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 pressure needed along with the appropriate soaps and waxes to safely and effectively clean your vehicle. The International Carwash Association working through a special Carwash Research Foundation Grant to the University of Texas at Arlington, Texas, has conducted extensive car washing tests this past year to determine the effect on car finishes by comparing various car washing techniques ranging from professional car washing to the bucket and sponge used by many auto owners.