How to spot a good car wash from a not-so-good one

Touchless car washes, which use high-pressure water jets with detergents to hose off the dirt, are better for your car. With no brushes or cloths to touch the paintwork, the risk of cosmetic damage is minimal. — 123rf.com

Driving through an automatic car wash is the best way to keep your car clean and pristine, but by observing some advice, you can make sure your ride gets the top treatment and also save some money.

Avoid older automatic car washes, which often use abrasive brushes instead of softer cloths. These can scratch the paintwork, since the dirt and grit removed during the pre-wash phase adheres to the brushes and gets rubbed back into the paint surface.