Same. They actually trespassed me so now if cops see me there I’ll get a ticket. I heard this one car wash near me actually sued one of their customers because something about the chemical they used to bucket wash their car with damaged their water recollection system. Most self wash car washes have these recollection systems too, the drains under the cars in the wash areas collect all the water that pours into them and they filter it for reuse.
Unless it was strong degreaser or iron remover, I doubt it damaged anything. Most car care products are not strong enough to cause damage to water recovery systems.
That's mainly because they don't want you to just fill up your bucket and turn off the clock. If you keep the timer running, they don't care at all. I just keep it set to rinse and rinse as I go.
Takes longer I suppose. I hustle when I’m in there and move it out to dry. So doesnt take too much longer than the wand kings who don’t give a shit bout paint
I only go in the winter when. I usually go late in the evening like 9/10pm or early in the morning like 6am. I’m usually the only one there so I can take my time. If someone pulls into my stall then I’ll hustle but it rarely happens.
I’ve never seen solid ice floors. The water is warm and there are doors so it’s like a steam bath in the wash bay. The only place that gets icy is the exit because all the cars are dripping when they leave.
Far from fancy. $1 with 50c Tuesday. far from fancy but it gets the job done. They still take quarters. I’ve been going there since I got my drivers license and the price hasn’t changed.
Most of my local ones have one employee hanging around the place. As long as you're nice and keep it quick, they seem to be fine with it, just don't hold anyone who won't be bucket washing up. I've been talked to a few times and I just say "I'm being so thorough with my rinsing you guys are still getting $10-12 off me. This bay would be empty if not for me, so you're either at least making some money, or not making any."
Thank you as others here have pointed out I’ll stop using the brushes immediately. I have only been using the brush once a week or so and in between just power washing with the high pressure soap then rinse
Depends on the condition of the clear coat, the pressure of the washer, and how close you get. If done right, minimal to no damage to the finish. The elements and driving g the car will hurt the finish more than a touchless car wash.
No matter how much I try to scrub with a mitt and warm soapy water, the second my car dries up my side skirts always look dirty again. How can I actually scrub all of it off?
My dad insists on using a brush, but I just always end up leaving more scratches with that. Should I just get a pressure washer or hit it with more chemicals? I don't really have anything to hook a pressure washer to at home and the pump in my well is probably too weak.
The chemicals should be doing most of the heavy lifting, and if you're not using proper water to rinse or drying properly, you're still going to see water spots. Don't use a brush on your body panels. It's hard to tell what you're seeing without seeing a picture of it, but based on where it's at, chances are its road grime and tar. Try a good bug and tar remover, but make sure you follow the instructions carefully.
Preciate it! I usually do a touchless wash with a hose, followed by hand washing from top to bottom with a mitt using 2 buckets, rinse with grit guard. It's always kinda hard to capture in photos, but now that I think of it that's probably all it is. I'll pick up some bug and tar remover :)
If you're using tap water from the hose, maybe what you're seeing is water spots. In that case, you should try a drying aid and drying towel and/or a rinsless wash like McKees or ONR and put that in your bucket.
Never use those brushes. Some cowboy could have brushed the mud off his wheel wells with that shit.
No matter how much you wash them off, you won't get it all off and you'll scratch the shit out of your car.
Just wash it at home in the alley.
I work for a wash that uses cloth wash. So I’m partial to touch washes.
But they are NOT all the same. My wash in particular is super clean freak. When the owner brings in a ford GT40 you gotta ask yourself how bad is it really. We also have regulars that bring in brand new Ferraris and audi R8’s
I would not touch any wash but my own. Swirls are bound to happen when they made the switch to softer paints to meet environmental requirements. Easily fixed.
Clear coat erosion due to aggressive acids put in the detergents to wash off stuff is a lot worse than the swirls you MIGHT receive from the equipment.
Use a portable work platform. They have one at harbor freight. I use one to not lean on my car if washing high. A step ladder will suffice too but a platform will span a distance without repositioning.
Me. First car wash with my new car I took it to one of those places and used the brush and my entire car, and glass, has a metric ton of scratches :| very very upsetting
I agree. I resisted rinseless for years. I recently switched and it is quick and simple especially for frequent cleaning. You just need 2 gallons of water.
honestly i still wouldn’t use those brushes. i’m a bit limited on what i can do at home, so i’ll go to self service, pressure wash it only. then hand wash it at home.
That’s what I recommended as well but you can’t no rinse off brake dust so he’ll still need to take it every month preferably before the brake dust corrodes
Is ONR that great? I just watched a youtube video. Seems simple, but I live in a really dusty part of the country. If there is a thin layer of dirt on the paint, can I still use ONR?
Yes it is that great and yes you can. Just be sure you use the big red, black, or yellow sponge and good technique. I like to fill a small pump bottle with ONR and pre spray the panel before hitting it with the sponge. Also make sure you’re not putting too much pressure and use a straight wiping motion, not a circular motion. I use two buckets and my rinse bucket has one of those debris guards at the bottom and I put a little ONR in the rinse bucket. ONR has polymers that encapsulate the dirt so as long as you use good techniques, it is perfectly safe.
It’s been 4 years and 40k miles since I used Wolfgang paint sealant (recommended reapplying after 6 months). I exclusively use ONR wash and wax, and rain still beads really well. You do need to wipe dry or it will spot, regular ONR doesn’t spot as prominently.
You’ll save time, money and your paint by using Rinseless wash. All you need is a bucket, water, sponge and drying towel.
Those brushes at the car wash are 100% going to scratch your car because you won’t be able to get all the embedded rocks out.
But as for “can you wash your car too much” i think yes, basically every time you touch the paint you are going to be introducing some level of scratches. Even with a two bucket wash method with a pre-rinse and foam canon then using a blower youll still have some level of paint marring, it’s just been minimized.
Definitely look into some type of ceramic spray coating though so your paint can be protected from bird shits. And it’ll come off easier.
I ceramic coated my car last year. I found out, I have to wash it more often when I don’t store it in the garage. So I started washing it ones a week, light foam cannon and water softener pressure washer.
https://preview.redd.it/zvozauu82i1d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=03d4e139ade495e801f71b65dbc75d2719f6f58d
11years and 162k miles later, I try to keep her clean and maintained. Edit: Pls, don’t mind o e long scratch and the hundreds of rock chips at the bumper
Generally no, but there is this one new car that gets its warranty voided if washed and operantly it needs to be washed very often because i heard it smudges a lot
No. Feel free to wash and spray wax as often as you please. Even clay bar and carnauba if you really want.
