Wash your own car?
Discussion
In a desperate attempt to ignore the Rugby on Saturday night, we somehow got on to the subject of car washing.
I've always washed my own cars. I'm not a detailing nut, but a once a year HD Wax, 4 times per year Resin Polish, then fortnightly Karcher/Wash/AquaWax/Dry had kept whatever cars we've owned looking pristine. On the road I live on, Sunday morning is awash with the sound of Jet washes?
But in the straw poll of 14 lads watching the Rugby with me, only 3 others washed their own.
The others were either faux macho (car gets washed when it gets serviced....or equally toss "Less time washing/More time driving" adopted by the 5yr old Hot Hatch drivers) or took it to the hand job place and prayed at least most of the stones had been removed from the sponges the washers used.
Is washing your own car now akin to buying via PCP?
I've always washed my own cars. I'm not a detailing nut, but a once a year HD Wax, 4 times per year Resin Polish, then fortnightly Karcher/Wash/AquaWax/Dry had kept whatever cars we've owned looking pristine. On the road I live on, Sunday morning is awash with the sound of Jet washes?
But in the straw poll of 14 lads watching the Rugby with me, only 3 others washed their own.
The others were either faux macho (car gets washed when it gets serviced....or equally toss "Less time washing/More time driving" adopted by the 5yr old Hot Hatch drivers) or took it to the hand job place and prayed at least most of the stones had been removed from the sponges the washers used.
Is washing your own car now akin to buying via PCP?
I love washing my car, used to find it really relaxing, using a clay bar and waxing by hand. But since our little person came along I've struggled to find the time or now he wants to be out with me so I have to keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't get squished. Handing him a hose keeps him entertained for a little bit. Now the car just gets the occasional quick blast over and hasn't seen any proper wax in over a year. I hope to sort that out in the next few weeks before the weather gets really bad but might struggle.
I will never take it to someone else to get washed, I did it once when in a big rush and ended up losing a number of bits of trim which were apparently 'not there when it was dropped off'.
I will never take it to someone else to get washed, I did it once when in a big rush and ended up losing a number of bits of trim which were apparently 'not there when it was dropped off'.
tting!
I do, but will no longer need to, having read such a convincing article on PH, I'm going to spend 2 grand getting my car polished with ceramic polish and then I'll only have to clean with ph neutral shampoo......
Oh wait, err that means I'll still have to wash it - strike that then... I wash my own car
Oh wait, err that means I'll still have to wash it - strike that then... I wash my own car
pembo said:
I love washing my car, used to find it really relaxing, using a clay bar and waxing by hand. But since our little person came along I've struggled to find the time or now he wants to be out with me so I have to keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't get squished. Handing him a hose keeps him entertained for a little bit. Now the car just gets the occasional quick blast over and hasn't seen any proper wax in over a year. I hope to sort that out in the next few weeks before the weather gets really bad but might struggle.
I will never take it to someone else to get washed, I did it once when in a big rush and ended up losing a number of bits of trim which were apparently 'not there when it was dropped off'.
Same here. Since my daughter was born last August, I haven't washed the car myself at all. Terrible, I know, but I have been spending all my free time with her.I will never take it to someone else to get washed, I did it once when in a big rush and ended up losing a number of bits of trim which were apparently 'not there when it was dropped off'.
Add to this a back injury, and I would struggle to give the car the attention it used to get. I used to be outside for about 4 hours washing etc. I may get back into it, but at the moment I'm just leaving it.
BTW driving a 5yr old hot hatch doesn't make you a lesser human being, I've never owned something so new or expensive.
I quite enjoy the jetwash booths at my local garage, particularly for cleaning muddy 4x4s. Normally I get out the bucket and sponge if I have some spare time, the weather's nice and the car is looking grubby, this probably equates to the car being washed every two or three months on average. Maybe if your car is brand new or enormously expensive then it's worth spending lots of time worrying about how shiny the paintwork is, personally I'm not that bothered. The interior must be extremely clean and it must be mechanically spot on but the paintwork is of somewhat lesser importance.
I quite enjoy the jetwash booths at my local garage, particularly for cleaning muddy 4x4s. Normally I get out the bucket and sponge if I have some spare time, the weather's nice and the car is looking grubby, this probably equates to the car being washed every two or three months on average. Maybe if your car is brand new or enormously expensive then it's worth spending lots of time worrying about how shiny the paintwork is, personally I'm not that bothered. The interior must be extremely clean and it must be mechanically spot on but the paintwork is of somewhat lesser importance.
I only wash it when it needs a clean for its own well being. Couldn't care how it looks. Got a half mile dirt track to the house so by the time I've washed it and drove to town it's already filthy.
Cleaning nuts on here will hate me. I just spray snow foam stuff on it, brush it with a big 6foot brush and rinse off. Mostly washing mud and dust off.
Cleaning nuts on here will hate me. I just spray snow foam stuff on it, brush it with a big 6foot brush and rinse off. Mostly washing mud and dust off.
I'll probably get the car cleaned every couple of months. I've probably only washed it myself twice since I bought it in Feb. I only use the car a few times a week and to be honest don't have much spare time and when I do get spare time it's often dark or raining.
Taking it to a reputable car wash place is easier as it free's up some time and it's nice to see some hot eastern europe girl clean your car
Taking it to a reputable car wash place is easier as it free's up some time and it's nice to see some hot eastern europe girl clean your car
For nearly each car I've owned, I've had it washed at the local place at least once. But once only.
Car 1 - Anodized Nismo wheels ruined with the overly concentrated acid wheel cleaner... Unable to prove they did any damage
Car 2 (soft top) - They pressure washed along the roof seals at point blank range forcing water through the seals and into my face! They also didn't manage to wash the baked on bugs on the front of the car until I directed them to each and everyone they missed.
Car 3 - Scratches and swirls left from the drying blade they used.. Again, unable to prove they did any damage
Not sure why I gave them so many chances. I guess when you see a load of 'prestige' cars lined up regularly at these places you assume they will be at least semi decent!
However, in all of the cases above, I've only really used a hand car wash through sheer laziness or desperation. I used to wash the car myself twice a month.. Now with a little one, the car gets washed 2-3 times a quarter.
I also find that its almost as fast to DIY as it is to drive to the local place, queue up, get the car washed and dried and then drive home.
Car 1 - Anodized Nismo wheels ruined with the overly concentrated acid wheel cleaner... Unable to prove they did any damage
Car 2 (soft top) - They pressure washed along the roof seals at point blank range forcing water through the seals and into my face! They also didn't manage to wash the baked on bugs on the front of the car until I directed them to each and everyone they missed.
Car 3 - Scratches and swirls left from the drying blade they used.. Again, unable to prove they did any damage
Not sure why I gave them so many chances. I guess when you see a load of 'prestige' cars lined up regularly at these places you assume they will be at least semi decent!
However, in all of the cases above, I've only really used a hand car wash through sheer laziness or desperation. I used to wash the car myself twice a month.. Now with a little one, the car gets washed 2-3 times a quarter.
I also find that its almost as fast to DIY as it is to drive to the local place, queue up, get the car washed and dried and then drive home.
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