The Dangers of the Unassuming Car Wash
The humble car wash: a place where dirt fears soap, foam reigns supreme, and people somehow make baffling mistakes while only moving in a straight line (we’ve all been there). Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned suds enthusiast, avoiding these common blunders will save you time, embarrassment, and potentially your side mirrors!
Leaving the Side Mirrors Out
Those side mirrors stick out like little high-fives for passing objects. Leaving them open is an invitation for brushes to smack them around. Folding them in keeps them safe, and prevents you from spending the rest of your day reattaching them with duct tape and regret.
Not Aligning Your Vehicle Properly
The tracks at the start of the wash aren’t a suggestion; they’re the only way your car moves through without drama. Misalign, and you could stall the whole operation, triggering a chain reaction of honking drivers and irritated staff. Take the extra few seconds to line it up straight.
Scrubbing Your Car Before the Wash
If you’re scrubbing your car before the car wash, congratulations; you’ve just done the machine’s job for it! Unless your vehicle is wearing an inch-thick coat of mud, pre-washing is usually unnecessary. Save your elbows, water and soap suds, and let the spinning brushes do what they were created to do.
Taking the Car Out of Neutral Too Soon
Some drivers panic when they see the end of the wash tunnel, quickly shifting out of neutral as if the car will escape on its own. Problem is, the conveyor’s still moving. Wait until staff or signs clearly tell you to drive - otherwise you might give the brushes a surprise kiss.
Not Bringing Enough Quarters
If your wash is coin-operated, bring more quarters than you think you need. You don’t want to be that person racing the clock with only half a soapy hood rinsed off, digging in the seats for spare change while your car slowly dries in a streaky disgrace.
Leaving Without Checking for Damage
You may be in a hurry, but leaving without a quick inspection is risky. Dings, scratches, or a missing aerial are much easier to address before you’ve driven away. Take a 30-second lap around your car; think of it as a victory walk for cleanliness and caution.
Going Through the Car Wash With a Damaged Vehicle
That dangling bumper or cracked mirror? The car wash will happily finish the job of removing it. Machines aren’t delicate, and brushes don’t know the difference between dirt and your fragile parts. Fix damage first, or prepare to see pieces of your vehicle riding the foam wave without you!