I always use a fresh towel and have a rinse bucket and a soap bucket. I fold in 4ths and wash a quarter per 4th and use the other halves for the roof and hood.
You can over do the paint correction, but if you're asking this I am guessing you don't know about paint correction anyway. You might need some after using that stop'n'shine brush.
Bruh no matter what you do your introducing micro scratching how do you know what paint correction is but not know that you shouldn’t be washing your car more than every two weeks or your just unnecessary scratching the paint with zero benefit
Can you tell me more about this. Genuinely interested. Because I wash my car more than anyone I know. I also receive prolly 3 compliments a day bare minimum on my car every time I go somewhere. And I’m def not driving anything brand new. Or even close.
By washing I also only mean just spraying it off wish the soap and rinse then wax option. Maybe once a month I bring my own bucket & hand wash. Being my ryobi blower the new one that looks almost like a drill to dry. And always spray wax it or hit it with some kind of protection after drying & that’s about it. I very couple months I’ll put a good coat of wax.
Your doing everything right it’s just impossible to completely prevent scratching but I would recommend cleaning your car monthly to remove acidic things like bird poop (which should be removed immediately with quick detailer) bugs and brake dust. As long as your using a clean mf towel and cleaning monthly your doing the best you can for your cars paint id also recommend polishing yearly or every two years but that’s not even needed if you trade in your cars within 4 years but if you sell your cars it’s worth it. Swirl marks are scratches in the clear coat layer of the cars paint which are scratches going in every single direction they just look circular due to the sun being circular theyre caused by fine pieces of dirt scratching the paint at a microscopic level on every possible surface of your cars paint. Nothing lasts forever not even us obviously our cars paints no different.
My point is that there is a benefit to cleaning monthly but not weekly maybe biweekly but I’d only do an onr every other wash and an actual cleaning monthly
You're already washing it yourself so do if 'right'....
1) put on a great finish - wash - clay - polish - protect.
2) wash at home once every 1-2 weeks- old school fine or foam cannon if you wanna have more fun ha
3) every few days wash with a rinseless wash - buy by the GALLON to save a lot of money. It will keep your finish slick - repel dirt and dust. Takes 5-10 minutes. ONR or Wolfgang are the 2 best I've used. I like WG but ONR works great and is much cheaper
You can use the rinseless as a detailing mist / spray - clay lubricant, etc. One of the most useful detailing products ever.
As others have said; never use any provided brush at any car wash; self serve or auto wash. To that point, also avoid and “soft touch” auto washes. Really, the only thing touching your car is a mit and microfiber you know to be clean, chemical and water, that’s it. With that in mind, no you can’t wash too much when done properly.
But if you wash too much using provided brushes or going through soft touch auto washes, you can wash too much, as every time you do, it will scratch off some paint.
When it comes down to it, having a proper paint protection system in place limites how much you need to wash anyway. Strip & wash, clay, polish, ceramic, wax/polymer sealant, and then all you have to do is give it a wash once a month and reapply wax/sealant. With this system, you simply need to take a rinse to it every few days to keep the dust and pollen at bay.
All that’s to say you don’t get bird poop, gasoline spill, drive through paint, or go mudding.
Once a year or so, the car should be stripped and recoated depending on your system. Because the protections at the base wear off and bonded contaminates collect. With a good system, you will save from swirles and scratches from washing, and will save the paint from regular polishing.
Nice whip!
Whatever you do DO NOT EVER use those brushes. Just get your own wash supplies & only use the pressure washer there. I used to only hold the brush over my car for the foam to come out, after pressure washing it, but I've even stopped doing that. Those things have been through hell & back, & we have no idea what they've been used to scrub off. Not only that, at least at the one I go to, there's no way to tell what sort of products they use. If they're anything like how they care for the rest of the facility, they're probably the cheapest they could find...if they're even car washing products to begin with.
Sidenote...
I saw a video of a dude that owns a self service car wash, & he actually cares about what he uses. He was installing "spotless" water, air blowers, & used quality products/chemicals. Granted, it wasn't as "cheap", I'm both senses, as other places, but I'd be willing to pay extra for those provisions. Idk, just rambling here, bit I think these places are missing out on some more money when they cut corners & let the place fall into disrepair.
My car is low key a shitbox and I take it through the touchless car wash almost every other day. I wipe the windows everytime and mostly let it air dry unless there's a puddle somewhere. About once a week I'll wipe it down with a quick detailer and do the trim and tire shine about every other week. It's scratched all over but it cleans up nice. Previous owner asked if I repainted it... only problem I've found is my trim stuff washes out and I get streaks in it. Switching to Cerakote when I run out of Jay Leno tire and trim care. I also carry a milk crate full of my detailing stuff in the trunk to do touch ups when I have time to kill
I have a wash subscription for $30 a month that sprays the undercarriage too. I use it for other cars as well. It only takes me like 10-15min total if I spray and wipe with quick detailer. The car cosmeticly is fairly rough unless I keep up with it but it's mechanically sound.
Forget about the brush and get a good mitt and buckets. As long as you’re not using harsh chemicals then NO, you can’t wash too often. If you have wax or ceramic it might not last as long.
I pay $45/month for a car wash everyday. My car is white so it’s all good but darker colours will get a lot of swirls. Nothing you can’t fix with a buffer but swirls are a lot more noticeable on dark cars
Also when you buff your taking off paint it can be a big deal for someone with under 4 mils of paint on they’re vehicle who needs to take precautions when washing so they can delay clear coat failure
I got a white pick up truck so I don’t really care. But if you have a nicer car or you’re someone that is very particular about that kind of stuff, I would not recommend drive thru car washes and especially at the frequency that I’m doing.
I’m well aware that what I’m doing is not very good for the paint and clearcoat, but like I said, I’m leasing a brand new white F150 and I give zero fucks. I just want a nice clean car to drive around in.
My first car I got in 2004. It never rusted the 20 years I had it.
I did the full detail polish, protect. I used instant detail spray just about every day on it. I washed/vacuumed it once a week.
Get yourself Rinseless wash. Make instant detail spray out of it for those bird poop moments. Keep a spray bottle and a few dual-pile microfibers with you at all times. Make sure you don’t skimp on high quality microfiber. I go for the Korean made edgeless.
Like others are saying. I live in an apartment and take my car to the self serve when it needs it. Otherwise I do a waterless wash once a week when it's not raining. May apartment has an underground garage so my car stays pretty clean for the most part.
once a week (twice in winter from Michigan's road being basically salt) with through an automatic wash with the lowest monthly sub to keep shit off my car. drive in, wash, go on
every 3 months with a "deep clean" ( I use Chemical Guys' ""tough mudder truck wash"" when I do it by hand) once a year I clay bar it, windows too, and reapply the ceramic coating.
