Is That £5 Car Wash Really Worth the Cost?

Car owners, drivers and commuters, we've all been there. You're cruising down the road in your car, sun glinting off your pride and joy, when suddenly – splat! A rogue pigeon leaves its calling card, right smack on your bonnet. Now, you have two options: the quick, tempting fix of a £5 car wash, or the extra effort of choosing quality care. But before you roll into that shower of suds, let's talk real cost.

Sure, a fiver seems like a steal. But what if that "bargain" leaves your car looking worse than before? Swirl marks, etching, water spots, even scratched paintwork – these are the hidden nasties lurking in those bargain sponges, brushes and chemicals. And guess who gets stuck with the hefty bill to fix them? That's right, you.

If you haven’t had a bird target your car directly, maybe you’re just in the mood to give your car a quick clean. It’s dirty, dusty and covered in a fine layer of traffic film and filth. A £5 car wash could feel like a treat for your car, perhaps it is that time of the week or month where you pass that automated or £5 quick hand car wash and it makes sense. Get your car clean, what could possibly go wrong.

Bird droppings, quick hand car washes and incorrect washing techniques. Save yourself and your car by following our how to safely wash your car guide or have a detailer safely wash your car for you. JR Automotive provide detailed safe wash services here but lets talk about the costs of rectifying this damage.

Take paint correction, for example. Skimping on proper washes can trap and embed dirt and grime, leading to permanent damage that requires professional polishing. And it isn’t cheap – typical starting from £375 for a single-stage correction on a small vehicle. Plus, if your wheels have gone from gleaming alloys to corroded and damage eyesores, you're looking at a £400 or more for a professional wheel refurbishment. Suddenly, that £5 wash starts to feel like a bad investment, doesn't it?

It's not just about aesthetics, though. Those harsh chemicals can strip away your car's protective wax, leaving it vulnerable to the elements and accelerating wear and tear. This means more frequent (and expensive) maintenance down the line. Ceramic coatings have multiple benefits and combined with correct maintenance those protected, hydrophobic coatings repel dirt and water. So less time car washing. We’ve written about the benefits of coatings in our blog but for now lets continue our focus on the £5 car wash and what happens to your paintwork.

Paintwork, when exposed to the elements and harsh, incorrect washing techniques scratches and therefore increases the surface area that harmful contamination can stick to, creating a rough surface. Protective waxes and sealants can assist in keeping the surface protected but that £5 car wash has other ideas. In their quest to wash and clean your car quickly the chemicals used are strong, often acidic based or caustic, which is great for quick cleaning (on a truck!) and even better at removing waxes, polymers and sealants. Hello exposed paintwork. These cleaners intensified in the sunshine on a nice day leaves your paint bare, exposed and soft, leading to a potential for a swirl induced nightmare.

Why should you care? A large part of sharing this experience with you is to save you money and disappointment when you arrive at a detailing studio and get your paintwork diagnosis. It’s important to know what can cause damage to paintwork so you can keep your car looking better. However, if you’re looking at your car, thinking it needs a refresh and you choose to invested in correcting the damage, you know how to prevent it in the future. Prevention is always better than the cure.

So, what's the alternative? Investing in your car's long-term health and beauty with professional detailing and ceramic coating. Yes, it might cost a bit more upfront, but trust us, it's a cost-effective investment in the long run.

Ceramic coating acts like a shield for your car, repelling dirt, scratches, and harmful UV rays. It keeps your paintwork looking stunning for years, making future washes quicker and easier. Plus, you'll maintain your car's resale value, a crucial factor for owners who love to keep things fresh.

Not only do we apply top of the range Gtechniq ceramic coatings but we also correct your paint before protecting it. Removing the contamination, scratches and the dull haze that made you want to get in touch in the first place.

Ready to ditch the £5 car wash nightmare and unlock the true potential of your car's shine? We're here to help! Head over to our pages on paint correction and ceramic coating to discover how you can achieve a showroom-worthy finish that lasts.

Remember, a little extra care now can save you a lot of heartache (and expense) later. Choose quality detailing and ceramic coating, and let your car shine brighter than the Northern Lights on a crisp winter night.

If you want to clean your car yourself, look no further. We’ve written more on the safe wash processes all professional detailers follow on our how do I safely wash my car blog. Sadly, washing along will no stop the effects of contamination build up and UV damage, to counter act these you’ll still need to carry out decontamination of paint, which is outside a normal washes remit. That is one of the reasons why ceramic coatings are so popular, they all but stop the build up of contamination in your paint, with a highly hydrophobic layer of protection a simple safe wash is all you need to remove the debris build up. All but eliminating the need to use powerful chemicals to remove tar spots and traffic film.

If you want to find out more about our ceramic coating process or receive a free no obligation quote, get in touch using the link below;