Where to detail car in London

[Chubbyross]

My dilemma: I’m a detailing obsessive living in central London. I have a car that I park in a nearby secure parking area. I could never leave the car outside my house for fear of it being vandalised or nicked. However, every few weeks I need to give it a maintenance wash. I don’t like doing this outside my house as it draws attention to the car (I’ve had experience of being spat at by hoodies in hot hatches - I live on the edge of a highly dodgy area with drug dealers and gangs doing their stuff).

My question is this: are there any areas in London where there are pressure washers and spaces to hire on an hourly basis so car owners can spend time working on their cars? I’m not talking about the standard do-it-yourself cleaning areas attached to petrol stations. I’ve tried that before but the cars start queuing up and you get aggro from drivers for spending too long.

Once on a road trip last year I found a spot up in Yorkshire that had several pressure washers operated by coin slots and drivers turned up with their two buckets and could spend as long as they wanted. I’m wondering if any of you know of something similar in London. I’m guessing that land values around here make such a thing unlikely.

[V6Alfisti]

Chubbyross said:

My dilemma: I’m a detailing obsessive living in central London. I have a car that I park in a nearby secure parking area. I could never leave the car outside my house for fear of it being vandalised or nicked. However, every few weeks I need to give it a maintenance wash. I don’t like doing this outside my house as it draws attention to the car (I’ve had experience of being spat at by hoodies in hot hatches - I live on the edge of a highly dodgy area with drug dealers and gangs doing their stuff).

My question is this: are there any areas in London where there are pressure washers and spaces to hire on an hourly basis so car owners can spend time working on their cars? I’m not talking about the standard do-it-yourself cleaning areas attached to petrol stations. I’ve tried that before but the cars start queuing up and you get aggro from drivers for spending too long.

Once on a road trip last year I found a spot up in Yorkshire that had several pressure washers operated by coin slots and drivers turned up with their two buckets and could spend as long as they wanted. I’m wondering if any of you know of something similar in London. I’m guessing that land values around here make such a thing unlikely.

Unfortunately not, I am in a similar position being in Central London and the issue was more...how do I get sufficient water to the car to do the job right and not spend ages lugging buckets around.

Whilst I can't help directly with your problem, I can help reduce the time you are out there !

I bought a Worx Hydroshot pressure washer (battery powered/not corded and uses a bucket of water as its source rather than a hose pipe) it will take one bucket of water to rinse the car down, and then rinse the suds off after. Note: It might end up drawing more attention for the period you are there though!

I haven't seen any long stay coin operated or even timed coin operated machines around these parts, just the usual man with a bucket full of dirty sponges.

[coldel]

+1 on the hydroshot. it does work really well to snow foam and rinse the car. With that in mind you just need a barrel of water, chuck the hydroshot in the boot and drive to wherever you want to wash the car and get on with it in your own leisure. Only problem with it I have found is that the standard snow foam bottle that comes with it is a bit rubbish and cannot find a better one with the same attachment.

[Chubbyross]

Cheers for the replies. I actually have a pressure washer that I can run outside using an outside tap. It’s the standing there for two+ hours when there’s kids on scooters slowing down to gawp that worries me. It’s a shame there’s nowhere where detailing obsessed petrol heads can go to in London to spend a relaxing few hours with their toys, chemicals and brushes. I’d happily fork out a decent amount of money to do so.

[Haltamer]

What side of London are you on?
Maybe someone in a nicer area with a tap will let you borrow their drive
http://www.detailsdetails.co.uk/our-workshop.html Is in Southend if you're in the east and don't mind a drive.

[Chubbyross]

Haltamer said:

What side of London are you on?
Maybe someone in a nicer area with a tap will let you borrow their drive
http://www.detailsdetails.co.uk/our-workshop.html Is in Southend if you're in the east and don't mind a drive.

Now that’s exactly what I’m looking for in London. It’s a bit of a trek but if I can’t find something closer I’ll certainly be paying them a visit. I’ll just need to ensure the weather’s good. I can imagine spending a quality afternoon working on the car only for the heavens to open on the 1.5 hour’s drive.

[poo at Paul's]

One of the saddest things I have ever read! How do you ever drive your car? How do you get to it, bus, train tube?
If you can physically wash it at your home, why not just do that, then drive it to the secure parking? If it really is not safe to wash it at your won house, seriously, why do you live there?
If you cannot sort that issue out, maybe find a decent mobile valeter that will come to your secure parking area?

I suspect you like doing it yourself, but to say you don't feel safe doing so, is sad in the extreme. 2018 Britain.....! well London at least!

[poo at Paul's]

Or of course find a coin op jetwash place and only do it late at night and speak to them to make sure they don't mind you spending a bit of time there. Keep feeding the washer, buy some coffee at the garage, that sort of thing?

I used to live and work in Switzerland as the laws really necessitated some very high quality jetwash / car valeting places. De-ionised water, various fragrances, always very busy etc. But then if you washed a car at home, it would not be the local chavs you'd be worried about, it would be the 5-0!

[130iTrack]

Hi,

I'm currently just fitting out my workshop/yard to be able to offer this just off the Old Kent Road. Send me a private message with your email and I'll add you to list of people interested in the space. Hoping to have it ready in the next few weeks.

