Find Answers to All Your Car Washing Related Queries
At Magic Car Wash, we aim at providing you with the highest quality car wash services. We would like to make your visit a pleasurable experience.
To help achieve our goal of complete customer satisfaction, below are answers to your most frequently asked questions. If you have a question that is not listed here, please let us know. Call today!
How often should I wash my car?
Weekly. Washing once a week will properly maintain the paint and exterior of your vehicle
Do you clean the inside of my car?
Magic Car Wash offers interior cleaning. We do anything from vacuuming interiors to cleaning the glass, to armor all and leather conditioning to full detailing.
Our full service washes include the following interior cleaning:
- Vacuum interior
- Clean interior glass
- Empty litter bags
- Dust Dash
- Dust Steering column
- Towel dry of door jambs
We offer many ala carte services on the interior of your vehicle as well. Please tell our sales person exactly what you're looking to have cleaned and we can do it!
What types of vehicles can you wash?
We accept most cars, vans and trucks up to 84 inches in height and must have at least a 4-inch ground clearance. Unfortunately, we cannot wash trucks with dual wheels. We guarantee the safety of all factory-installed equipment in proper working order.
Can you wash my pickup truck?
Almost certainly! All we ask is that the pickup bed be empty before going through the wash. This is for the safety of your vehicle and those of other customers. Also, some side mirrors are incompatible with our process and certain types of modifications that employ oversized or off-road tires or radically raised suspensions may not be compatible.
Is Magic Car Wash a "touchless" car wash?
Seriously, do you wash your hands without rubbing them together? Do you wash your clothes without agitation? Do you keep your teeth clean by just gargling water and mouthwash, or do you brush them? Okay, you get the point! It is very difficult to get anything really clean without contact - even with high pressure and harsh chemicals, like many "touchless washes."
That's why at Magic Car Wash, we use closed cell foam and soft cloth material (no brushes) and 100% safe biodegradable shampoos to gently clean your car. While our soft cloth and foam make contact with your car, it is the best way to get it clean and will not scratch or dull your clear coat finish.
Is the wash safe for convertibles?
Yes. Please make sure that the roof is properly latched.
Will the car wash remove egg?
If you get to the car wash before the egg dries, it might be removed in the wash. Dried egg is very corrosive, and damage starts almost immediately. Contact us directly if the egg has already hardened for a possible detail service to properly remove the dried egg.
Will the wash remove bug splats?
Our wash tunnel will remove most bug remains, particularly, if washed soon after the "splats," but we cannot guarantee that all bug remains will be removed by the tunnel wash. In our Supreme through Platinum exterior washes, in all of our full-service washes, FOR EVERY VIP UNLIMITED MEMBER, or for $2 additional to any other wash, we include a "bug juice" application and manual bug prepping as you enter the tunnel to help eliminate your bugs!
Will the wash remove road tar or tree sap?
Our wash tunnel will unlikely remove road tar or tree sap. If you ask us, or if we notice a spot or two, we will use a special cleaner to remove it for you. If you have multiple spots all over the car we will be glad to remove them for you for an extra charge. Otherwise, there are special products sold specifically for that purpose. Whenever possible, try to remove the stain while it is still sticky. NEVER use abrasive cleaners or pads to remove stains from your vehicle's finish. Make sure to clean the area thoroughly after treatment. Consider protecting the area with a paste wax after cleaning.
How do I protect my clear coat?
Regular application of our Simoniz Ceramic Sealant creates a polymer barrier that helps protect clear coated surfaces from UV rays and airborne contaminants, as well as acids from leaf stains, tree sap, bug splatter, and bird droppings, all of which can eat through the clear coat and cause permanent damage. Simoniz Ceramic Sealant is designed to provide a protective polymer barrier for up to 30 days from the date of application. So make it part of your "routine maintenance" by including it with your car wash regularly.
My finish looks dull and streaky. Why?
This is usually a sign of oxidation, which occurs as paint ages and decays from exposure to sunlight and road oils. You can slow the process by washing your vehicle often, applying our Poly Sealant regularly and a coat of hand wax at least once a year. If oxidation has already occurred, try cleaning the paint with a paint cleaning compound, then polishing and waxing the finish.
Why did my front license plate get bent?
Very rarely does our equipment ever grab a license plate and bend it.
Is the wash safe for newly painted cars?
