In the UK, there are thousands of automatic car washes available nationwide and they come in several different types. Whether you want to use an in-bay, conveyor or self-service car wash, each has its own pros and cons.
Although washing your car yourself at home is the best and safest way to clean your car, many people simply don’t have the time to do it. Therefore, this is where automatic car washes become very desirable. Depending on the type you use, most will provide a thorough wash of your car in as little as 5 minutes at a relatively affordable cost.
If you’ve never used an automatic car wash before, below is everything you need to know.
What Are The Different Types?
As mentioned above, there are multiple types of automatic car washes in the UK and they include the following:
1. Conveyor
The conveyor type of automatic car wash is by far the most popular in the UK and it works by your car being guided through the washer tunnel on a conveyor belt. Compared to the alternatives, a conveyor type of car wash often gives you options of various wash cycles that you can choose from. For example, many offer multiple types of car shampoo, additional cleaning and much more but it’s worth pointing out that the additions do come at a cost.
2. In-Bay
Usually found in petrol stations, an in-bay type of automatic car wash uses stationary equipment that moves around your vehicle. They are normally a fixed cost to use and often don’t come with optional extras.
3. Self-Service
Although not technically automated, a self-service type of wash is also found in petrol stations across the UK. They often feature a pressure washer that outputs a car wash snow foam, which can then be scrubbed into your car’s paintwork.
How To Use An Automatic Car Wash
1. Prepare Your Car Before Entering
Before you drive through an automatic car wash, it’s crucial that you remove any external accessories that are fragile. Depending on the car wash you visit, you may need to remove your roof bars as they can get damaged too. It goes without saying that all windows and sunroofs should also be shut to prevent water from getting inside the vehicle.
It’s also worth pointing out that if you have automated windscreen wipers, you’ll want to turn them off to prevent them from moving and becoming damaged as the brushes move across your car.
2. Speak To The Staff & Discuss The Wash Options
When you enter an automatic car wash, you’ll often be greeted by a member of staff who will ask what type of wash you want. As you can see in the photo, the cost of an automatic car wash varies and in this particular car wash, the prices ranged from £5 for a basic wash to £13.50 for their best wash. On top of this, they also offered valets that included interior cleans as well as car polish being applied for an additional cost.
After selecting the wash, the member of staff will use a car pressure washer to remove loose debris before you enter the car wash. Some premium car washes may even apply an alloy wheel cleaner too.
3. Align Your Car Ready For The Conveyor Rails
After pre-washing your car, the member of staff will then guide you towards the conveyor rails. This is often the worrying part for many people but the rails are often marked out very clearly.
Once your car is aligned on the rails, simply put your car into neutral and allow the conveyor to pull your car through the washer tunnel. As you are moving through, ensure the handbrake is off and you don’t press the brake pedal.
4. Watch The Shampoo Being Applied
As you are being pulled into the washer tunnel, the first stage of the wash is the application of shampoo. As you can see in the photo below, depending on the wash you selected will determine how many different products are applied to your car and they’ll be sprayed by an automated machine that moves up and down.
5. Enjoy The Wash
After various products have been sprayed onto your car, you’ll then proceed to the brushes. These brushes will come at you at all angles to thoroughly wash your car and it usually lasts a few minutes.
6. The Drying Stage
Once you’ve past the brushes, you’ll then be greeted by multiple drying towels that’ll move across your car to take away the bulk of the water. After you’ve past these towels, there will then be a blower at the end that’ll remove any excess water.
7. Exit The Car Wash
Once the blower has turned off and there is a green light, you can then place your car into drive or first gear and proceed to exit the automatic car wash.
Are Automatic Car Washes Bad For Your Car?
Although automatic car washes are designed to be safe and effective for most vehicles, there are some factors that you need to consider before taking your car to one.
The first potential reason why they can be bad for your car is due to the rotating brushes that come into contact with your car’s paintwork. Although soft, they have the potential to inflict swirl marks on your paintwork as well as other fine scratches. This is because dirt can cling onto the brushes and if a dirty car was in there before you (i.e. a 4×4 that’s just been off-road), the likelihood of second-hand dirt coming into contact with your car is quite high.
Another reason why automated car washes can be bad for your car is if there is any pre-existing damage. For example, if you are yet to treat rust on your car, the brushes can scrub away any flaky paint and make the rust appear worse. Another example of potential damage is if there are any loose mouldings or fragile accessories that can become damaged by the brushes coming into contact with them.
Conclusion
Personally, I only take cars to an automatic car wash that I am not too precious about. For example, I have a cheap Mercedes estate that’s used for my dogs and to go back and forth to the tip or building merchants and I don’t mind taking this car through an automatic car wash. However, for cars that I like to keep pristine, I tend to wash them myself or have a professional detail them.
Although there is potential for an automatic car wash to cause damage, I fully understand why people take their cars there for convenience.
If you require further information regarding automatic car washes, feel free to get in touch and we will try to provide our assistance where possible.
