Renting a hose pipe / tap in Central London

[plenty]

Will be soon moving into a flat in Zone 1, which coming from a spacious home outside the M25 will take some getting used to!

I do enjoy a bit of pressure-washer and two-bucket action on the weekend. Is there anywhere in London where I can access (pay for if necessary) an external tap to connect my hosepipe?

[DaveV8V]

plenty said:

Will be soon moving into a flat in Zone 1, which coming from a spacious home outside the M25 will take some getting used to!

I do enjoy a bit of pressure-washer and two-bucket action on the weekend. Is there anywhere in London where I can access (pay for if necessary) an external tap to connect my hosepipe?

If you are unable to find a tap, can I suggest the following:

Obviously dependant of whether the stars you can park outside your apartment. An option would be using a communial power point for the pressure washer and something like a Karcher K4 (or above) and purchase the Suction Hose accessory. You can fill up a couple of 20-25 Litre jerry can and the Suction Hose will draw the water through the unit as if it was connect to a tap

Hope that helps

PS. lugging 50 litres down 3 flights of stairs is a better workout than you would think
PPS. Bought all the other flat owners a bottle of wine and left it outside their front doors as a peace offering for using the communal electricity

[Andehh]

Find a local petrol station with the jet wash /hoover bays? Bring own buckets, car shampoo and Jerry can of water to get you started?

[sjg]

Something like this: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/mobi-v-1...

There are similar from other brands too.

It's not a full-on pressure washer but absolutely fine for pre-wash and rinsing off after.

[plenty]

Thanks all for suggestions. Entrance to block is on main road with no parking so no chance of doing anything there. I do like the idea of bringing my gear to the local jet wash though...as long as they are happy for me to linger there a bit!

[tomtom]

There's a Texaco with two jet wash bays near Vauxhall on the Albert Embankment. It also has 3 or 4 parking spaces next to the jet wash.

Plenty of people there taking time to wash and dry cars by hand. It's pretty cheap too, £2 for the basic shampoo and rinse option.

[plenty]

tomtom said:

There's a Texaco with two jet wash bays near Vauxhall on the Albert Embankment. It also has 3 or 4 parking spaces next to the jet wash.

Plenty of people there taking time to wash and dry cars by hand. It's pretty cheap too, £2 for the basic shampoo and rinse option.

Am going to be based just across the river in Westminster so that's a great call - many thanks.

[moeman79]

Happy for you to use my driveway with water, power and full washing kit if you fancy. Based just off the Old Kent Road in SE15

[AOK]

Last Friday evening I was heading out of town for a Saturday morning meeting, so I called into the big BP just before Hammersmith flyover to give my very dusty car a quick hose down. Whilst not hugely cheap, this is my preferred hand jet wash in town for several reasons:

- There are 2 bays so availability is usually good
- Within 10 minutes of washing you can be on the M4 and going fast enough for water to bead off
- Both bays take coins (rather than tokens), meaning less human interaction which is great for an introvert like me
- The bays are designed so you approach the guns head on, meaning less opportunity for the hose to slap your car
- You don't pay for a cycle, you can choose what it coming out of the nozzle and just pay per minute

Anyway... I'm digressing. The point I was going to make is: much to my amusement when I got there (at circa 9/10pm) I noticed 2 car owners parked up just opposite the wash bays (in the ample parking area) cleaning and polishing away, aided by a bright street light just above. I assume they had just used the facilities and were taking the opportunity to finish the job properly undeterred by the Uber driver parked up nearby, looking on with approbation. The chap with an old M3 was very much in his element, aided by a handheld vac and pretty much every AutoGlym product I've ever seen. The chap with an old SL was less artisan, opting for a bottle of T-cut and a microfibre.

If I ever decide that I need to become sociable, I now know where to head at 9pm on a Friday!

[moeman79]

Sounds like a good opportunity for a mini meet

[plenty]

moeman79 said:

Happy for you to use my driveway with water, power and full washing kit if you fancy. Based just off the Old Kent Road in SE15

Thank you - extremely kind! In fact acting on the tip above I've been regularly using the Texaco in Vauxhall which is just 3 mins from me. Not quite as satisfying as having my own driveway and hose but with a few adjustments to my wash routine it's pretty good! Main difference is use of Optimum No Rinse meaning the need for water is drastically reduced.

[tomtom]

I've started going to the Texaco for a £2 shampoo and rinse with the jet wash, then driving home (I live 5mins away) and giving it a go over by hand with a couple of buckets on the street. Works out nicely but lugging the buckets around is a pain.

[plenty]

At Texaco I use the water machine (the same as the air machine) to fill up my buckets and then wash on site - there's lots of room and the staff there are more than happy to let you take as much time as long as you want as long you spend £2 on a wash.

So my Texaco routine consists of:

1. Fill up two buckets from the water machine. Use one bucket to clean wheels
2. £2 jetwash to get the loose grime off
3. Use second bucket with grit guard and ONR to clean bodywork
4. Dry car, vacuum interior if necessary, dress tyres etc.

[moeman79]

plenty said:

Thank you - extremely kind! In fact acting on the tip above I've been regularly using the Texaco in Vauxhall which is just 3 mins from me. Not quite as satisfying as having my own driveway and hose but with a few adjustments to my wash routine it's pretty good! Main difference is use of Optimum No Rinse meaning the need for water is drastically reduced.

No worries buddy. The bays at Texaco look pretty good and sounds like you've got your method sorted

ONS is brilliant too

[tomtom]

I drove past the Texaco earlier and noticed they'd blocked off the jetwash bays with cones. Is this just due to the freezing temperatures or are they closing them?!

[Bullet-Proof_Biscuit]

Would anyone know of a jet wash in Wandsworth / Balham area?

Soz hijack but assumed dead thread.