Waxing a car provides many benefits like protecting the paint, giving the car a shiny appearance, and making it easier to clean. However, over time the wax will start to wear off from driving the car and from normal environmental exposure. This leads many car owners to wonder if going through a car wash will prematurely strip off the protective wax coating.
The short answer is that most commercial car washes use methods that are safe for a waxed car. However, there are some caveats to this. The level of impact on the wax depends on the type of car wash, the age and quality of the wax, and how frequently you go through the wash.
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How Car Washes Work
To understand if car washes remove wax, it helps to know how the different systems work. There are three main types of commercial car washes:
Touchless Car Washes
Touchless car washes use high-powered spraying equipment to project water and cleaning solutions onto the vehicle. The high pressure helps knock off dirt and grime.
These car washes rely on the force of the water rather than brushes or friction to clean. The pressurized water streams come from multiple fixed nozzles surrounding the car.
Touchless systems often include options like undercarriage flushers, wheel cleaners, and protectant applicators. Some locations even have turbo blowers or air knives to help dry the car off at the end of the wash.
Soft-Touch Car Washes
Soft-touch car washes use soft cloth or microfiber strips that drape over the vehicle as it moves through the tunnel. The strips gently scrub and buff the car’s surface.
At the same time, oscillating high pressure washers help blast away stubborn dirt the cloths may miss. These automatic car washes often have wrapped brush assemblies for the sides as well.
The soft materials are designed to safely contour to the vehicle’s shape and not damage the finish. Many soft-touch washes also have options like underbody washing, spot free rinse, and wax applications.
Hybrid Car Washes
Hybrid car washes combine attributes from touchless and soft-touch systems. They use both high pressure spray nozzles as well as soft cloth friction strips.
The hybrid method allows car washes to safely clean all sorts of vehicle designs. The high pressure spray can reach difficult areas that the cloths may not wrap to, like mirrors, door handles, and tight crevices.
Do Car Washes Remove Wax?
Now that we’ve looked at how modern car washes work, we can better analyze how they impact wax coatings. Here’s a look at how the different systems affect wax:
Touchless Car Washes
Touchless car washes are the gentlest choice if you want to minimize wax removal. The high pressure water streams are powerful enough to blast away dirt but don’t use friction that strips wax.
However, even touchless washing can gradually remove wax over time. If you go through frequently, such as weekly washes, the spraying may diminish wax protection faster than just natural environmental exposure.
Wax longevity also depends on the quality and application method. Hand waxing generally lasts 1-3 months. Premium paste or liquid waxes applied by a professional detailer may last 4-6 months. Touchless washing monthly is unlikely to significantly reduce durability.
Soft-Touch Car Washes
Soft-touch car washes do involve more physical contact with the vehicle’s paint. The microfiber strips gently rub the surface to loosen contaminants. This friction has the potential to remove more wax than a touchless system.
However, reputable soft-touch auto washes use materials designed to safely clean without damaging the finish. The microfibers are extremely soft and shouldn’t etch or scratch paint.
Again, wash frequency plays a role. Occasional soft-touch washing, like once a month, will have minimal impact. The wax won’t get stripped much faster than environmental factors. More frequent soft-touch washing may begin to noticeably reduce wax coverage.
Hybrid Car Washes
Hybrid car washes combine the effects of touchless and soft-touch systems. The high pressure spray helps dislodge dirt and grime. Then the microfiber cloths safely scrub the vehicle without abrasion.
The friction from the cloth strips likely removes a bit more wax than a strict touchless wash. However, high quality hybrid washes with soft cloths are still gentle enough for occasional use without excessive wax removal.
Factors That Impact Wax Removal
While car washes won’t immediately strip off all wax with one wash, they can gradually decrease durability and longevity when used repeatedly. How much of an effect they have depends on these key factors:
Wax Type
The quality and type of wax plays a significant role in its durability. Commercial car wash wax applied through a spray tunnel may only last a week or two. Basic waxes from an auto parts store may last 1-2 months.
Premium paste or liquid waxes applied by hand or machine buffing can endure 3-6 months. Ceramic coatings, which have gained popularity in recent years, are engineered for longevity and can protect for a year or more.
Higher quality waxes withstand environmental exposure and car washing much better than budget options. If you apply a showroom grade wax, the occasional automatic wash will have minimal impact.
