Anyone who thinks they can quickly remove fireworks residues and other dirt from their car at the car wash today or tomorrow may be disappointed. The car wash locations will be overrun by motorists who are disappointed to rid their sacred cow of all kinds of gunpowder residue, but who have to join the back of the queue.
“It will be busy and people should take into account that it will take a little longer before it is their turn. It is one of the busiest days of the year for us,” says an employee of Autoradam, which has car washes in Amsterdam and Almere.
But it is clear that it is wise to wash the car and remove the fireworks that have been shot off. The millions of kilos of firecrackers and flares that were shot into the air caused gunpowder residue to drift down, leaving brown-white spots on many cars after New Year’s Eve.
Nowadays, cars can withstand knocks, but if gunpowder residue remains on the paint for a long time, it can adhere and eventually oxidize, or rust. Prevention is better than cure in this case.
Tips
The ANWB therefore recommends a car wash to car owners and has tips available. The automotive club states that it makes little difference whether you do this in the car wash or by hand. If you do it yourself, you can more easily reach the difficult places with your (soft) brush and sponge that can sometimes be missed in a car wash. You will also see emerging rust spots or damage more quickly.
Another advantage is that washing your car yourself is much cheaper. But that can change if an enforcer sees that you are putting your car in soapy water on the street. In many municipalities this is not permitted and a fine may follow, which can suddenly make the wash extremely expensive.
More environmentally friendly
The car wash offers a number of benefits that are worth considering, especially if you have a busy schedule. Your car will be thoroughly taken care of in just a few minutes. And, you might not expect it: the car wash is better for the environment. Cleaning agents used do not end up in the sewer because the water is filtered. Furthermore, modern installations can reuse the water – up to 90 percent.
And you really don’t have to choose the most expensive program at a car wash. Research by the ADAC has shown that cheap, standard washing programs are sufficient to remove all the dirt from your car. “Expensive premium programs with bottom cleaning are not necessary and can even lead to problems, especially with older vehicles,” according to the German sister club of the ANWB.