Every vehicle needs to be washed at some point. It’s just a part of regular vehicle maintenance. But, how often your vehicle gets washed and how you go about it, is completely up to personal preference.

There are two main options for washing your automobile. You can wash it yourself or have someone else do it for you.

Here is a break down of the pros and cons of both options.

Full Serve Car Wash

Taking your vehicle to full serve car wash is the first option we will explore. Let’s take a look at the benefits first.

Advantages

No manual labor required
Time to relax
Professional job done by an expert
Detailed cleaning inside and out
Quick and convenient
Car will be cleaned using top quality products

One of the greatest advantages of a full serve car wash is having someone else do it for you. Your life is probably busy enough without having to wash your car on top of your other responsibilities. You can just kick back and relax, leaving the effort and worries in the hands of a professional. An experienced professional is also more likely to do a more thorough job than you would do yourself. Your vehicle will be cleaned with the best cleaning products in an efficient manner.

Disadvantages

More expensive
Trusting your beloved vehicle in the hands of a stranger

The number one disadvantage of a full serve car wash is the cost. Of course, you are going to pay more to have someone else wash your car than if you did it yourself. If you are reluctant to leave your vehicle in the hands of another person, the full serve option may not be for you.

Self Serve Car Wash

The other car wash option we will be looking at is the self serve option. There are lots of benefits to this method as well.

Advantages

Less expensive
Access to professional equipment and cleaning products
Control over the entire process
Satisfaction of a job well done

The major benefit of using a self serve car wash is that it is cheaper than full serve. You will have access to the same quality products and equipment, you will just be handling the labor yourself. This is a perfect option for people that want to do the job themselves, but don’t want to worry about the set up and clean up of doing it at home.

Disadvantages

Exertion of effort
May take longer, especially if you have no experience
Not likely to get as meticulous a cleaning

The main disadvantage of a self serve car wash is the act of having to wash your vehicle yourself. If you want impressive results, you will need to put in the work. This will probably take longer than if it was done by a professional. They have an effective routine down, from years of car wash experience. A professional is also likely to do a more detailed and comprehensive cleaning.