As vehicle paint protection experts, we tend to focus on damaging your clear coat. But automatic car washes can also damage other parts of your car. In fact, there are some that have been known to tear off the antenna, side view mirrors, and even front or rear bumpers.

As we discussed above, some automatic car washing facilities use an industrial-strength alkaline enhanced degreasing shampoo. These formulations are great for stripping wax, paint sealants, and even bird droppings, bug guts, and tree sap. But that aggressive soap leaves a mark on unprotected paint. In fact, over time, it can start to eat away at the clear coat, leading to oxidation of the coat, corrosion, and eventually rust.

Even the auto car washing facilities with super hair driers are prone to water spotting. Most facilities use city industrial water – which isn’t filtered and contains higher calcium deposits or other minerals. As the water dries on the surface, those deposits will dry rapidly and leave dried mineral deposits that are difficult to remove.