“I mean all you wanted to do was ‘clean the car.'”
Most drivers have been in a situation where taking their car through an automated wash feels like the quickest, cheapest, and easiest fix to a dirty exterior.
However, if your vehicle is already damaged, washing your car this way could potentially make things worse—much worse. TikTok user @ohthats2loud captured a moment that has viewers flabbergasted.
In a short clip that has garnered over 45,000 views, the creator films from inside a car with a visibly cracked side window as it goes through an automated car wash. “I haven’t gone thru the car wash w this window broken yet,” the text overlay reads.
As the brushes begin moving across the cracked glass, distressed voices can be heard in the background, clearly worried about what the pressurized wash might do. “No this [expletive] is not doing this right now,” someone behind the camera says. “Ahhh! Oh my god dude, you got me so [expletive]!”
In the comments, one viewer questioned the car wash itself. “They’re supposed to turn the side brushes off if the window is broken,” they wrote. Another countered, “Yeah you can’t [just] turn them off.”
According to experts, you should not use an automated car wash with a broken window. AutoGlassNow warns that running a car with damaged glass through an automated car wash can lead to more than just water getting inside the car.
For starters, the pressure from the brushes and water can cause existing cracks to spread. Dirt and debris from earlier stages of the wash can also enter the damaged area, worsening the problem.
Water intrusion is another potential source of damage to keep in mind. The moisture can seep into the crack and get between the layers of glass and plastic. This can weaken, warp, or distort the windshield or window.
While the glass completely shattering during a wash is a lot less common, it’s not impossible. If that happens, it could cause injury and further damage to the car’s interior.
Some experts suggest being selective about the type of automated car wash you use.
According to a blog by Ceramic Pro, touchless car washes, which rely on water pressure and cleaning chemicals rather than physical brushes, are generally less likely to cause damage to a vehicle’s exterior.
On the other hand, traditional tunnel or friction-based car washes, the most common ones in the United States, use large spinning brushes. They’re effective at removing dirt and built to last, but can also cause swirl marks, minor scratches, or paint wear over time.
Not to mention, the material used in these washes can be rough, and improper drying can lead to water spots.
Motor1 has reached out to @ohthats2loud via TikTok messages for comment. This article will be updated when they respond.
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