I have a black car, is it OK for me to go through a touchless car-wash and then hand dry my car with the double weave microfiber towels from detailers domain?

I dont understand how a touchless car-wash would give me swirl marks?

Also... do any of you know reputable detailer in the Albany NY or Toronto, ON CANADA area.

 

If your car is really dirty, touchless washes are unlikely to get all the dirt off the paint, especially panels in the rear and down low. Then even special purpose microfiber drying towels can introduce scratches. If I don't have time to do a hand wash, I use a touchless wash with a spot-free rinse.

 

Touchless car washes are usually worse than the car washes that actually touch the paint. The chemicals used in a touchless car wash are so strong they can strip the wax off in one wash. Since they're relying on chemicals to do the cleaning instead of mechanical, they are way too harsh. The best option is to find a local detail shop to perform a hand wash for you if possible, and many times they're not that much more expensive than a machine, otherwise you're much better off washing the car yourself. Best of luck.


John

 

As stated above, touchless car washes seldom do a great job. What's happening is the soap is cleaning off surface stuff but not cleaning all the dirt since it needs a mechanical way of doing this...then it wouldn't be touchless. Since all the dirt wasn't cleaned, when you go to dry the car, you're now rubbing all that stuff into your towel and paint.

Your best bet is to wash it yourslef or find a good reputable shop to do it. Not sure how close they are, but call Matt or Eddie at www.detailingdynamics.com

 

So pretty much never take my car to a touchless... the thing is I go to school in Albany NY and there is literally NO ONE here who details/washes cars AT ALL. It's like these people dont care one bit...

 

If the traditional two bucket wash method is not practical for you then you need to spend sometime on Autogeek.net or autopia.org and learn ONR wash technique (optimum no rinse). You can wash your car (with practice) in 20 minutes.

 

Touchless washes use stronger chemicals to clean since they do the work and not mechanical means. I have found a few good ones in my area, I can get through my long winters using them without much loss of the wax/sealant. I suggest a sealant over wax if you plan on touchless, durability is better.

In response to did the touchless give you swirls........yes and no. No the wash just chemically removed any wax, that was hiding the glaze fillers that concealed the flaws.

In Toronto GTA.......look up http://gtaindetail.com/ OUTSTANDING work!

Cheers,
GREG

 

The kids outside the touchless washes dry your not "fully" washed car with cheap microfiber towels. Don't you think that will cause swirls. Trust me been there, done that. Learn good wash technique and even if you can wash your car twice a month you are better off. Winter time your answer is ONR (optimum no rinse). Just check out autopia and autogeek websites for tons of info on how to clean cars with this product.

 

^^^^^^
Its not touchless if you allow the kids to touch it.

I agree learning how to do a proper wash is VITAL.


Cheers,
GREG

 

I agree, but remember it's not really the quality or cheap MF towels being used that damage the car, it's the dirt left behind that's being dragged across the surface that cause the swirls/micro scratches.

No matter how soft it is it doesn't matter if there's any dirt particles on the surface.

My rule of thumb is, "no touch wash, no touch dry" "hand wash, hand dry".

Josh