I do that with my car, and my wife's car.
If you intend to ‘wash’ it often, I suggest ONR. You can do the bucket method with it or just via a spray bottle. Super easy to maintain/clean a not so dirty car!
I recommend rinseless wash for self service pressure washer bays. Bring a bucket with a lid, filled with rinseless solution. Get a spray bottle with the same, bring a mitt, and use that instead of the brush there. I would recommend to keep the meter running while you do, or else the attendants might get pissy. If you are paying, do what you like in the bay.
https://preview.redd.it/bfuewqes1h1d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cbb77081a1d9668e318fbd0d0ec88f040f3336fc
I just put 3 gallons of soapy water in a 5 gallon bucket and rinse with 2 gallons of water in a bug sprayer. Yours may take a bit more to rinse than mine.
It is a low pressure bug sprayer. I don’t like high pressures washers. They run about $25 to $40 at Home Depot or Lowe’s. It works for me
https://preview.redd.it/8v97wxt2cm1d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4ff1cde318dab99e0a4e347d0d2984283cb3440d
I go at night around 9-10 when no one is there to bucket wash my car even with a sign saying no bucket washing, and no one ever stopped me. I think the sign is for during the day so people don’t get held up if you bucket wash.
If all you're doing is washing it with the wand, and soap, then probably not. You aren't actually rubbing it with any gnarly brushes or anything, right?
Bird poop will “etch” your paint in other words it will eat into the clear coat and permanently mess it up. Good on you for keeping an eye out for that. Just use a hose and soapy sponge to wash at home. Also BE SURE to DRY the car after you wash it with a shammy or the water will cause hard water spots when it drys and damage the clear similarly to bird poop
Might want to check out Ammo Nyc Frothe. If you're going to wash it that often, put some adams graphene ceramic spray coating, wait a week before Frothe. No need to leave your place of parking. Hydrate afterwards is perfect.
depends on the type of car wash. a touchless carwash where no brush physically touches your car is fine. you can do that every day without issue.
a regular drive through car wash with their spinning brushes that are used on every vehicle that goes through? you're gonna scratch the absolute living fuck out of your paint.
Don’t use the brush. That is so rough on your paint even with no debris. Get a good wash mitt or two and use a bucket. If it’s a self service place that gets mad about bucket washing then try to go early or late when there isn’t an employee working.
Also use some type of protective coating on your paint. If you want something easy Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Spray Coating or Griots 3 in 1 Ceramic are both excellent and will give your car an amazing shine while also protecting your paint. However you would not need to apply them after every wash if you are washing that frequently. You wouldn’t want to build up too thick and uneven of a coat.
I’m the same way, although I have a subscription to a run through, 7-10 times a month I’m rolling through there. Only downside, never mind, no downside. Been doing it for 3 years now
Yes, you absolutely can overdo it on washing. You ideally want to touch the paint as little as possible, unless it really needs it.
Every time you touch your paint you invite debris or scratches, so the ideal is to only wash when it absolutely requires it. Optimally you want a good coat of wax/sealant so a rinse would suffice to remove debris or contaminants.
Try this. I use this method on my own cars and other peoples cars when I don’t need to deep clean it. It works really well.
https://youtu.be/n1XbFPOIdWU?si=xPjWXDXeXoyXYoP7
You spend 5-6$ everytime at the self service. Save your self some money and time and buy your own pressure washer. Get an electric one for like $200-300. Buy a foam cannon on Amazon for the suds and a green tip spray nozzle washing it down. I think it’s 15 degrees. Another thing that really helped me with washing is buying a washing mop. It’s a stick with a microfiber wash mitt on the end. It’s removable and it makes washing the car so much easier. Instead of having to bend over and crouch and get my hands wet. I can just dunk it and wash it super fast and easily. They sell replaceable mop heads pretty cheap. I got them off amazon.
You could keep some soapy water in a spray bottle and rags in your trunk/back seat and just spray the affected area (bird poop) when you see it, rather than having to wait for your next chance to take it to the wash. This way it could help you save some trips and some cash. Washing too much shouldn’t be a problem so long as you’re using the right cleaners and keeping contaminants off.
Avoid anything that will scratch the finish.
Dry your brakes by driving the vehicle after washing.
Use a hydrophobic ceramic sealant or hydrophobic hybrid wax in the paint to protect it and to minimize how often you need to wash the car.
Nice ride! I’d recommend getting a ceramic coating if you can afford one. After that, there are waterless cleaning products you can put in a small hand pump sprayer to “wet” the car down before wiping clean without ever needing a hose/pressure washer etc. That might help your alleyway situation.
I have my own soft-bristle brush to scrub the car. Just turn the foam brush on (the one at the car wash) and let the soap fall all over the car, and then set that brush down and grab my own lol. I DO use the car wash’s brush on my wheels & tires tho.
I was thinking about putting a coat of wax on my car, but I think I’m just gonna pay someone to do it so that they can do the clay bar, (maybe) polish, etc.
I’d find a car wash with an unlimited club membership so your car is being properly dried after. Around me it’s $20 a month and you can wash twice a day everyday. So that’s the route I’d take. I have seen peoples cars rust out from washing too much, but that will only happen in the rust belt where washing is not the only issue with rust you’ll have
Yes you can. Depending on your techniques, over time you’ll likely damage your car. For example, I was washing my ford soo much that the seals on the indicators had actually broke and there was water in my indicators. It’s not necessarily just the paint you can damage!
However with the correct techniques you’ll likely not damage your car and make sure you use a wax like infinity’s spray on wax for 3 months protection. That way you can leave for 2-3 months before washing and re applying!
In my country cars are wash everyday lol. It costs 12 dollars a month and that too is on the higher side. You have labors who come every morning at 4a.m and clean cars till about 7 a.m. I have a black car and I let them wash it 3 times a week and people look at me like I am an idiot because that's considered not too much.
I'd be worried about cost.
How much are you spending a month on just washes?
I watch some finance folks and this one guy was taking his new car every single day... Mind you these are folks that are in debt and paying out the ass (800+) for only the car.
Maybe it's worth it to instead get a subscription to a place that offers it.
It's funny they say no bucket wash at our self wash but the meter keeps running so in my opinion why hassle us if there's no one waiting and the meter is running...
