Millions of Brits risk ‘gradually wrecking' their motor with poor washing routine – three issues could cost £1,000s

The Sun

17-05-2025

OVER 11 million motorists are damaging their cars by washing them incorrectly – a costly mistake that could leave you £1,000s out of pocket.
Recent statistics highlight Britain's car washing habits, with a significant number of drivers unknowingly risking serious harm to their vehicle's paintwork.
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After surveying more than 1,000 car owners about their washing routines, Auto Express found that a large portion of Brits are relying solely on automatic car washes, while nearly one in 10 (9%) don't clean their cars at all.
What's more, while most drivers – 61%, according to the findings – wash their cars themselves, 15% only ever use an automatic car wash, while a further 16% use one sometimes.
But while the estimated 11.2 million drivers who put their cars through an automatic wash may think they are doing better than the 2 million that admit they don't wash their cars at all, the wrong method can do far more harm than good.
Speaking exclusively to Sun Motors, Tom Jervis, Consumer Editor at Auto Express, said: 'Most drivers think a quick run through an automatic car wash is doing their car a favour, but in reality, this is gradually wrecking the paintwork.
'The worst offenders are drive-through washes with old-style hard nylon brushes.
'They are not great because they pick up all the dirt and grit from all the previous cars, and it then gets rotated repeatedly over the paint.
'They can also rip off trim or a wiper and then drag it along the car.
'They don't do a great job either, as they miss bits like the inside of wheels or the corners by the number plate.
'And it is not just the automatic washes that are causing problems – poor car washing practices which use acidic chemicals, rough cloths, dirt-laden brushes – are leaving behind thousands of pounds' worth of damage in the form of micro-scratches, dulled paint, and damaged alloys.'
CLEAN SWEEP
Thankfully, washing your car carefully and efficiently doesn't have to be hard work – or even costly.
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Firstly, and unsurprisingly, Tom urges drivers to avoid automatic car washes.
He said: 'Though newer automatic washes use softer microfibre brushes, they still often recycle dirt from previous cars.
'They also miss the details – like wheel arches and number plate corners – and can trigger boot sensors mid-wash, causing a real mess.
'If you must use one, pick a service that includes a human pre-wash and uses non-contact methods where possible.'
Furthermore, he also advises car owners to steer clear of roadside hand car washes.
'Always check online reviews and get there early in the day when the cloths, mitts, and water are clean,' Tom said.
'Look out for a proper pre-wash using snow foam – not acidic traffic film removers, which some car washers mix up to be far too strong thinking it will work better.
'But it doesn't and can end up marking alloy trims and stripping the lustre off window rubbers.
'They also tend to slop on painted tyre shine, which may look good while the car is stationary, but as soon as you drive off, it gets flung onto the side of your car.'
Tom even suggests being careful with jet washes, like the ones you find at a petrol station.
'I can see the attraction of these if you can't access a hose at home; using a communal jet wash at a petrol station gives you more control,' Tom said.
'But don't trust the communal brush – they are usually caked in grit from the last user. You're better off bringing your own bucket, washing mitt, and just using the lance.'
DOS AND DON'TS
When hand-washing your car - which Tom suggests is the 'safest and most effective method' - pre-washing to remove loose dirt before touching the paint is essential, and using snow foam or a pre-cleaner and rinsing thoroughly can help prevent scratches.
Auto Express' 2025 Product of the Year winner, the Hydro V2, priced at £24.99, makes dispensing spray foams and coatings simple while ensuring precise ratios.
A straightforward yet effective technique is the dual-bucket method, which consists of one bucket for clean water and another for rinsing, both equipped with grit guards to keep dirt from contaminating your mitt.
For those without access to water, a waterless wash offers an excellent alternative – such as the CarPro ECH20, priced at £9.95 for 500ml, which earned Auto Express' 2025 Waterless Wash Product of the Year.
When paired with microfibre cloths, it cuts through dirt effortlessly and leaves a brilliant shine.
When washing, fine swirls and cobweb-like marks can dull your car's finish over time.
These can be avoided by using proper washing techniques and protecting the paintwork with car wax, sealant, or ceramic coating to guard against future damage.
Bilt-Hamber's Double Speed-Wax, priced at £16.95 for 250ml, and Shelby Ceramic Coating, £34.99 for 50ml, are Auto Express' top recommendations.
For cars already showing fine scratches or swirl marks, a mild abrasive polish – also known as a colour restorer or T-cut – can be used to gently level the clear coat, either by hand or with a dual-action machine polisher.
The Diamondbrite Diamond Cut, priced at £9.99 for 500ml, was recently named Auto Express' Colour Restorer of the Year.
Deeper imperfections can be addressed with a paint depth gauge to ensure repairs stay within safe limits and avoid permanent damage.
Even after washing, bonded contaminants may remain on the surface. Using a clay bar, such as Autoglym Ceramic Wash & Protect (£25 for 1000ml), can remove these residues and leave the paintwork ultra-smooth.
TIME TO WASH
While car washing in the summer can be a tad more pleasant than the same process in the chilly winter, doing it in strong sun can cause water and products to dry too fast – reducing effectiveness and even risking chemical staining or streaks.
What's more, driving to dry your car can also leave streaks – which is why experts recommend a blow dryer or folded microfibre cloths to soak up water efficiently.
And this begs the question, how often should you wash your car?
According to Auto Express' survey, while nearly one in five car owners clean their motor every week or every month, some clean theirs every two weeks.
But 18% admit they wash their car less than monthly, while nearly one in three said the rising cost of living meant they are more likely to wash their cars themselves instead of paying for a car wash service.
He said: 'As a rule of thumb, washing your car every couple of weeks is usually enough to keep it in good condition.
'If your car is garaged or well protected with a ceramic coating, you can probably stretch it to once a month without doing any harm, but if you live near the coast, drive on muddy country roads or park under trees, you might need to clean it weekly to prevent damage from salt, grit, bird droppings or sap.
'What's really important is that if your car gets particularly dirty – even just in one spot – you clean it off as soon as possible.
'Things like bird mess and road salt can quickly cause permanent damage to your paintwork if they're left.'
But can you wash your car too often?
'You can only wash your car too often if you're doing it wrong,' said Tom.
'The act of washing won't harm your car, but bad technique – using dirty cloths, old sponges, or harsh chemicals – will.
'Just keep to our Dos and Don'ts from above and you can wash your car as often as you like without doing any damage.'