Hand Wash vs. Machine Wash: What’s Best for Your Car?
The 3 Most Common Types of Automated Car Washes
1. Traditional Brush Wash (also known as “Swirl-O-Matic”)
These systems rely on fast spinning plastic bristle brushes and strong detergents to scrub the surface of your vehicle. While effective at removing dirt quickly, they are notorious for inducing swirl marks, micro-scratches, and missing hard to reach areas. These brushes don’t discriminate between paint and debris they’ll grind whatever is on your paint right into the clear coat.
2. Brushless Car Wash
Instead of bristles, brushless machines use high speed microfiber cloths. While they are gentler than plastic brushes, they still come with risks especially if the cloths haven’t been cleaned between washes. If the car in front of you was covered in mud or grime, that residue could be transferred to your vehicle. These systems also tend to miss intricate body lines and recessed panels.
3. Touchless Wash
Touchless washes avoid physical contact by relying on powerful chemical cleaners and pressurized water. These systems can be safer for your paint when used sparingly especially if your vehicle is ceramic coated but for uncoated surfaces, the harsh chemicals can damage trim, glass, and rubber over time. Touchless washes are a better option than brushes but they’re still not ideal for regular maintenance.
If You Must Use an Automated Wash…
We get it. Life gets busy. If you're limited to machine washes, here's how to minimize damage:
Best option: Apply a professional grade ceramic coating and use a basic touchless wash
Second best: Brushless washes only when your car is already relatively clean
Frequency matters: Join a monthly plan and wash at least twice a week to reduce build-up
Important tip: Avoid using any add-on “sealants” or “wax upgrades” offered at these washes. They’re often low quality and can interfere with existing coatings
To maintain your finish, we recommend a full exterior detail at least once a year, or more frequently if you rely heavily on automated washes.
Why Choose a Hand Wash?
Hand washing remains the most effective, precise, and paint safe method of cleaning your vehicle. Here’s why enthusiasts, collectors, and professionals alike still swear by it:
Controlled contact: You can inspect and clean your mitt as you go, unlike machines that grind in grit from car to car
Thorough cleaning: Reach every panel, groove, and edge with precision
Tailored approach: Every car gets individual attention, not a one size fits all solution
At Tailored Garage, we always use the two bucket wash method
One bucket for clean, soapy water
One bucket for rinsing contaminants off the mitt (with a Grit Guard at the bottom to trap dirt)
We start with the cleanest areas first, typically the roof, and finish with the dirtiest areas near the bottom. This minimizes the risk of dragging abrasive particles across your paint.
Is Hand Washing the Same as Detailing?
Not quite. Hand washing is just the first step in the detailing process.
If your vehicle has built-up contaminants like
1. Tree sap
2. Hard water spots
3. Paint transfer
4. Road tar
a simple hand wash won’t be enough. These require specialized decontamination techniques, which can be chemical (for ceramic coated vehicles) or mechanical (for tougher contamination). If you’re unsure, we always recommend asking us before scrubbing to avoid making things worse.
Proper Hand Wash Maintenance Routine…
To help preserve your finish, here’s the recommended wash method we follow at Tailored Garage:
Rinse the entire vehicle to cool down the surface and loosen debris
Pre-foam using premium pH neutral foam (like STEK Foam or CarPro Reset) to lift dirt
Clean wheels and brake calipers with STEK Wheel Cleaner
Rinse thoroughly Move the car to rotate wheels 180° and repeat the wheel cleaning process
Perform a two bucket wash using high quality wash mitts, Grit Guards, and STEK or CarPro Shampoo
Rinse again and inspect for remaining contaminants
Towel dry with plush microfiber towels, including door jambs and trim
Best Time to Wash in the Pacific Northwest…
Winter and Rainy Season: Your vehicle gets dirty fast from wet roads, salt, and standing water. This is when regular washing is most important
Summer: Great for looks, but beware of washing in direct sunlight. Heat causes soap and water to evaporate too fast, leading to water spots and staining Pro Tip: Early morning or evening (around 5 AM or after sunset) is the ideal time for a safe, effective wash.
Let Tailored Garage Handle the Dirty Work
Keeping your vehicle in pristine condition shouldn’t be a hassle. At Tailored Garage, we’re here year-round to help you protect your investment.
Whether you’re stopping by for a premium hand wash or maintaining your ceramic coating, our skilled team provides the same attention to detail and craftsmanship we bring to every service.
Drop your car off while you enjoy your day we’ll make sure it leaves looking better than ever.
Tailored Garage, Precision. Protection. Perfection.