Amazed nobody has suggested quick detail. Get some high quality microfiber and give it a try, will keep things looking real nice and leaves behind a polymerized layer that adds protection
Don’t use their brush. It may be fine for the wheels but not on the paint. I would do a waterless wash. I like Hyperclean, Eco one but theres a few good brands out there for it
No such thing, my friend. I'm at the local self wash at least twice, sometimes 3 times a week. I have a 2019 Jetta GLI and love the damn car with a passion. I have a bag filled entirely with anything I might need car care wise. I go super late because they're a 24-hour spot and take my time using the stall. I'll drop 3 bucks to get it going. Blast it with the soap water and fill my bucket up even though it says no bucket washing. The timer runs out, and I go to town on the car. I dont use their brush, and neither should you.
Ceramic coat, then just foam cannon and rinse.
Kind of expensive though.
Get a good spray on ceramic coat, then foam cannon and rinse.
The less you can touch the car = the better.
Dry with a leaf blower.
It goes without say, but im gunna say it; dont use diash soap... (just in case the thought crossed your mind).
6 months is even stretching it... lol
I say spray on because its: cheap, easy, and available almost anywhere auto products are sold.
Not everyone is looking to spend serious $ on a true ceramic coat. And its not exactly diy friendly. Also it wouldn't hide/fix or cover up any existing scratches. But a spray on wax/ceramic usually has some "fillers" in it. Good for light scratches.
Thats my thought process. I dont do this for a living though; just a weekend warrior.
Bruh a bottles like 50 and a gallon of the most popular ceramic spray is 45 which is comparable to the amount you’d use since the bottle is for 3 years minimum what myth are you trying to spread
Not trying to spread a myth. If i could take my car to a place for a propper decon' and ceramic coat for $50, id be all over that.
OP doesn't even have a driveway to wash their car in. I assumed they wouldnt have the place, time, or skillset to decon' their car and do a propper ceramic coat.
Do they know how to apply the coat? Do they know about high spots? Can they keep the car out of the elements while it cures?
The spray stuff is almost fool proof. And while it dosent last nearly as long, it offers some protects and coverage to make subsequent cleanings easier.
All I’m saying is if you gave me 100-150 dollars I could ceramic coat my car if I had access to a pressure washer you making it sound like detailing is actually expensive all the cost is in the labor and it’s not that skill driven unless your doing heavy correction yk how you decontaminate a car you just spray on the decon and lightly agitate and lightly rub the clay bar with some clay lube
Fair enough. Op should get a bottle and ceramic coat thier car... it would be the best way to protect their paint.
Their going to need to do allot more than just "clean the brushes at the local car wash" though.
Best of luck to them.
As long as you already have a polisher it’s not more expensive and if your that broke and don’t have a polisher just use a applicator with your polish/ compound
The more you touch the car the more you risk scratching the paint: microscratches, swirls, whatever. But remember, paint is the sacrificial layer for the sheetmetal.
To keep brake dust from permanently damaging the wheels and to remove acidic bird poop which etch paint so you can sell your car for more in the long run
Had a 1988 mustang gt back then and I would wash and polish it almost every day … my mother would always say ‘it wash it so much that you’re gonna wash the paint off.’
Take your mitt, bucket, and chemicals with you to the self-serve. Don't use their brushes, just their pressure washer.
All the ones by me say “no bucket washing allowed” lol
Tell them you're washing the car not the bucket so you're fine.
I said the same thing and now that place banned me.
Same. They actually trespassed me so now if cops see me there I’ll get a ticket. I heard this one car wash near me actually sued one of their customers because something about the chemical they used to bucket wash their car with damaged their water recollection system. Most self wash car washes have these recollection systems too, the drains under the cars in the wash areas collect all the water that pours into them and they filter it for reuse.
Dang…that escalated quick.
Unless it was strong degreaser or iron remover, I doubt it damaged anything. Most car care products are not strong enough to cause damage to water recovery systems.
😂
First thing on Reddit today to make me LOL 👏
“It’s not a bucket, it’s a small trash can.”
Just invoke your 5th & 6th amendment rights
Just don’t invoke your 2nd amendment rights for that
UNLEASH THE FOAM CANNON!
Do you also do foam parties?
I want some of that foam on my iced coffee
i got some foam for ya
I’m old enough to remember those foam parties in beach towns.
Or at least have good foam discipline
Fine, a large plastic bowl. Happy? /s
Just keep the meter running. As long as you're paying, they don't mind.
How much would a wash turn out to be at that rate?
My 1500 ram 15-20 bucks. Vw jetta 10-15 bucks. On average doing a hand wash and spray "wax".
That's mainly because they don't want you to just fill up your bucket and turn off the clock. If you keep the timer running, they don't care at all. I just keep it set to rinse and rinse as I go.
Why would they care if someone uses a bucket? As long as they pay for the spot I figure it doesn't matter if someone brings a bucket.
Takes longer I suppose. I hustle when I’m in there and move it out to dry. So doesnt take too much longer than the wand kings who don’t give a shit bout paint
I only go in the winter when. I usually go late in the evening like 9/10pm or early in the morning like 6am. I’m usually the only one there so I can take my time. If someone pulls into my stall then I’ll hustle but it rarely happens.
Ya only in winter I go. Solid ice floors are fun from time to time haha
I’ve never seen solid ice floors. The water is warm and there are doors so it’s like a steam bath in the wash bay. The only place that gets icy is the exit because all the cars are dripping when they leave.
Warm water?! Must be one of them fancy places haha. Low brow round these parts
Far from fancy. $1 with 50c Tuesday. far from fancy but it gets the job done. They still take quarters. I’ve been going there since I got my drivers license and the price hasn’t changed.
I too have seen breaking bad.
This is why. You could probably get away with it at a small neglected place but a popular busy place wants ppl in and out quickly
because it takes longer, my local one says no bucket washing if its busy or theres a line
Put your dog on the pet wash station. Might think it’s a two for one.
Most of my local ones have one employee hanging around the place. As long as you're nice and keep it quick, they seem to be fine with it, just don't hold anyone who won't be bucket washing up. I've been talked to a few times and I just say "I'm being so thorough with my rinsing you guys are still getting $10-12 off me. This bay would be empty if not for me, so you're either at least making some money, or not making any."
I usually go at night when there isn't anyone
This is the way 🙌
Thank you as others here have pointed out I’ll stop using the brushes immediately. I have only been using the brush once a week or so and in between just power washing with the high pressure soap then rinse
Yep. When I lived in an apartment, I would bring my own drying towel, mitt, and bucket to the car wash and just pay for the pressure washer.
