Three questions about my new Ridgeline

I agree about the touch-less car washes, however, they sure are handy and much quicker than washing at home. I have been using touch-less regularly for my XT5 and will use it for my Ridgeline as well. After returning home, I wipe it down with Meguiar's Ultimate Quik Detailer and a micro-fiber towel. No scratches as a result. The chrome looks polished using the Quick Detailer.

The touch-less I use has an under-body flush that works well. I live in Wisconsin where a lot of salt is used during nearly half of the year. The wash place near me installed high pressure extensions on their under-body plumbing which works very well to knock the dirt and grime off the wheels. I used to wipe the wheels with a bath towel at every wash, but with the new flushing I need only to do that every third wash.

For the water in grooves and around the doors, I have a Metrovac Master Blaster that I use before wiping down with the Detailer. After drying the outside, I use an old bath towel to wipe down the door jambs and under the hood.

The whole process takes less than 1 1/2 hour and I get a lot of compliments about the detail job.

A touchless is handy when really cold or to remove salt from underbody. I use it sometimes.

I think there is a good chance of getting scratches if you drive home from a touchless unless you live next door. You can easily get sand/grit/dirt/grime/salt on the ride home. A laserwash doesn't clean it completely as well, there's probably a thin layer of crud left.

If I do use a touchless I will use the one with least chemicals, I like to do the dryer too. Or hop on the highway soon after but spots will still show. Spot free rinse may be available in a laserwash.

I usually tend to use a DIY wash and only use the Spot Free Rinse on the weeks I don't wash it, or if the weather is cold/salty. I try to wash once a week at home. Spot free rinsing tends to hold my OCD over until I get time to wash, with the occasional laserwash.

Basically anytime you touch the paint you risk scratching it. So I make it that I'm the only one that physically touches the paint. Best way to dry is with a leafblower, I haven't done that though....yet. I use a waterblade, I find it's better than using a towel. I make sure the blade and car is clean before doing it. If somethings gets on the blade you risk scratching. Then I tap dry the leftover drops with a microfiber, I don't wipe it because there's more of a chance to scratch.

I don't wax/detail/hand dry the paint unless I wash it by hand using the two bucket method. Clean wheels first. Then clean top half, then bottom. Probably best to use two different wash mitts between the two. You can use a trim cleaner or rubber/plastic cleaner for the trim, tires, and rubber strips.

The water in between the trim and paint will dry

I can generally do a good, quick wash in an hour. Way longer if I am actually detailing.