perfect before hand, but I'd say 95%+. Since the last correction, I've done 2 2-bucket washes and 3 Rinseless Washes on it. Being black, there was a light amount of wash damage that could be seen. However, the amount of damage that this single wash inflicted upon it was pretty shocking, wouldn't you agree?!?
 
Nick:


You've discovered why most Autopians use a touch-less car wash and then go home and do an Optimum's No-Rinse wash in their (heated) garage during the winter.


 


What is the manufacturer/model of the "guinea-pig" car and the paint color name??
 
Lonnie said:
Nick:


You've discovered why most Autopians use a touch-less car wash and then go home and do an Optimum's No-Rinse wash in their (heated) garage during the winter.


 


What is the manufacturer/model of the "guinea-pig" car and the paint color name??
Click to expand...


 


Indeed, a touchless wash followed with Rinseless is the way to get through the winter!


 


I was in my 2009 Silverado, she's my product testing mule.  :)
 
Commercial car washes are not something to lump into a general category. I have the greatest touchless carwash near me that is fast...and I use it all winter. It blows underneath the car, has two foam cycles, and both a hp and spotless rinse. Not to mention an air dryer that shakes the car. No wax option. Done in 8 minutes. I rarely have to touch the car afterwards.
 
It's kind of interesting that you talk about commercial touchless car washes: in the Green Bay, Wisconsin area (actually DePere) we have two automated car wash manufacturers: PDQ Manufacturing, Inc, (Pretty Darn Quick) and WashWorld, Inc. I worked at WashWorld as a CADD (Computer-Aided Drawing/Design) technician as a contractor for about 2 months to help them set up electronic CAD drawing standards. It was fun while it lasted. They have since moved and expanded from the site I worked at in February of 2006. I did talk to the production development manager shortly before their move in May of 2013, and their reason for expansion is a larger-than-expected growth in the European Union countries and Arab Mid-East markets, where government-mandated water consumption conservation and taking care of personal cars that have a high-ownership cost due to government taxes are causing consumers to use automated car washes more frequently in an attempt to meet ecological concerns and make their more-expensive cars last longer (not to mention look better). We also have some private-owner car-care chemical companies that support them. (Yes, I talked to them, but they do not sell to the general public, nor would they let me try sample of what they produce. Not unless you want (10) 55-gallon drums of car wash soaps for automated car washes)
 
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