Q: I wash my vehicle at home using a garden hose. Lately, the finish looks dull and marked. What could be wrong?

A: Washing your vehicle at home is extremely harmful to the finish. The University of Texas proved that a single home hand-wash can leave scratches in your finish as deep as 1/10 of the paints total thickness. Also, the average garden hose cannot supply enough water and water pressure with the detergent action to avoid damaging a vehicle's finish.

This important study concluded that automobile owners should avoid washing their vehicles at home. Only a professional car wash can provide the proper amounts of water and water pressure needed along with the appropriate soaps and waxes to safely and effectively clean your vehicle.

Q: How can I keep my whitewall tires looking like whitewalls?

A: Don't use scouring pads to clean your whitewalls. This will deteriorate the whitewall surface. A professional car wash can provide the necessary whitewall cleaner and the proper water pressure to clean your tires effectively.

Q: Does it really help a vehicle's value to keep its finish looking new?

A: Yes! Appearance is the first thing that buyers look for in a used vehicle. If the finish turns buyers off, it's virtually impossible to get a good price to matter how well the vehicle runs. A vehicle which is noticeably rusted, dull, or spotty will sell for significantly less than the same vehicle with a high gloss finish. Proper car of your vehicle's appearance will definitely pay off at trade-in time!

Q: Is it true that my new car shouldn't be washed or waxed to a certain period of time?

A: This may have been true a long time ago, but with the new modern acrylics and enamels, your new vehicle's finish needs tender care immediately. Be careful to wash your vehicle properly. Most new vehicles are treated with a clear-coat finish. It's important that you exercise extreme care specifically when washing your new vehicle for the first few times. Many initial washing errors result in water spots, the setting of stains, and loss of luster. Without the benefit of protective coating layers of wax that your car will receive over the years, mistakes made during the first few washes may not be correctable. It's advisable to wax your new vehicle almost immediately. The best advice is to trust your vehicle's finish to a professional from the beginning.

Q: How often should I have my vehicle washed?

A: It depends. If your vehicle is exposed to corrosive materials like salt, sand, and industrial fallout, it should be washed often. The same goes for vehicles in areas with high humidity. Moisture attracts contaminants and promotes a variety of chemical reactions that can destroy your vehicle's finishes. Frequent washing is essential to the life of your vehicle's chrome and painted surfaces. In areas with acid rain, a wash every seven to ten days is highly advised. Of course, these estimates will vary depending upon whether your vehicle is kept in a garage or out in the elements.

Q: Periodically, I notice a layer of residue on my vehicle's finish. Is it from the atmosphere?

A: What you are referring to are black particles that come from areas of heavy traffic. They are gritty, abrasive substances coming off tires as they wear. Also, chemicals from diesel smoke and other emissions in the atmosphere will settle on your vehicle's surfaces. If this residue isn't removed immediately, permanent damage to the finish can result.

Q: When should I wash off insect residue?

A: As soon as possible, especially if the vehicle is new. Insect residue and bird droppings form acids that immediately start to eat away a vehicle's finish.

Q: What can I do to remove the tar that occasionally gets on my vehicle?

A: Tar and certain oils used on roads require extremely strong solvents to remove. Naturally, we cannot use these solvents when we wash your vehicle since just a few washes with such strong chemicals could harm your vehicle's finish. There are many excellent tar solvents on the market and we would be happy to recommend one to you. A word of caution follow the directions carefully and wash your vehicle as soon as possible after using such a solvent. The best advice is to let a professional take care of this situation for you.

Q: Lately, my windshield smears when I run my wipers. What am I doing wrong?

A: Perhaps you haven't changed your wiper blades recently. Most manufacturers recommend installing new blades every three to six months. This will prevent smearing, which dangerously impairs your vision. We carry a large selection of RainX windshield wipers for our customers to purchase, just ask one of our associated for help, we can install them for you as well.

Q: Is hand washing safer for my vehicle and the environment?

A: No! Dirt that collects in the wash water in your bucket, sponges, and chamois will scratch the paint. The wash water at professional car washes cleans cars better, faster, and safer. Also, hand washing can consume 2-5 times the amount of water compared to a professional car wash. In addition, soaps and waxes used by professional car washes are biodegradable and safer to the environment.