A regular car wash routine is essential as it helps maintain a spotless vehicle. People often prefer washing cars by hand, but a thorough cleaning treatment is required often. This is when a car wash becomes necessary. You can either go for a manual or an automatic car wash. That said, if you are choosing the latter, you need to be a little more cautious. The entire process is automated with little or no human involvement. For your assistance, here we have compiled a list of some handy automatic car wash safety tips.
Important Automatic Car Wash Safety Tips and Tricks
Before visiting the automatic car wash, take note of these tips for a safe and smooth car washing experience.
Prepare Your Car for the Automatic Wash
First thing first. Before undergoing a thorough washing and cleaning treatment, that too with machines, a vehicle should be prepared beforehand. Whether going for an automatic or a self-service car wash, the interior of the car should be sealed properly. Ensure the windows are rolled up and the doors are properly closed.
Moreover, inspect your vehicle thoroughly for any holes, cracks or other damages on the exterior. No water should seep inside the car as it could sit there and lead to moisture damage. Here are a few handy DIY tips to remove water stains from car upholstery.
Furthermore, don’t leave the retractable side mirrors and antennas sticking out. Such equipment may get damaged during the cleaning process. Also, beware of the automatic car wash instructions if there are any.
Choose a Well-reviewed Car Wash
Driving around urban centres and downtowns across the UAE, people come across many car wash options. This often leaves them overwhelmed with choices. However, one should not rush the decision and look for licensed car wash facilities with good reviews.
Whether you need a car wash in Dubai or other Emirates, you may find some well-reviewed options on the internet. Besides, you can always ask for recommendations in your social circle.
Look for Touchless Car Wash
Standard car washes across use fabrics and brushes that can cause scratches to a vehicle’s exterior. Sometimes those scratches can be pretty deep. Even if a car wash facility uses soft fabrics, they might still have the potential to rub dirt into your vehicle’s paint. It is one of the potential risks in automatic car wash.
On the other hand, a touchless car wash facility uses high-pressure water jets to clean vehicles. There are no brushes or pieces of fabric involved. One of the examples of touchless car wash is the steam car wash. This means there is little to no chance of scratches on the vehicle’s paint or exterior. Opting for such an advanced facility is one of the key safety steps for automatic car wash.
Engage Neutral Gear to Ensure Safety
After entering the car wash facility, position the vehicle correctly and take your foot off the brake. Each machine in a car is designed to wash and clean the car from a certain angle. Some car wash facilities have rolling tracks while others have conveyor belts.
However, in both cases, the car brakes shouldn’t be applied. They block the wheels from moving on the conveyor belt, which can result in an accident, probably an expensive one. Instead, the car should be in neutral gear. It is one of the key tips to avoid automatic car wash accidents. Moreover, always keep a close check on car brake maintenance and its condition to ensure safety.
Don’t Get Too Close to Any Equipment
Some people prefer staying inside the car during the washing process while others like to be out of the car. However, for those watching from the outside, it is better to stay clear of any washing or cleaning equipment. Those are industrial machines moving at full speed with full force. Anyone getting dangerously close to them may get injured.
Also, whether sitting inside the car or not, avoid any distractions when surrounded by such heavy machinery. Avoid using cell phones, indulging in any type of reading or listening to loud music. Moreover, to eliminate distractions from the outside, you can also consider soundproofing your car.
Make Sure It’s Safe to Exit the Car Wash
Once the cleaning and washing process is over, don’t exit the car wash in a hurry. There may be obstacles underneath or in front of your car, which you would never want to drive over. Therefore, it is better to wait for a signal or an indicator to make sure the exit path is clear. Make sure to make this step a part of your automatic car wash safety checklist.
Inspect Your Car Thoroughly After Wash
Before leaving the facility, walk around the car and take one good look. Spot any damages or scratches that may have occurred during the process and report it to the facility management.
These were some noteworthy automatic car wash safety tips. The aforementioned precautions are crucial to ensure a smooth and safe car wash visit. Meanwhile, if you are looking for an effective DIY detailing technique, follow these steps to clay bar a car.
After buying a used car in the UAE, it would be a good idea to take it to a car wash for a thorough cleaning treatment. However, keep in mind all the precautionary measures discussed above to avoid any untoward situations when choosing between automatic and manual car wash.
For more car service and repair tips, stay connected with dubizzle’s auto blog.