Pressure washing a car has long been a matter of worry for car enthusiasts. Though it appears to be a fantastic choice, some people are concerned about harming their automobile’s pressure washer.
People believe that pressure washers are only suitable for deck stains, sealers, driveways, and concrete. However, you might be shocked to learn that using a pressure washer to wash a car is one of the best ways to clean your automobile.
Is pressure wash cars good or bad? This article is all about why you should consider pressure washing your car.
Is Pressure Wash Cars Good Or Bad?
Is it safe to pressure wash a car, pressure washing a car? Most things in life have both positive and negative aspects. The pressure washer is the same way.
Washing an automobile with high pressure is neither good nor bad. A pressure washer may be misused and cause significant damage, but it can also be used correctly and provide excellent results.
You can check out this video for the detailed process of using pressure washer to wash car:
Here are some of the most frequent reasons why pressure washing an automobile may be beneficial or detrimental.
The Benefits Of Pressure Washing A Car – Car Wash Advantages
Quick and Easy
Compared to hand cleaning, which requires more supplies and takes longer to cover all automobile parts, pressure washing is considerably faster and easier.
All you need for high-pressure auto washing is a pressure washer and car wash soap. Additional accessories, such as a foam cannon, are available with pressure cleaning. This will make removing all of the dirt off your automobile much simpler.
It’s also a lot easier to wash with a high-pressure hose.
It saves you time and effort because you won’t have to bend over to wash the car by hand. Larger vehicles are also easier to clean with high pressure because they have more difficult-to-reach areas.
Prevent scratches
During the hand-washing procedure, scratches are highly likely to happen. This is because dirt and grit from the wash can cling to towels, causing scratches. Although there are techniques to avoid this, it remains a prevalent issue.
By avoiding direct contact with the paint, high-pressure automobile washing reduces the risk of scratches. In addition, when the dirt is touched with water, it is quickly wiped away rather than clinging to a washing cloth.
Remove stubborn dirt
On reducing paint marring, you can clean tough dirt with a power washer without ever touching it.
How many times have you attempted and failed to remove bugs and tar from your vehicle? Using snow foam and blasting them with the pressure washer can save you time and reduce the number of scratches you make.
Drawbacks Of Pressure Washing A Car
Leave residue
It’s possible that it won’t remove all of the dirt off your car. While touchless cleaning has its advantages, some filth just will not come off without direct contact with the paint surface.
After washing, seeing places with residual dirt might be discouraging.
When the automobile is damp, finding places that are still unclean might be more challenging. As a result, it’s easy to leave dirt behind, which you won’t notice until the car is completely dry.
You may try to avoid this by keeping note of which automobile panels or sides you’ve cleaned. Although the majority of the dirt has been washed away, there may be a few areas where a thin film of dirt remains.
Ruin the paint
Although scratches can be avoided by avoiding direct contact, scratching the paint is not impossible. Also, if you’re not careful, pressure washing with a lot of filth may be harmful.
When high pressure is applied to a filthy surface right away, the abrasive dirt can be forced against the paint, resulting in scratches. Heavy dirt can be washed away with a gentle water stream or a regular hose to avoid this.
Furthermore, washing the automobile on a surface containing stones or heavy soil, such as a gravel driveway or grass, might damage if particles are thrown into the air. At the same time, the high-pressure hose is pointed towards the ground.
If your car has paint chips or flakes, they might grow more significant, causing further damage. A high-pressure water stream can be directed beneath the chips to remove more paint. This situation is particularly prevalent in older automobiles. As a result, you must be extra cautious while pressure cleaning to prevent harming them.
Lots of water
You’ll need a lot more water while pressure washing an automobile. It is unavoidable. If you reside in a region with water limitations or pay water rates, it’s probably preferable to use a different wash procedure.
You can save water by using a wash procedure like Rinseless Wash or Waterless Wash. However, they can only be used on automobiles with light pollution.
What To Consider When Pressure Washing A Cars
Water softness
To be honest, the soap suds structure might be affected by water softness. Therefore, the more calcium in your water supply, the more likely cleaner trash will form instead of suds, necessitating more soap or detergent than usual to achieve a decently cleaned automobile.
Boiling water, in general, aids in the removal of pollutants (notwithstanding water conditioners). You may need to contemplate a heated water pressure washer if you dwell in a zone with hard water.
Water pressure
The magic pressure range is 1200 to 1900 PSI, which is a safe PSI for car wash. Maintain this range, and you’ll have an excellent sailing experience. The nozzle is crucial in this process and should be chosen based on the pressure washer’s pressure adjustment.
To distinguish and give you an idea of the pressure washer’s strength and efficiency, you need to know that a standard garden hose has 50 PSI, while sophisticated ones have a maximum PSI of 80. You can see the difference in power and why pressure washers are so helpful for cleaning vehicles.
Nozzles
When cleaning an automobile with a pressure washer, nozzle selection is quite essential. You may use a nozzle to broaden or restrict the water stream depending on your cleaning needs. However, to avoid any mishaps, be sure to keep the pressure modest. In pressure washers, there are five different nozzles to choose from.
Pressure washer
Electric pressure washers are the finest if you need to pick a pressure washer specifically for vehicle cleaning. Because they are lightweight and portable, you may take them with you everywhere you go. Gas pressure washers offer double the power of electric pressure washers, which is ideal for deck stains and sealers and driveway and concrete, but not for automobiles, which may be damaged by PSIs up to 5000.
Conclusion
Is pressure wash cars good or bad? The answer is good, but (and this is a huge but) it must be done correctly. Incorrect or careless use of a pressure washer to wash your automobile can cause serious harm to your prized possession.
Suppose you decide on using a pressure washer, approach with caution. Keep the spray wand at least 20 centimeters (eight inches) away from the vehicle’s surface, and be gentle with the tires.
