Originally Posted by Punchit

I detail professionally and have not experimented with high pressure washers too much. I have friends that also detail professionally and some of them swear by pressure washers. I have always used the two bucket method, microfiber mitt and towels, etc. However, I try to stay open minded about these things though.
I know that the key to good detailing is to first remove all the contaminates on the vehicles surface. How does a pressure washer loosen all the contamination more safely than by hand? Seemingly after you have loosened it, your still blasting it across the paints surface. At those speeds that actually loosen derbis there has to be some serious pressure. With increased water pressure seemingly there would also be less lubrication between the contaminates and the clear coat. I don't think doing it by hand is much safer but I do think it more thoroughly cleans the vehicle as well. After a thorough cleaning now you can polish it and wax it and not have very dirty pads and grind in any remaing contamination.

As usual I agree with Jim Cambell that the touchless car washes are useless. As embarassing as it is to say, when I was in a rush one day I took it through there. I'm 100% sure fourth graders doing a fund raiser outside their school could have done a better job.