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 Frequently
Asked Questions
Money-Saving Tips to Help Protect Your Car's Finish
Q: I
wash my car at home using a garden hose. Lately, the finish
looks
dull and marked. What could be wrong?
A: Washing
your car at home is extremely harmful to the finish since
University of Texas proved that a single home hand-wash can
leave scratches in the finish as deep as 1/10 of the paint's
total thickness. Also, the average garden hose cannot supply
enough water and water pressure with the detergent action
to avoid damaging a car's finish.
This important study concluded that automobile owners should
avoid washing their cars at home. Only a professional car
wash can provide the proper amounts of water and water pressure
needed with the appropriate cleaning solutions to safely and
effectively clean your car.
Q: What
are the advantages of washing my car in a self-service car
wash?
A: The
self-service car wash is designed to allow you to custom wash
your car. Self-service units have everything you need including
proper water pressure that you cannot get from a garden hose.
Q: How
can I keep my whitewall tires looking like whitewalls?
A: Don't
use scouring pads to clean whitewalls. They deteriorate the
whitewall surface. Your self-service car wash in most cases
provides whitewall cleaner and the proper wash pressure to
clean the tires.
Q: Does
it really help a car's value to keep its finish looking new?
A: Yes!
Appearance is the first thing that people look for in a used
car. If a car's finish turns buyers off, it's virtually impossible
to get a good price-no matter how well the car runs. The car,
which is noticeably rusted, dull and spotty, will sell for
significantly less than the same car with a showroom finish.
Proper care of the car's appearance will definitely pay off
at trade-in time!
Q: Is
it true that my new car shouldn't be washed or waxed for a
certain period of time?
A: This
may have been true a long time ago, but with the new modern
acrylics and enamels, your new car's finish needs tender care
immediately.
Be careful to wash your car properly. Most new cars are treated
with a clear-coat finish. It's important that you exercise
extreme care-especially when washing your new car for the
first few times. Many initial washing errors result in water
spots, setting stains and loss of luster. Without the benefit
of protective coating layers that your car will receive over
the years, mistakes made during the first few washes may not
be correctable.
Should
you decide to wax your car, use a wax that's compatible with
your paint. Check your owner's manual and the wax's label
for instructions.
The best advice is to trust your car's finish to a professional
from the beginning.
Q: How
often should I have my car washed?
A: It
depends. If your car is exposed to corrosive materials like
salt, sand and industrial fallout, it should be washed often.
The same goes for vehicles in areas with high humidity. Moisture
attracts contaminants and promotes a variety of chemical reactions
that can destroy your car's finish. Frequent washing is essential
to the life of your car's chrome and painted surfaces.
In seasons or climates less conducive to corrosion, a wash
every two weeks or so is adequate. In areas with acid rain,
a wash every ten days is advised. Of course, these estimates
may vary depending upon whether your car is kept in a garage
or out in the elements.
Q:
Periodically, I notice a layer of residue on my car's finish.
Is it from the atmosphere? Is it harmful?
A: What you are referring
to are black particles that come from areas of heavy traffic.
They are gritty, abrasive substances coming off tires as they
wear. Also, chemicals from diesel smoke and other emissions
in the atmosphere settle on your car's surface. If this residue
isn't removed immediately, permanent damage to the finish
can result.
Q: Why does my
car ride better after I've had my car washed? Am I imagining
it?
A: Not at all! Actually, it's very simple. Dirt
and grime collect in the areas around your car's wheels. The
concentrated spray at professional car washes loosens and
rinses the grime, giving you a smother ride. The spray also
helps prevent rusting inside the wheel wells-the most difficult
type of rust to stop. In addition, tests show that a properly
cleaned and waxed car has less wind resistance resulting in
a smoother ride and improved fuel economy.
Q: When should I wash
off insect residue?
A: As soon as possible,
especially if the car is new. Insect residue and bird droppings
form acids that immediately start to eat away a car's finish.
Q: What is the major cause
of rust?
A: Rust is simply the
oxidation of untreated metal surfaces when they contact the
elements. Moisture is the main cause of rust. Since dirt attracts
and traps moisture, a dirty car is the instigator of almost
all car rust, especially in those hidden areas behind the
chrome and trim. Only a professional car wash operator has
the equipment and know-how to effectively reach all those
hard-to-reach places and remove corrosion-producing grime
before damage is done.
Q: What can I do to remove
the tar that occasionally gets on my car?
A: Tar and certain oils
used on roads require extremely strong solvents to remove.
Naturally, we cannot use these solvents when we wash your
car since just a few washes with such strong chemicals could
harm your car's finish. There are many excellent tar solvents
on the market and we would be happy to recommend one to you.
A word of caution-follow directions carefully and wash your
car as soon as possible after using such a solvent.
Q: Lately, my windshield
smears when I run my wipers. What am I doing wrong?
A: Perhaps you haven't
changed your wiper blades recently. Most manufacturers recommend
installing new blades every three months. This will prevent
wearing and smearing, which impairs your vision dangerously.
Q: Isn't rain a natural,
cost-effective car wash?
A: No! Rain and snow contain
acid that eats away at the paint and finish of vehicles. After
acid rain falls on a car, the water evaporates, but the acid
remains. Concentrated by sunlight, this acid can become so
strong that it will eat through the finish, ruining the vehicle's
paint and appearance.
Q:
If my car has a high-gloss "clear coat" finish,
do I still need to wax it?
A: Yes! Most new cars
have a high-gloss clear coat finish, which is easily damaged
from acid rain. The sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays, salt, and
road wear and tear also damage cars. Wax is an effective and
efficient way to shine and protect a car's finish. Wax your
car every six months. More frequent waxes are needed if your
car is red, black or white because these colors are more susceptible
to acid rain and UV rays.
Q: Aren't hand washings
safer for my car and the environment?
A: No! Dirt that collects
in wash water, sponges and chamois will scratch the paint.
Hand washings use nearly twice the amount of water than professional
car washes. Cleaning solutions professional washes use are
biodegradable and safe for the environment. Also, high-pressure
water at self-serve and professional washes cleans cars better
and faster.
Q: What kind of car wash
will do a good job of cleaning my car?
A: Any professional car
wash-full-serve or self-serve-can effectively clean your car
without damaging it. There are several kinds of professional
car washes using variations of touchless, semi-touchless,
cloth or brush methods of cleaning. In any case, high-pressure
water and detergents are used to remove dirt and other potentially
damaging particles from your car's finish, wheel wells and
undercarriage. A final fresh water rinse leaves cars spot-free.
Blowers or towel-drying remove excess water from the car.
Q: What if I don't have
the time or money to wash and wax my car regularly?
A: You can't afford not
to protect your investment! A professional car wash offers
safe, fast, high-quality washes at affordable prices.
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