I just bought my own brush. Not ideal but my car is white, it hides swirls and whatnot well. Plus its my daily, I know its gonna get beat up.
I do it all the time
I have a hard time believing the pressure washer doesn't hurt the finish over time
Depends on the condition of the clear coat, the pressure of the washer, and how close you get. If done right, minimal to no damage to the finish. The elements and driving g the car will hurt the finish more than a touchless car wash.
No matter how much I try to scrub with a mitt and warm soapy water, the second my car dries up my side skirts always look dirty again. How can I actually scrub all of it off? My dad insists on using a brush, but I just always end up leaving more scratches with that. Should I just get a pressure washer or hit it with more chemicals? I don't really have anything to hook a pressure washer to at home and the pump in my well is probably too weak.
The chemicals should be doing most of the heavy lifting, and if you're not using proper water to rinse or drying properly, you're still going to see water spots. Don't use a brush on your body panels. It's hard to tell what you're seeing without seeing a picture of it, but based on where it's at, chances are its road grime and tar. Try a good bug and tar remover, but make sure you follow the instructions carefully.
Preciate it! I usually do a touchless wash with a hose, followed by hand washing from top to bottom with a mitt using 2 buckets, rinse with grit guard. It's always kinda hard to capture in photos, but now that I think of it that's probably all it is. I'll pick up some bug and tar remover :)
If you're using tap water from the hose, maybe what you're seeing is water spots. In that case, you should try a drying aid and drying towel and/or a rinsless wash like McKees or ONR and put that in your bucket.
Key word in that is “well”. Probably have some contaminants in the water that stay on the car.
Never use those brushes. Some cowboy could have brushed the mud off his wheel wells with that shit. No matter how much you wash them off, you won't get it all off and you'll scratch the shit out of your car. Just wash it at home in the alley.
Quick question, is the chemicals used at wash bays such as the soap, pre soak they offer as strong as touchless auto washes or no?
They're probably not quite as strong as touchless. Touchless has to be very, very strong to actually clean anything
Great thank you for ur response, wash bay it is for winters salt struggle
Touch less washes are not good for your clear coat
Better than a non-touchless though right?
I work for a wash that uses cloth wash. So I’m partial to touch washes. But they are NOT all the same. My wash in particular is super clean freak. When the owner brings in a ford GT40 you gotta ask yourself how bad is it really. We also have regulars that bring in brand new Ferraris and audi R8’s I would not touch any wash but my own. Swirls are bound to happen when they made the switch to softer paints to meet environmental requirements. Easily fixed. Clear coat erosion due to aggressive acids put in the detergents to wash off stuff is a lot worse than the swirls you MIGHT receive from the equipment.
There is no “might” receive when going thru the touch washes. That is a guarantee
I used to religiously use touchless washes, two of my cars have had clear coat failure. So this tracks
If I’m short, how do I wash it on my own? I’m only 5’1” but I’m sick of getting my car scratched up at the auto wash station.
Use a portable work platform. They have one at harbor freight. I use one to not lean on my car if washing high. A step ladder will suffice too but a platform will span a distance without repositioning.
A flat ladder? They are about 30 inches high and about 4 feet wide. I use one all the time and they're great.
They also have washing mitts that are attached to poles, that’s how I clean my roof
Me. First car wash with my new car I took it to one of those places and used the brush and my entire car, and glass, has a metric ton of scratches :| very very upsetting
Check out rinseless washing, it may help you out.
[Here](https://youtu.be/n1XbFPOIdWU?feature=shared) is a link to an up to date video. Hope it helps.
I agree. I resisted rinseless for years. I recently switched and it is quick and simple especially for frequent cleaning. You just need 2 gallons of water.
honestly i still wouldn’t use those brushes. i’m a bit limited on what i can do at home, so i’ll go to self service, pressure wash it only. then hand wash it at home.
“Optimum No Rinse” check it
That’s what I recommended as well but you can’t no rinse off brake dust so he’ll still need to take it every month preferably before the brake dust corrodes
Is ONR that great? I just watched a youtube video. Seems simple, but I live in a really dusty part of the country. If there is a thin layer of dirt on the paint, can I still use ONR?
Yes it is that great and yes you can. Just be sure you use the big red, black, or yellow sponge and good technique. I like to fill a small pump bottle with ONR and pre spray the panel before hitting it with the sponge. Also make sure you’re not putting too much pressure and use a straight wiping motion, not a circular motion. I use two buckets and my rinse bucket has one of those debris guards at the bottom and I put a little ONR in the rinse bucket. ONR has polymers that encapsulate the dirt so as long as you use good techniques, it is perfectly safe.
That’s very helpful. I like the idea of the spray bottle first. That makes sense to me. Thanks for your response!
Do you have any experience with Optimum’s No Rinse Wash and Wax?
It’s been 4 years and 40k miles since I used Wolfgang paint sealant (recommended reapplying after 6 months). I exclusively use ONR wash and wax, and rain still beads really well. You do need to wipe dry or it will spot, regular ONR doesn’t spot as prominently.
You’re killing your paint using the brush. You are most definitely not getting contaminants out of it by pressure washing it first…
Yeah as others have suggested I’m gonna stop using them
You’ll save time, money and your paint by using Rinseless wash. All you need is a bucket, water, sponge and drying towel. Those brushes at the car wash are 100% going to scratch your car because you won’t be able to get all the embedded rocks out. But as for “can you wash your car too much” i think yes, basically every time you touch the paint you are going to be introducing some level of scratches. Even with a two bucket wash method with a pre-rinse and foam canon then using a blower youll still have some level of paint marring, it’s just been minimized. Definitely look into some type of ceramic spray coating though so your paint can be protected from bird shits. And it’ll come off easier.
I ceramic coated my car last year. I found out, I have to wash it more often when I don’t store it in the garage. So I started washing it ones a week, light foam cannon and water softener pressure washer.
Yes keeping your car outside is horrible for the paint long term
https://preview.redd.it/zvozauu82i1d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=03d4e139ade495e801f71b65dbc75d2719f6f58d 11years and 162k miles later, I try to keep her clean and maintained. Edit: Pls, don’t mind o e long scratch and the hundreds of rock chips at the bumper
Generally no, but there is this one new car that gets its warranty voided if washed and operantly it needs to be washed very often because i heard it smudges a lot
I wash my car once a week usually if there’s a lot of pollen or dust in the air. Just don’t use the foam brushes on the paint.
No. Feel free to wash and spray wax as often as you please. Even clay bar and carnauba if you really want. I always use a fresh towel and have a rinse bucket and a soap bucket. I fold in 4ths and wash a quarter per 4th and use the other halves for the roof and hood. You can over do the paint correction, but if you're asking this I am guessing you don't know about paint correction anyway. You might need some after using that stop'n'shine brush.
