It is best to skip the car wash until a chip or crack is fixed. The water pressure and the temperature swing inside a car wash are exactly what makes damaged glass spread.
Why car washes make cracks spread
- High-pressure jets push water into the break and flex the glass around it.
- Warm wash water and cold rinse water heat and cool the glass quickly.
- Spinning brushes and blowers add vibration and pressure.
- Water left in a chip can freeze overnight in winter and push the break outward.
Is a touchless car wash safer?
Touchless washes skip the brushes, but they rely on stronger water jets, so they still put pressure on a damaged windshield. Hand-wash around the damage instead until it is repaired.
After a chip repair
The resin is cured with UV light before you leave, so normal washing is fine once a chip repair is done.
After a windshield replacement
Skip the car wash and high-pressure jets for 48 hours. The urethane that bonds the new windshield keeps curing after the safe drive-away time, and the water pressure can disturb the fresh seal.