Shine and even dry the body without any effort. That’s the promise of wash rollers. But the paint on your car is fragile. Nothing is easier than to damage the varnish that covers it. With the consequence of micro-scratches which could be difficult to erase.
Choose your rolls
It is necessary to distinguish between the types of rollers and their condition. The older generations of rollers were very aggressive and easily caused micro-scratches. A phenomenon which increased in proportion to the wear of the rollers.
But that time is over, as the Total Wash network reminds us: “Stations are modernizing. Many are equipped with microfiber rollers. It’s a soft material that won’t scratch your bodywork”. There are also foam models, respectful of the bodywork.
Are they really effective?
The rollers are more and more sophisticated and offer several programs, from the most basic to the most complete, including cleaning rims, underbody and drying.
In most cases, a complete roller program will be enough to make your car shine. But at the end of winter, or if your vehicle is particularly dirty, the high-pressure lance will be more effective in washing the underside of the fenders and hard-to-reach corners.
New Alternatives
In recent years, new concepts have appeared. They are called washing tunnels. From pre-washing with foam, to drying and waxing, to washing the chassis or underbody, they know how to do it all, without rollers. These top-of-the-range gantries offer efficient but often more expensive services.
Other washing chains are launching into the multi-jet gantries. For the price of a roll, they wash your car with a dozen jets. Effective, and without any risk for your paint.