V.I.P. Workers drying off a car. Photo by Anne Peterson and Beth Houlihan
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Is your car so full of dirt and grime that you can write "wash me" on the back window? If so, you could be destroying your car's exterior without even realizing it.
According to an expert at Amoco, you should wash your car at least once a month regularly, and twice a month in the winter to protect it from rusting and corroding. This should be done because road salt, smoggy air, and tree sap lead to premature aging of the car's surface.
As many of us know, some of us donUt always follow this advice. "I didn't get around to washing my car until I was seventeen, and when I did, I had no idea what I was doing," said junior Liz Anderson.
However, some people enjoy washing their car and do it routinely, "I love the way my car looks after I clean it. It's just something that has to be done, and I don't mind doing it," said senior Sarah Gassman.
But with more than 40 car washing facilities in the Omaha phonebook, some need help finding a top notch carwash. We took it upon ourselves to check out some of the carwashes in the Omaha area and find out if a higher price actually meant a better wash.
First, we went to Conoco on 90th and Maple. The carwash we selected, "the Works," included a foam bath, an under body wash, a clear coat protectant, and a rust protectant. The price we paid was $5, if we had purchased gas it would have been $4. The results were all right, but some spots on the car were left dirty and the drive-through dryer didn't completely dry the car, leaving water spots. Overall, it was worth the small amount we paid.
Next, we went to V.I.P. carwash on 120th and Dodge. This wash included a thorough clean, both inside and out. At V.I.P., your car is taken through a motorized carwash while you wait inside. Then, the workers take your car outside and vacuum, dust, wash and dry windows, and hand dry your car. "My brother's friend works at V.I.P., and we go there all the time and get free washes and check out all the hot boys," said junior Laura Gervase. Although it may be free for Gervase, it cost us $10. It was a more efficient job, and left our car looking like new.
In this spring carwash alert weather, instead of writing "wash me" on your car, why not take a nice drive through your neighborhood carwash.