Northwest ash and smoke: Should I go to a car wash, or is that bad?

Ash from wildfires has covered your prized car.

Now what?

You don't have time to hand-wash your car but you don't want to leave it a mess.

And you shouldn’t just wipe it off with a dry cloth, because that has the potential to scratch the finish.

Is it OK to take it through a car wash?

The short answer is yes.

An automatic car wash is fine, because the ashes will first be rinsed off before any washing action with cloths takes place.

Mike West, who has 56 years of experience in the auto body repair and paint industry, says the key is what happens before the vehicle is washed.

“The ash will have no harsh effects on your car's finish as long as you thoroughly rinse your vehicle with your water hose, from the top down first, prior to washing it. The ash may contain some very mild abrasive, which if not pre-rinsed off, could leave micro scratches in the paint finish that show up in bright sunlight, especially on darker colors,” said West.

What about one of those do-it-yourself car washes with the power hoses?

You can go that route, too, as long as you first thoroughly rinse the ashes off the car before using a foaming brush or sponge.

Just adding soapy water to the ashes without rinsing first and then putting pressure on the finish, whether it be with a sponge, brush or cloth, can grind the ashes into the finish and have a sanding effect, which could leave scratches.

Cox Media Group