To jet wash or not to jet wash!? That is the question..
 

Hello worth followers..

Was of giving my pride and joy nice wash this w/e...It has new paintwork...Only question is..Should I use a pressure washer or not..Is it true that in the long term the use of the pressure washer will leave small scratches, which in the long term will not be good for yr paintwork....

FACT or FICTION???

If it is brand new paintwork, as in it has just come out the bodyshop, then you shouldnt be washing it with a PW for a week or so. depends on how they did paintjob.
You can on new paintwork just hose over it and give it a gentle wash by hand, but no major polishing.

After a week or so, you can use a PW (I guess that is what you mean by jetwash) just the normal rules apply or not directing the force of the PW directly on the bodywork and certainly not at a close distance.

Most people who use a PW use them on a slow setting to rinse off the muck and loosen it, then wash and rinse by jetting or sheeting of the water so you get less water marks.

FACT.

Most people hold there pressure washer at a 90 degree angle to the paint when blasting from about 10cms away. Think about it....over time when your blasting with pressure prior to using the wash technique the dirt\grit is being pushed into the paint to cause swirling & light scratches.

If using the pressure washer use at a flat angle and low pressure. Even better is to use garden hose pressure and gently soak the paint before and after wash. This doesnt apply though if your going to correct the paintwork for example.

Thanks guys!:luxhello:

Pressure Washers are an essential piece of kit when properly cleaning a car in our opinion, as long as you have a decent amount of common sense then you should be fine. Arch lips, stone chips and panel gaps are always places to take special care of when doing these areas :)