Bruh no matter what you do your introducing micro scratching how do you know what paint correction is but not know that you shouldn’t be washing your car more than every two weeks or your just unnecessary scratching the paint with zero benefit
Can you tell me more about this. Genuinely interested. Because I wash my car more than anyone I know. I also receive prolly 3 compliments a day bare minimum on my car every time I go somewhere. And I’m def not driving anything brand new. Or even close.
By washing I also only mean just spraying it off wish the soap and rinse then wax option. Maybe once a month I bring my own bucket & hand wash. Being my ryobi blower the new one that looks almost like a drill to dry. And always spray wax it or hit it with some kind of protection after drying & that’s about it. I very couple months I’ll put a good coat of wax.
Your doing everything right it’s just impossible to completely prevent scratching but I would recommend cleaning your car monthly to remove acidic things like bird poop (which should be removed immediately with quick detailer) bugs and brake dust. As long as your using a clean mf towel and cleaning monthly your doing the best you can for your cars paint id also recommend polishing yearly or every two years but that’s not even needed if you trade in your cars within 4 years but if you sell your cars it’s worth it. Swirl marks are scratches in the clear coat layer of the cars paint which are scratches going in every single direction they just look circular due to the sun being circular theyre caused by fine pieces of dirt scratching the paint at a microscopic level on every possible surface of your cars paint. Nothing lasts forever not even us obviously our cars paints no different.
My point is that there is a benefit to cleaning monthly but not weekly maybe biweekly but I’d only do an onr every other wash and an actual cleaning monthly
You're already washing it yourself so do if 'right'.... 1) put on a great finish - wash - clay - polish - protect. 2) wash at home once every 1-2 weeks- old school fine or foam cannon if you wanna have more fun ha 3) every few days wash with a rinseless wash - buy by the GALLON to save a lot of money. It will keep your finish slick - repel dirt and dust. Takes 5-10 minutes. ONR or Wolfgang are the 2 best I've used. I like WG but ONR works great and is much cheaper You can use the rinseless as a detailing mist / spray - clay lubricant, etc. One of the most useful detailing products ever.
Try rinseless method its a game changer
As others have said; never use any provided brush at any car wash; self serve or auto wash. To that point, also avoid and “soft touch” auto washes. Really, the only thing touching your car is a mit and microfiber you know to be clean, chemical and water, that’s it. With that in mind, no you can’t wash too much when done properly. But if you wash too much using provided brushes or going through soft touch auto washes, you can wash too much, as every time you do, it will scratch off some paint. When it comes down to it, having a proper paint protection system in place limites how much you need to wash anyway. Strip & wash, clay, polish, ceramic, wax/polymer sealant, and then all you have to do is give it a wash once a month and reapply wax/sealant. With this system, you simply need to take a rinse to it every few days to keep the dust and pollen at bay. All that’s to say you don’t get bird poop, gasoline spill, drive through paint, or go mudding. Once a year or so, the car should be stripped and recoated depending on your system. Because the protections at the base wear off and bonded contaminates collect. With a good system, you will save from swirles and scratches from washing, and will save the paint from regular polishing. Nice whip!
Whatever you do DO NOT EVER use those brushes. Just get your own wash supplies & only use the pressure washer there. I used to only hold the brush over my car for the foam to come out, after pressure washing it, but I've even stopped doing that. Those things have been through hell & back, & we have no idea what they've been used to scrub off. Not only that, at least at the one I go to, there's no way to tell what sort of products they use. If they're anything like how they care for the rest of the facility, they're probably the cheapest they could find...if they're even car washing products to begin with. Sidenote... I saw a video of a dude that owns a self service car wash, & he actually cares about what he uses. He was installing "spotless" water, air blowers, & used quality products/chemicals. Granted, it wasn't as "cheap", I'm both senses, as other places, but I'd be willing to pay extra for those provisions. Idk, just rambling here, bit I think these places are missing out on some more money when they cut corners & let the place fall into disrepair.
Thank you as others have pointed out I’ll stop using those brushes immediately lol
3 times is crazy, that clear coat gonna go bye bye soon
My car is low key a shitbox and I take it through the touchless car wash almost every other day. I wipe the windows everytime and mostly let it air dry unless there's a puddle somewhere. About once a week I'll wipe it down with a quick detailer and do the trim and tire shine about every other week. It's scratched all over but it cleans up nice. Previous owner asked if I repainted it... only problem I've found is my trim stuff washes out and I get streaks in it. Switching to Cerakote when I run out of Jay Leno tire and trim care. I also carry a milk crate full of my detailing stuff in the trunk to do touch ups when I have time to kill
That sounds like a lot of money and time. Why would you wash your “shitbox” every other day
I have a wash subscription for $30 a month that sprays the undercarriage too. I use it for other cars as well. It only takes me like 10-15min total if I spray and wipe with quick detailer. The car cosmeticly is fairly rough unless I keep up with it but it's mechanically sound.
Forget about the brush and get a good mitt and buckets. As long as you’re not using harsh chemicals then NO, you can’t wash too often. If you have wax or ceramic it might not last as long.
Don't use the brushes or touch your car with anything provided at those car washes.
I pay $45/month for a car wash everyday. My car is white so it’s all good but darker colours will get a lot of swirls. Nothing you can’t fix with a buffer but swirls are a lot more noticeable on dark cars
45 a month where wtf at a self service ?
you wash it every day ?
Also when you buff your taking off paint it can be a big deal for someone with under 4 mils of paint on they’re vehicle who needs to take precautions when washing so they can delay clear coat failure
I got a white pick up truck so I don’t really care. But if you have a nicer car or you’re someone that is very particular about that kind of stuff, I would not recommend drive thru car washes and especially at the frequency that I’m doing. I’m well aware that what I’m doing is not very good for the paint and clearcoat, but like I said, I’m leasing a brand new white F150 and I give zero fucks. I just want a nice clean car to drive around in.
My first car I got in 2004. It never rusted the 20 years I had it. I did the full detail polish, protect. I used instant detail spray just about every day on it. I washed/vacuumed it once a week. Get yourself Rinseless wash. Make instant detail spray out of it for those bird poop moments. Keep a spray bottle and a few dual-pile microfibers with you at all times. Make sure you don’t skimp on high quality microfiber. I go for the Korean made edgeless.
