Taking good care of your car means keeping it clean. To keep your car in the best possible shape, you should wash it regularly. Washing gets dirt and debris out of the frame and keeps the paint job looking spiffy, which will help maintain its value. However, there’s always the debate whether it is better to go through the automatic car wash, or hand wash it yourself.

Many individuals prefer to wash their own cars! But which way is better? Here are a few pros and cons when it comes to automatic vs DIY car washes.

Hand Washing Your Vehicle

There are a few reasons people prefer to wash their own cars. For one, people see it as a money saver. The other pro to DIY washing is that you can give your car the time and attention it deserves, which may lead to a more quality wash. 

On the other hand, the tools and soaps that you’ll need to wash your own car cost about the same as taking your vehicle through the automatic wash. If you’re not willing to take the time to be thorough when you wash your own car, then you may as well take it to the local car wash, where the soaps and machines will be able to properly dig dirt and debris out of crevices. 

While many individuals think that DIY washing is better for the paint job, the truth is that many store-bought soaps and sponges can actually harm the paint job. Some soaps wear away the exterior coat and paint. Scratching and scrubbing with the wrong tool can cause further damage. 

Going to an automatic wash is far more environmentally friendly than doing the job at home. The soap and dirty water traveling down the street can actually pollute the environment. Phosphates in soaps can cause extra algae to grow, which will throw off the environmental balance where you live. 

Benefits of Automatic Car Washes

The automatic car wash is created specifically to give your car a thorough but gentle wash. When you go to the car wash, you don’t have to worry that you’re ruining your paint job with hard sponges or sharp bristles. The flannel strips and the spinning sponge brushes in combination with jets shooting water will be able to help get rid of even the toughest, most stuck-on dirt and grime. Everything from the soap to the materials used is tested and safe. You can be sure that your car is getting thoroughly cleaned, especially all the nooks and crannies. 

It’s also much less time consuming to drive through a car wash than stand around scrubbing away the afternoon in your driveway. You can get your car cleaned within a matter of minutes and be on your way. 

What Should I Choose?

There’s no exact right or wrong answer when it comes to washing your vehicle by hand vs. automatic washing. That’s why at Flagstop Car Wash, several of our locations include a self-service station, so that you can wash your car whichever way is best for you! If you’re looking to hand-wash your car with the best soaps and tools, check out our locations in Chester, Chesterfield, North Chesterfield, and Colonial Heights. You can also run your car through the automatic wash at any of our locations if you want to save time and make sure you get a quality wash!

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