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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. |
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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! |
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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. |
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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. |
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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.
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. A
word of caution-follow
directions carefully and wash your car as soon as possible after using
such a solvent. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 has the equipment to effectively
reach all those hard-to-reach places and remove
corrosion-producing grime before damage is done. |
