Question about car automatic washes and SOT

[Chris1985]

Hello! My wife and I are looking at buying a membership to Take 5, which is a car washing chain. It's automatic car wash. I wasn't sure what real world impact some of the cleaning agents can cause to the canvas top. It says "ArmorAll Ceramic Shield used!" It also puts on a rain repellent, form wash x2, shampoo wash, and tri-foam conditioner. Does anyone use something like this on the top? Would it hurt thr canvas? Thanks for your reply.

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[Opus]

There shouldn't be a problem with the cleaning products they use but you can always check with them to see what they advise with a soft-top. Personally, I would recommend doing the touch-less wash only. No rotating brushes. I have heard they can scratch up the rear windows on a soft-top.

 

[TheBirdie72]

You can use the automatic car wash, but move along will ya? ?

 

[Bulletbill]

I have a friend who is a professional detailer. His advice to me was to stay away from automatic carwashes because of the harsh chemicals and that if I did have to use them to just go through the basic touchless wash and avoid any extra treatments as the surface protectants could damage my top.

So I have only hand washed my jeep and occasionally used the drive in carwash bays to rinse off salt in the wintertime using just the pressure washer on rinse.

Of course you could just ask the experts @Bestop who could probably offer way more insight into this topic than any of us.

 

[TheBirdie72]

Or try this ?‍

 

[Pinky Tuscadero]

My issue is dents on the hood on my last JK from a carwash blower
Get a pressure washer and bucket with rags and have fun with your toy, let it get a bit dirty as it seems so much cleaner when you do get around to cleaning it !
Its like your birthday - If you had a birthday every day the cake wouldn't seem nearly as sweet nor the relatives nearly as annoying and repetitive ?

 

[GrayHawk20]

You can use the automatic car wash, but move along will ya? ?

 

[Deleted member 59498]

Dirt protects the paint/soft top underneath.

 

[IQ_imbalance]

Dirt protects the paint/soft top underneath.

That's after you build up a protective layer of algae and moss.....

 

[Adamoni]

Hello! My wife and I are looking at buying a membership to Take 5, which is a car washing chain. It's automatic car wash. I wasn't sure what real world impact some of the cleaning agents can cause to the canvas top. It says "ArmorAll Ceramic Shield used!" It also puts on a rain repellent, form wash x2, shampoo wash, and tri-foam conditioner. Does anyone use something like this on the top? Would it hurt thr canvas? Thanks for your reply.

Did you get any water leaking in or other issues? TIA

 

[SmokyMtnsJeepGirl]

Did you get any water leaking in or other issues? TIA

Hi! Just took my '21 Sahara SOT through a car wash and observed no leaks. I will admit I was nervous, but in the end, I was happy to find no leaks
Probably won't take it through often, though. And, will definitely do touchless next time.

 

[2nd 392]

Hi! Just took my '21 Sahara SOT through a car wash and observed no leaks. I will admit I was nervous, but in the end, I was happy to find no leaks
Probably won't take it through often, though. And, will definitely do touchless next time.

Look around and check out the ones you see for a hand wash. I use one about 15 mi away in the next town that typically does a very good hand wash before running through the touchless tunnel, hand dry, and interior. We lost 2 with Covid, an auto wash that did hand wash upon request until covid and a touchless that would hand wash first but just blow dry that closed. If using an auto wash ask them to turn the top brush off and what brushes, horsehair is best and what the one that used to offer hand washes uses. Well, claims he uses when I was unhappy about no more hand washes.

 

[Texas Longhorn]

Mine has gone through a car wash at least once a week for the past year. No leaks, no problems.

 

[SmokyMtnsJeepGirl]

Mine has gone through a car wash at least once a week for the past year. No leaks, no problems.

Is the car wash you are using touchless or have the brushes?

 

[SmokyMtnsJeepGirl]

Look around and check out the ones you see for a hand wash. I use one about 15 mi away in the next town that typically does a very good hand wash before running through the touchless tunnel, hand dry, and interior. We lost 2 with Covid, an auto wash that did hand wash upon request until covid and a touchless that would hand wash first but just blow dry that closed. If using an auto wash ask them to turn the top brush off and what brushes, horsehair is best and what the one that used to offer hand washes uses. Well, claims he uses when I was unhappy about no more hand washes.

What you had pre-COVID is exactly what I'm looking for! Thank you for the info. Now time to research options in my area!

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