Touchless car washes that spray liquid after liquid to “presoak”, “power wash”, “sealant”, “protective coating” and other things, how does this work? Does spraying X liquid after Y liquid after Z liquid really clean and do anything to protect a car’s paint?

Question

Edit: as in no need to really dry/wipe off the prior application? Or is it really just a soap and wash that gets most of dirt off?

In: 660

Answer 1

Most car washes use timed application of a variety of chemicals. The timed application allows for stronger chemicals to be used.

Low pH and high pH chemicals can leave marks on the trim and paint if left on too long, and are usually avoided by car wash processes involving humans. With a timed process, they can be sure to avoid any problems by making sure the low pH and high pH chemicals are neutralized before any damage can be done.

Waxes and polymer sealants can be applied in liquid form, so the last stages usually involve these products to give a nice shine, protect the paint and help with drying.

While this does allow for a touchless cleaning process, it still does not remove 100% of the dirt. Properly done hand-washing is going to give you a more complete clean, at the cost of increased time and effort.