Tom

[Chubbyross]

poo at Paul's said:

One of the saddest things I have ever read! How do you ever drive your car? How do you get to it, bus, train tube?
If you can physically wash it at your home, why not just do that, then drive it to the secure parking? If it really is not safe to wash it at your won house, seriously, why do you live there?
If you cannot sort that issue out, maybe find a decent mobile valeter that will come to your secure parking area?

I suspect you like doing it yourself, but to say you don't feel safe doing so, is sad in the extreme. 2018 Britain.....! well London at least!

I’m not sure if you live in London or not but there are good areas and dodgy areas. Often a few hundred yards separate the two. I live in my house because it’s a great house, but to spend two hours outside polishing my car (relatively expensive and desirable to some) is inviting trouble, whether it’s just a snidey comment or something more sinister, such as keys and car stolen at knifepoint. Such things are happening all over but particularly in London of late. It’s simply better to be safe than sorry.

[Chubbyross]

130iTrack said:

Hi,

I'm currently just fitting out my workshop/yard to be able to offer this just off the Old Kent Road. Send me a private message with your email and I'll add you to list of people interested in the space. Hoping to have it ready in the next few weeks.

Tom

Hi Tom,

I’m sure you’ll be kept busy! Your profile doesn’t allow PMs. If you sort it out I’ll drop you an email.

[Ahbefive]

I do wonder why anyone would want to live in the sthole that is London. High wages I guess.

[swisstoni]

I notice that the YouTuber Shmee uses a valet company called Posh Wash based in Park Lane (but also a branch at Brentford).

I have nothing to do with them but there seems to be some pretty fancy machinery in the underground car park there.
Perhaps they would let you use a space for a while if you used their services for a basic wash or something?

[130iTrack]

Chubbyross said:

Hi Tom,

I’m sure you’ll be kept busy! Your profile doesn’t allow PMs. If you sort it out I’ll drop you an email.

Apologies, have changed it. Should be able to send me a PM now.

Tom

[Chubbyross]

130iTrack said:

Chubbyross said:

Hi Tom,

I’m sure you’ll be kept busy! Your profile doesn’t allow PMs. If you sort it out I’ll drop you an email.

Apologies, have changed it. Should be able to send me a PM now.

Tom

Hi Tom,

This damned modern technology. I still can’t see your email me button.

[coldel]

Chubbyross said:

Cheers for the replies. I actually have a pressure washer that I can run outside using an outside tap. It’s the standing there for two+ hours when there’s kids on scooters slowing down to gawp that worries me. It’s a shame there’s nowhere where detailing obsessed petrol heads can go to in London to spend a relaxing few hours with their toys, chemicals and brushes. I’d happily fork out a decent amount of money to do so.

The hydroshot doesnt need an outside tap, it works by just sticking the hose in a bucket and it draws from that. So you can drive the car anywhere you like i.e. away from the hoodies and out the way of anyone and park up and just wash the car. It also works off a battery so doesnt need a power point https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaEk0Uiue4s

[Chubbyross]

coldel said:

Chubbyross said:

Cheers for the replies. I actually have a pressure washer that I can run outside using an outside tap. It’s the standing there for two+ hours when there’s kids on scooters slowing down to gawp that worries me. It’s a shame there’s nowhere where detailing obsessed petrol heads can go to in London to spend a relaxing few hours with their toys, chemicals and brushes. I’d happily fork out a decent amount of money to do so.

The hydroshot doesnt need an outside tap, it works by just sticking the hose in a bucket and it draws from that. So you can drive the car anywhere you like i.e. away from the hoodies and out the way of anyone and park up and just wash the car. It also works off a battery so doesnt need a power point https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaEk0Uiue4s

It looks a good bit of kit but the reviews do say it’s no substitute for a pressure washer.

[Chubbyross]

coldel said:

Chubbyross said:

Cheers for the replies. I actually have a pressure washer that I can run outside using an outside tap. It’s the standing there for two+ hours when there’s kids on scooters slowing down to gawp that worries me. It’s a shame there’s nowhere where detailing obsessed petrol heads can go to in London to spend a relaxing few hours with their toys, chemicals and brushes. I’d happily fork out a decent amount of money to do so.

The hydroshot doesnt need an outside tap, it works by just sticking the hose in a bucket and it draws from that. So you can drive the car anywhere you like i.e. away from the hoodies and out the way of anyone and park up and just wash the car. It also works off a battery so doesnt need a power point https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaEk0Uiue4s

It looks a good bit of kit but the reviews do say it’s no substitute for a pressure washer.

[coldel]

Yep because its running off a small battery and not off a mains, but it does work, it snow foams, it removes suds from a wash and does all the stuff you need it too. Its no substitute BUT it still does what you need a jet washer to do which is foam and rinse.

[Schermerhorn]

Ahbefive said:

I do wonder why anyone would want to live in the sthole that is London. High wages I guess.

Surely it all levels out though with high living costs?

I was in London last week and found it a complete nightmare to navigate, jumping on and off trains, high cost of everything, rude people and too many restricted driving zones.

I couldnt wait to leave and wouldnt be upset if I never had to go there again.