Wax Application Method
How the wax is applied also affects durability. Hand applying wax often doesn’t bond as uniformly or strongly as machine buffing. Professional detailers have specialized equipment that removes all contaminants and applies wax consistently.
If wax is spotty or unevenly distributed, it’s more likely to get removed by automatic washing. Proper prep work and application technique leads to longer lasting protection.
Age of Wax
The newer the wax coat is, the better it will withstand car washing. As time passes, environmental contaminants and oxidation will naturally break down the wax. The longer the wax has been on the paint, the easier it will be for a car wash to remove it.
If your car has fresh wax that’s only a week or two old, an automatic wash won’t remove much at all. If the wax has been slowly degrading for months, it won’t have the same level of durability.
Wash Frequency
How often you go through a car wash has a major impact. Using an automatic wash once a month will have negligible effects on wax coverage. But weekly or daily washing can more noticeably degrade the protection.
Even with high quality ceramic coatings designed for longevity, very frequent washing can impact durability. For maximum wax retention, limit car wash use to once or twice a month.
Can Car Washes Apply Wax?
While car washes can gradually remove wax over time, many locations offer options to apply wax as part of the cleaning process. Adding a wax application helps offset any stripping effects from the wash.
Spray Wax
Many touchless and soft-touch car washes provide a spray wax application. As a final step, a mist of liquid wax coats the vehicle’s surface.
Spray waxes help enhance the shine and provide a temporary layer of protection. However, they are thinner than paste waxes so don’t last as long. A spray wax may endure a week or two before breaking down.
Paste Wax
Some high end car washes have a machine application of paste wax. This provides a thicker, longer lasting coat than spray formulas.
The process evenly spreads paste wax across the vehicle’s paint just like a professional detail. It then gets buffed in and removed for maximum shine and protection.
Depending on the quality of the wax, a paste application could protect for 1-3 months. It adds back the protection the wash may have removed.
Ceramic Coatings
A few modern car washes even offer a ceramic coating service. This bonds a glossy liquid polymer to the clear coat for long term protection.
Ceramic coatings form a much harder shell than wax that’s highly resistant to washing. A professionally applied ceramic coating can retain its protection for a year or more.
Adding a ceramic coating application to your car wash regimen provides the most durable wax replacement. It will maintain a glossy, hydrophobic finish that sheds dirt and contaminants.
Tips to Minimize Wax Removal from Car Washes
While car washes won’t completely strip wax with one use, they may gradually reduce durability and longevity over time. Here are some tips to help minimize wax removal when going through automatic washes:
Opt for Touchless Systems
Stick with touchless car washes as much as possible. The high pressure water will blast away dirt without as much friction on the paint. This has the gentlest effect on wax coatings.
Wash Monthly or Less
Don’t get in the habit of weekly or daily car wash use. Keep visits limited to once or twice a month at most. Less frequent washing reduces exposure that can wear away wax over time.
Apply Fresh Wax Regularly
Apply wax 1-2 times per year, or every 3-6 months, to keep protection fresh. Top off wax that gets depleted from washing and environmental factors. Hand waxing or professional applications help maintain durability.
Add Wax Services
Use car wash wax options like spray, paste, or ceramic applications. These replace wax that gets removed from washing to prolong protection.
Use Premium Waxes
Invest in a high quality paste or liquid wax, or professional ceramic coating. Superior formulas withstand washing and environmental factors much better than budget waxes.
Best Car Wash Methods for Waxed Cars
To safely keep your car’s shine and protection between full wax details, follow these car wash guidelines:
– Touchless washes are the gentlest for frequent use
– Limit automatic washing to 1-2 times per month
– Wash by hand at self-service bays for lightly soiled vehicles
– Use wash methods with wax applications to replace removed protection
– Apply a fresh coat of wax or ceramic coating every 3-6 months
Following these tips will ensure car washes don’t prematurely strip away wax while keeping your vehicle clean.
Conclusion
Going through an automatic car wash should not immediately remove all wax off a vehicle when done occasionally. However, frequent washing can gradually degrade wax over time. The level of impact depends on the wash method, wax quality, application technique, age, and frequency.
To retain maximum protection and shine between full wax details, use touchless washing limited to once or twice per month. Added wax services help offset any removal from washing. Applying fresh wax every 3-6 months will also maintain optimum coverage. Following these guidelines allows car owners to benefit from automatic washing without stripping their car’s protection and gloss.