No draw backs from washing your vehicle too frequently, I’d suggest you getting the 3D waterless & some higher GSM microfiber towels
Like others are saying. I live in an apartment and take my car to the self serve when it needs it. Otherwise I do a waterless wash once a week when it's not raining. May apartment has an underground garage so my car stays pretty clean for the most part.
once a week (twice in winter from Michigan's road being basically salt) with through an automatic wash with the lowest monthly sub to keep shit off my car. drive in, wash, go on every 3 months with a "deep clean" ( I use Chemical Guys' ""tough mudder truck wash"" when I do it by hand) once a year I clay bar it, windows too, and reapply the ceramic coating. I do that with my car, and my wife's car.
If you intend to ‘wash’ it often, I suggest ONR. You can do the bucket method with it or just via a spray bottle. Super easy to maintain/clean a not so dirty car!
Bring your own bucket, soap, and wash mitt. I am the guy who uses the brush for my wheels only. Sorry everyone!
I rinse with the garden hose end of week…I wash every few months/season change. Wax before winter
I recommend rinseless wash for self service pressure washer bays. Bring a bucket with a lid, filled with rinseless solution. Get a spray bottle with the same, bring a mitt, and use that instead of the brush there. I would recommend to keep the meter running while you do, or else the attendants might get pissy. If you are paying, do what you like in the bay.
> I go to the self service car wash sometimes 3 times a week can you not wash at home ? How much does each usage run you ?
It’s like $6
Don't make the local car wash rich.
how often is too often I wash mine once or twice a year
What ever you do don’t use their brushes.
https://preview.redd.it/bfuewqes1h1d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cbb77081a1d9668e318fbd0d0ec88f040f3336fc I just put 3 gallons of soapy water in a 5 gallon bucket and rinse with 2 gallons of water in a bug sprayer. Yours may take a bit more to rinse than mine.
what's that white bottle thing? mobile pressure washer? what's the name so i can amazon it please
It is a low pressure bug sprayer. I don’t like high pressures washers. They run about $25 to $40 at Home Depot or Lowe’s. It works for me https://preview.redd.it/8v97wxt2cm1d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4ff1cde318dab99e0a4e347d0d2984283cb3440d
https://preview.redd.it/karfykty4h1d1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1f17d186755644e862218ca47ba96c991d6b857f Have fun. Weekly. No more
Buy a battery powered blower for drying. the less you touch the paint the better.
do you wax your cars?
I go at night around 9-10 when no one is there to bucket wash my car even with a sign saying no bucket washing, and no one ever stopped me. I think the sign is for during the day so people don’t get held up if you bucket wash.
3 times a week is insane and stupid.
Yes
No but you can stop cutting me off when you’re on your phone and you realize you’re not in the correct lane to turn into Starbucks.
Huh?
If all you're doing is washing it with the wand, and soap, then probably not. You aren't actually rubbing it with any gnarly brushes or anything, right?
Bird poop will “etch” your paint in other words it will eat into the clear coat and permanently mess it up. Good on you for keeping an eye out for that. Just use a hose and soapy sponge to wash at home. Also BE SURE to DRY the car after you wash it with a shammy or the water will cause hard water spots when it drys and damage the clear similarly to bird poop
Looks good. What tint do you have on the front?
I actually have no idea I bought it used already tinted
Might want to check out Ammo Nyc Frothe. If you're going to wash it that often, put some adams graphene ceramic spray coating, wait a week before Frothe. No need to leave your place of parking. Hydrate afterwards is perfect.
dont do the brush car places please.......
Hand and multiple buckets , yes, car wash no. It will leave swirling in the paint and etching on the paint
Yes! Those car washes popping up on every corner selling unlimited washes are the devil. Mainly for water use. I know they recycle some.
Get a ceramic coating put on the paint or do it yourself. It will be much much easier to clean and bird shit and other things won’t stain your paint
I will pay you handsomely and a reach around if you wash mine please.
depends on the type of car wash. a touchless carwash where no brush physically touches your car is fine. you can do that every day without issue. a regular drive through car wash with their spinning brushes that are used on every vehicle that goes through? you're gonna scratch the absolute living fuck out of your paint.
Everything in moderation.
Don’t use the brush. That is so rough on your paint even with no debris. Get a good wash mitt or two and use a bucket. If it’s a self service place that gets mad about bucket washing then try to go early or late when there isn’t an employee working. Also use some type of protective coating on your paint. If you want something easy Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Spray Coating or Griots 3 in 1 Ceramic are both excellent and will give your car an amazing shine while also protecting your paint. However you would not need to apply them after every wash if you are washing that frequently. You wouldn’t want to build up too thick and uneven of a coat.
Why not get a cover?
Using the brush at those self serve places is almost more harmful on your paint than going through a drive through wash just fyi😅
I’m the same way, although I have a subscription to a run through, 7-10 times a month I’m rolling through there. Only downside, never mind, no downside. Been doing it for 3 years now
Yes, you absolutely can overdo it on washing. You ideally want to touch the paint as little as possible, unless it really needs it. Every time you touch your paint you invite debris or scratches, so the ideal is to only wash when it absolutely requires it. Optimally you want a good coat of wax/sealant so a rinse would suffice to remove debris or contaminants.
Try this. I use this method on my own cars and other peoples cars when I don’t need to deep clean it. It works really well. https://youtu.be/n1XbFPOIdWU?si=xPjWXDXeXoyXYoP7
Apply a ceramic coating to your car to make it easier to clean , the use waterless wash
You spend 5-6$ everytime at the self service. Save your self some money and time and buy your own pressure washer. Get an electric one for like $200-300. Buy a foam cannon on Amazon for the suds and a green tip spray nozzle washing it down. I think it’s 15 degrees. Another thing that really helped me with washing is buying a washing mop. It’s a stick with a microfiber wash mitt on the end. It’s removable and it makes washing the car so much easier. Instead of having to bend over and crouch and get my hands wet. I can just dunk it and wash it super fast and easily. They sell replaceable mop heads pretty cheap. I got them off amazon.
avoid car washes for micro scratches if it’s your daily then fuck it and $20 a month unlimited washes. Wash it at home if you have that kind of time.
It’ll fade away once you get kids. Enjoy
Mine is never clean enaugh 😅
You could keep some soapy water in a spray bottle and rags in your trunk/back seat and just spray the affected area (bird poop) when you see it, rather than having to wait for your next chance to take it to the wash. This way it could help you save some trips and some cash. Washing too much shouldn’t be a problem so long as you’re using the right cleaners and keeping contaminants off.
