For two solid years the handycars.com family, made up of us at Handy Chevrolet at 699 Highgate Rd. in St. Albans, VT 05478 and our sister store Handy Toyota have had a stagnant, non-interactive car wash menu under our handycars Real Clean Car Wash and Detailing section (find this at Service --> Car Wash and Detailing Menu).  We didn't mean to let it get so sedentary, but we had to revamp it.

I'm proud to announce that's been completed today (across the board no less).

Featuring an all new menu that should be simpler to understand as well as just clicks away from scheduling a car wash online, we're hoping that you all take better care of your investments and at least try out the basic $29.95 cleaning option.  Also, remember we can go above and beyond the five star menu item, so just request a custom quote and we'll be in business!

Not only did we update the menu, we also gave you the following Top 12 Car Washing Myths, complete with the myth and its busted truth.  Be sure to check it out for those of you who are the do-it-yourself types.  And remember:  the key to keeping the interior and exterior of your new or used car looking new is a great professional detail and car wash at handycars.com!

Chris Dugan
Handy Chevrolet
St. Albans, VT  05478

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We performed a very unscientific but telling study in a single few hour session at our St. Albans, VT Toyota dealership one day, with the focus group being our customers and the so-called "mythbusters" being our service and parts professionals.  We chatted with several customers asking questions about cleaning their own cars and we came up with the following list of 12 Car Cleaning & Detailing Myths.

Myth #1 - Dishwashing detergent is okay to use for car washing soap
Many people (yours truly, inclusive!) have used this method to wash their car, but the truth of the matter is that just about every dishwashing detergent (like Dawn, for example) has some sort of acidic quality meant to dissolve foodstuffs.  The issue?  Those acids can dissolve paint stuffs as well including polymers on the paint's surface!

Myth #2 - Car washing versus car cleaning
Aren't they the same?  According to Meguiar, owner of the same-named product line, they are two very different things; a car wash removes loose debris (dirt, pollen, salt, etc.) whereas a car cleaning removes stubborn stains like sap or tar.  Make sure you think about this before scheduling a car wash appointment.

Myth #3 - Shiny equals clean
The bottom line here is that your eyes aren't good enough to see what's really happening to your car, specifically its paint.  Though the top layer may seem shiny and even new-looking, there can still be a lot of debris on the top layer (debris that scratches and causes bigger problems if left unchecked).  Meguiar's recommendation is to run your hand over a small section of paint when you think it's really clean.  If it feels anything less smooth than glass, you didn't clean it enough or maybe polish and wax is needed.

Myth #4 - Only professional use clay bars
Clay bars, in case you don't know, are used to safely remove a whole slew of sticky, stuck-on messes that can leave an otherwise clean car tarnished.  But this doesn't mean you can't use it yourself, nor does it imply it's difficult.  With a silly putty-like feel, the clay bar, available in many brands and qualities, is rubbed against a tar spot for example to remove it safely and (hopefully) completely.

Myth #5 - Waxing my car will remove paint swirls
Sadly, not necessarily.  Due to the high quality of modern car paints, the minutest scratch can appear ghastly and unsightly.  Depending on how deep it really is waxing, machine buffing, or professional help may be needed.  Once the root of the problem is negated the swirl will go away.

Myth #6 - There's no difference between polishing and waxing
Truth be told, polishing refers to making a car's paint gleam and seem showroom-quality.  Conversely waxing isn't intended to make the car look nice; it does, this much is true, but it is actually protecting more than making it aesthetically appealing.

Myth #7 - Machine polishers and buffers damage paint
To be blunt, you need two things:  the proper speed and a technician that knows what he or she is doing (both speed wise and pressure wise).  That doesn't mean you can't use a polisher yourself, but if you do use a dual-action polisher or orbital buffer - leave the high speed buffers to the pros at Handy Toyota!

Myth #8 - Using old tee shirts and other soft clothes are okay to clean cars with
No!  While you always want to use something soft on your car for whatever you're doing it's important to remember that a tee shirt, for example, with a flat surface won't be able to pick up dirt particles like a "bumpy" terry cloth towel.  The fibers of the towel will actually absorb dirt and not smear/spread it around.

Myth #9 - Wax application will protect my car for up to a year
This myth surprised even me, but Meguiar himself says this isn't the case... necessarily.  While some products really very well may have the chemical compounds necessary to retain these claims, Meguiar says there are too many other factors for it to be universal.  Take Vermont for example:  heavy snow and salt, dirty spring time roads, acid rain in the summer; there are too many factors to count on the 12-month wax rule.

Myth #10 - Paste wax is always better than liquid wax
This is actually a very popular myth and in some cases it's still true, but in today's world the liquid waxes (like Turtle Wax's Ice lineup) are as good as the paste varieties.  The difference lies in the containment of carnauba wax; while this was always the industry standard, synthetic waxes in liquid variants are just as good if not better with high quality products.

Myth #11 - Lighting my car's hood on fire proves it's protected
Not at all!  This is an old marketing gimmick from 1980s or 1990s "as seen on TV" commercials for car products, but realistically even an unprotected hood, for example, covered in a layer of alcohol and set aflame will not leave more than a barely warm spot on the hood!  Still... don't try this at home.

Myth #12 - After a waxing, paint protection is optional
Those of you keen on vehicle detailing know this is wrong!  As above, waxes only remain attached to the paint for so long, and various factors like road salt, dirt roads, etc. change the timeframe of protection.  The best tip to keep a waxed vehicle looking new?  Use a dry wash product that you spray on and wipe off when dirt is just building up.

Need more tips?  Schedule a car wash or vehicle detailing appointment today at our store and get the car care treatment you and your new Toyota or other make/model vehicle deserve.