Yes. We use cloth wash materials and mild cleaners. However, the paint should be allowed to cure before washing. Consult with your body shop for curing times (usually at least 30 days for repainted cars and body parts). (Paint on new cars is fully cured before delivery.)
Is the wash safe for alloy wheels?
Yes. Most car makers caution against automatic washes that use acids on polished aluminum wheels, since these can stain — or use carbon or plastic tire brushes, which can scratch. At Magic Car Wash, we use no such acids! We only use soft cloth washing material, so your wheels are perfectly safe.
Will a cracked windshield be safe in the wash?
Yes and no. Once the integrity of windshield glass is compromised by rock chips (even very small ones), it becomes more susceptible to changes in temperature. So, while you may wash your vehicle with windshield damage, cracks, or chips may expand much larger. It’s always best to repair or replace a damaged windshield immediately.
Will my antenna be OK?
Usually, yes. However we ask you to please remove your antenna prior to washing with us, just in case. Power antennas are hollow core and will break if left in the raised position. So please lower all power antennas. Magic Car Wash is not responsible for antennas that have not been lowered or removed. Shark fin antennas can not be removed unfortunately. Several manufacturers have known stability issues with their shark fin antennas, so we can not be responsible for those antennas either. Aftermarket products such as CB and cell phone antennas should be removed prior to washing as well.
Will my bug shield and trailer hitch be OK?
Unfortunately, we can't be responsible for aftermarket accessories. Most customers who have bug shields wash their vehicles with no incident. However, problems can arise if the shield has already been damaged by rock chips or by stress cracks around the installation screws (which can be hard to detect), or if it is made from low-grade plastic. If you need a new bug shield, we recommend products made of Lexan, such as Lund® or Deflecta-Shield®, which are virtually indestructible.
Trailer hitches will not be harmed by our equipment; however, to allow our "wraps" to give you the best quality wash possible for the rear of your vehicle, we recommend removing a hitch if possible. Also, hitch receptacle plug inserts should be removed prior to washing as they may break or come loose in the wash process.
What type of payment do you accept?
Magic Car Wash accepts Cash, Mastercard, Visa, Discover, and American Express at all locations. We also accept Magic Car Wash Gift Cards, Magic Car Wash Book Cards, and the latest technology, the RFID pass for our unlimited customers.
Can I buy online?
YES! You can purchase VIP Unlimited memberships and Gift Cards online using the link at the bottom of this page.
What is an RFID tag?
The RFID tag is a sticker about the size of a stick of gum that is applied to the lower left-hand corner of your windshield where you’ll never notice it. Using the latest RFID technology (radio frequency identification) each vehicle is instantly recognized as it approaches our automated pay stations. Once a vehicle is identified, it is granted access to the wash tunnel and our computer automatically provides the proper wash package. The RFID is currently used in our Unlimited Wash Club only.
What kind of soaps and polishes do you use?
We proudly use industry leading Simoniz soaps and waxes in our car washes, and Meguiar’s polishes and compounds for detailing!
Why shouldn't I just wash my car at home?
Don't get us started! Here are just a few of the good reasons.
-
- From the time you enter our conveyorized wash tunnel and exit 120 feet later, it is only 2 minutes. Try that at home!
- Washing at home with a bucket and wash mitt, you are dipping that mitt into a bucket of soapy water and all the dirt you’ve already washed from your car. Now you take that mitt and rub the dirt right back into your paint! This causes swirl marks and surface scratches! At Magic Car Wash, our equipment is constantly flooded with fresh, soapy water. So your car’s finish is protected from dirt and debris. Our closed cell foam wash material is the safest material in the industry to use on your vehicle’s finish!
- Studies show that the average person uses between 100 and 150 gallons of fresh water when washing a car by hand; contrast that with Magic Car Wash which uses only about 50 gallons of fresh water for each wash!
- The pollution generated from washing your car in your driveway goes directly down storm drains - meaning these untreated liquids, soaps, and chemicals are discharged directly into our streams and rivers, making their way ultimately to lakes, bays, and oceans. Magic Car Wash uses 100% biodegradable chemicals and we dispose of our waste by first removing most solids, and then directly disposing the remaining liquids into the sanitary sewer system where it is properly treated and processed.
- So with Magic Car Wash, not only are you doing something good for your car, you’re doing something good for the environment as well!