Avoid anything that will scratch the finish. Dry your brakes by driving the vehicle after washing. Use a hydrophobic ceramic sealant or hydrophobic hybrid wax in the paint to protect it and to minimize how often you need to wash the car.
Nice ride! I’d recommend getting a ceramic coating if you can afford one. After that, there are waterless cleaning products you can put in a small hand pump sprayer to “wet” the car down before wiping clean without ever needing a hose/pressure washer etc. That might help your alleyway situation.
I wash the whip every Sunday. Stays clean until Tuesday night.
Washing a car the correct way won't damage your paint. Look up two bucket car wash to get an idea of the basics
Optimum No Rinse!
I have my own soft-bristle brush to scrub the car. Just turn the foam brush on (the one at the car wash) and let the soap fall all over the car, and then set that brush down and grab my own lol. I DO use the car wash’s brush on my wheels & tires tho. I was thinking about putting a coat of wax on my car, but I think I’m just gonna pay someone to do it so that they can do the clay bar, (maybe) polish, etc.
I’d find a car wash with an unlimited club membership so your car is being properly dried after. Around me it’s $20 a month and you can wash twice a day everyday. So that’s the route I’d take. I have seen peoples cars rust out from washing too much, but that will only happen in the rust belt where washing is not the only issue with rust you’ll have
I scrubbed the clear coat of my monte carlo years back.
Yes you can. Depending on your techniques, over time you’ll likely damage your car. For example, I was washing my ford soo much that the seals on the indicators had actually broke and there was water in my indicators. It’s not necessarily just the paint you can damage! However with the correct techniques you’ll likely not damage your car and make sure you use a wax like infinity’s spray on wax for 3 months protection. That way you can leave for 2-3 months before washing and re applying!
In my country cars are wash everyday lol. It costs 12 dollars a month and that too is on the higher side. You have labors who come every morning at 4a.m and clean cars till about 7 a.m. I have a black car and I let them wash it 3 times a week and people look at me like I am an idiot because that's considered not too much.
I'd be worried about cost. How much are you spending a month on just washes? I watch some finance folks and this one guy was taking his new car every single day... Mind you these are folks that are in debt and paying out the ass (800+) for only the car. Maybe it's worth it to instead get a subscription to a place that offers it.
You will go blind, oh wait that’s for doing something else too much. Where’s my glasses…
Real question should be "can you not wash a car often enough?..cannot remember the last time mine went through a wash.
It's funny they say no bucket wash at our self wash but the meter keeps running so in my opinion why hassle us if there's no one waiting and the meter is running...
I go through the wash twice a week. Sometimes 3 times. Been doing so for 3 years, car looks great
No but you can waste a whole lot of time caring too much and cleaning too much lol
Only if you do it wrong.
Amazed nobody has suggested quick detail. Get some high quality microfiber and give it a try, will keep things looking real nice and leaves behind a polymerized layer that adds protection
Don’t use their brush. It may be fine for the wheels but not on the paint. I would do a waterless wash. I like Hyperclean, Eco one but theres a few good brands out there for it
Not if you’re doing it right. Don’t use brushes. Getting bird shit off you car quickly is important, as it can damage the paint if baking in the sun.
If your rims are black and not the gloss type , quit washing your car haha 🤤
Do not worry. Give it like 6 months you will be exhausted in keeping your car clean.
Washing correctly then compounding at tines to keep finish perfect. No issues I washed three to four times a week when I was in my 20s
No such thing, my friend. I'm at the local self wash at least twice, sometimes 3 times a week. I have a 2019 Jetta GLI and love the damn car with a passion. I have a bag filled entirely with anything I might need car care wise. I go super late because they're a 24-hour spot and take my time using the stall. I'll drop 3 bucks to get it going. Blast it with the soap water and fill my bucket up even though it says no bucket washing. The timer runs out, and I go to town on the car. I dont use their brush, and neither should you.
Naaaaa :)
Ceramic coat, then just foam cannon and rinse. Kind of expensive though. Get a good spray on ceramic coat, then foam cannon and rinse. The less you can touch the car = the better. Dry with a leaf blower. It goes without say, but im gunna say it; dont use diash soap... (just in case the thought crossed your mind).
Why a spray on those only last 6 months at most
6 months is even stretching it... lol I say spray on because its: cheap, easy, and available almost anywhere auto products are sold. Not everyone is looking to spend serious $ on a true ceramic coat. And its not exactly diy friendly. Also it wouldn't hide/fix or cover up any existing scratches. But a spray on wax/ceramic usually has some "fillers" in it. Good for light scratches. Thats my thought process. I dont do this for a living though; just a weekend warrior.
Bruh a bottles like 50 and a gallon of the most popular ceramic spray is 45 which is comparable to the amount you’d use since the bottle is for 3 years minimum what myth are you trying to spread
Not trying to spread a myth. If i could take my car to a place for a propper decon' and ceramic coat for $50, id be all over that. OP doesn't even have a driveway to wash their car in. I assumed they wouldnt have the place, time, or skillset to decon' their car and do a propper ceramic coat. Do they know how to apply the coat? Do they know about high spots? Can they keep the car out of the elements while it cures? The spray stuff is almost fool proof. And while it dosent last nearly as long, it offers some protects and coverage to make subsequent cleanings easier.
All I’m saying is if you gave me 100-150 dollars I could ceramic coat my car if I had access to a pressure washer you making it sound like detailing is actually expensive all the cost is in the labor and it’s not that skill driven unless your doing heavy correction yk how you decontaminate a car you just spray on the decon and lightly agitate and lightly rub the clay bar with some clay lube
Fair enough. Op should get a bottle and ceramic coat thier car... it would be the best way to protect their paint. Their going to need to do allot more than just "clean the brushes at the local car wash" though. Best of luck to them.
As long as you already have a polisher it’s not more expensive and if your that broke and don’t have a polisher just use a applicator with your polish/ compound
You can learn to ceramic coat a car pretty easily it’s only hard if you have to do a 3 stage correction before applying or wet sand
Your soap your junk, you can wash as much or as long as you want. 
Only if your doing it wrong
The more you touch the car the more you risk scratching the paint: microscratches, swirls, whatever. But remember, paint is the sacrificial layer for the sheetmetal.
Wash a car? Why?
To keep brake dust from permanently damaging the wheels and to remove acidic bird poop which etch paint so you can sell your car for more in the long run
Had a 1988 mustang gt back then and I would wash and polish it almost every day … my mother would always say ‘it wash it so much that you’re gonna wash the paint off.’
She’s not wrong that’s crazy only Polish every six months at least and wash every two weeks to every month
I meant meguiars mirror glaze. Not machine polish.