Why you shouldn’t write ‘wash me’ on cars
‘Wash me’: if you’ve ever used your finger to innocently write these words on a dirty car, you might want to stick with pen and paper.
Writing or drawing on a dirty or dusty vehicle can be damaging. Here’s why.
Why you shouldn’t do it
Put your finger down. According to RAA Manager of Approved Repairers Simon Halford, running your finger innocently along a car covered in dust can scrape the vehicle’s paint work. How? On a microscopic scale, dust can be sharp and abrasive.
“When dirt sits on paint, anything that moves across it can scrape the surface underneath, causing small scratches and clear-coat damage,” Simon explains.
“So, drawing a smiley face or writing ‘wash me’ can sometimes cause damage to the finish.
“Remember, dirt washes off, but scratches are in the clear coat and could still be visible.”
Press hard enough and you can leave what’s known as ‘ghost’ writing, which is when the writing or drawing is visible even after the car has been washed.
Can’t resist the urge?
The dust that’s collected on your mate’s car is too tempting not to squiggle on. You quickly write whatever comes to your mind: ‘[insert your name] was here’.
When it comes time to wash off a vehicle’s dusty artwork, don’t scrub too hard. Instead, Simon recommends rinsing the loose dust off with water first, then wash with soapy water and a microfibre cloth to prevent deeper abrasion.
Use the two-bucket method here (one bucket for soapy water and the other for rinsing the mitt) so grit isn’t reintroduced. Follow up with a wax to protect the paint. If the scratches are still visible, a light polish can help.
“Don’t overdo it, as polishing can remove a thin layer of clear coat,” Simon says.
Can I be fined for writing/drawing on a car?
The writing isn’t always on the wall – sometimes it ends up on the car.
In South Australia, there’s no law that specifically prohibits someone from writing offensive words in the dirt or dust on your car. However, if the message is genuinely obscene or likely to cause offence to people who see it, police could issue a fine on that basis. Try to keep dusty artwork PG and make sure it’s not offensive.
Do you have a car advice question?
RAA members can call our free Car Advice service.
Or call 8202 4689