Should I clean my car this weekend?
Poll: Should I clean my car this weekend?
Total Members Polled: 74
Discussion
So, having washed the car last weekend it is now filthy again (thanks to two dirt spreading, ignorant, lazy, incompetent companies (Yes, Veolia and Hegarty Construction, that's you) and one lazy, cowardly, incompetent council (stand up, Bedford) after just 100 miles.
So, given the weather to come, is it worth getting out the pressure washer and all the faff that goes with that, in sub-zero temperatures, only to have to do it all again next weekend (and again following), given that we will all be driving around in half an inch of soggy salt next week?
So, given the weather to come, is it worth getting out the pressure washer and all the faff that goes with that, in sub-zero temperatures, only to have to do it all again next weekend (and again following), given that we will all be driving around in half an inch of soggy salt next week?
Edited by JonChalk on Friday 23 February 08:48
I tend to wheel out the fun cars and wash them, whether or not they've been driven since last time I washed them. It's pleasurable rubbing them down with bubbles. Like having a bath with the wife, or girlfriend, or both.
Any daily use cars get washed twice: once the day after I buy them, once the day before I sell them.
Any daily use cars get washed twice: once the day after I buy them, once the day before I sell them.
I'm totally with you OP, I was just away to post in the lounge asking if I should have a bacon roll on Sunday... time I get the rolls, open the fridge, piss around with the grill, clean up behind me and then I'll just be hungry again in a few hours... plus I had a bacon roll last Sunday and then I was hungry again by lunch time.
Davie said:
I'm totally with you OP, I was just away to post in the lounge asking if I should have a bacon roll on Sunday... time I get the rolls, open the fridge, piss around with the grill, clean up behind me and then I'll just be hungry again in a few hours... plus I had a bacon roll last Sunday and then I was hungry again by lunch time.
True & funny, but still not sure if you're helping ;-)
Our cars get hand washed by me every weekend during the nice weather and get rewaxed just before the winter. During the winter they get washed perhaps 2 or 3 times at most. They then get thoroughly detailed in the Spring and the cycle begins again. I hate washing cars in the cold weather and find that a good waxing keeps the paintwork in good order until washing season begins again.
Prevention rather than cure does help... mine were machine polished in the better weather last year and then a couple of layers of wax and so through winter, assuming the hose isn't frozen I tend to just snowfoam them (bit of a gimmick but does help) and then power washer off and it's good enough to be 90% clean... at least it gets the worst of the crap off and more so under the arches and such like. Only takes about 15mins per car start to finish so not a huge hassle. I will wash them down if the weather allows and I have found myself washing them in light rain, however if there's a strong wind I point blank refuse... I absolutely hate the wind!
I'm hanging it out for one more week, my Golf is also covered in cow s**t (living in "farmer land" as my mate calls it) and also that bloody grit.. it is in a bit of a state! However, no doubt the interior will be getting a bi-weekly hoover and clean as usual.. as long as the interior is fresh and clean then i'm not too worried about the exterior as this time of year I only have to go for a 5 minute drive for it to be completely covered again 
Davie said:
Prevention rather than cure does help... mine were machine polished in the better weather last year and then a couple of layers of wax and so through winter, assuming the hose isn't frozen I tend to just snowfoam them (bit of a gimmick but does help) and then power washer off and it's good enough to be 90% clean... at least it gets the worst of the crap off and more so under the arches and such like. Only takes about 15mins per car start to finish so not a huge hassle. I will wash them down if the weather allows and I have found myself washing them in light rain, however if there's a strong wind I point blank refuse... I absolutely hate the wind!
I have to faff about with a hose running through the house from the kitchen, to get water to the drive, so a bit of a pain when it's cold.I like to keep on top of things mechanically, but our cars are washed 2-3 times a year at the most. They are genrally waxed once. The rest of the time they accumulate a protective coating of tree sap, mud and road grime.
The interiors get a clean when they start looking messy. I clean the headlamps and windows (inside and out) fairly frequently as there are reasons beyond the cosmetic.
Interestingly, when I cleaned and waxed my wife's 12 year old car before flogging it, it was gleaming inside and out and looked great.
-This "preventative" thing is a mostly a load of nonsense.
Some people just like spending their spare time washing cars. I prefer not to.
The interiors get a clean when they start looking messy. I clean the headlamps and windows (inside and out) fairly frequently as there are reasons beyond the cosmetic.
Interestingly, when I cleaned and waxed my wife's 12 year old car before flogging it, it was gleaming inside and out and looked great.
-This "preventative" thing is a mostly a load of nonsense.
Some people just like spending their spare time washing cars. I prefer not to.
Superhoop said:
And if you clean it and show it some love, then it should be easier to clean next time...
Agree with this, and I'd left mine ages recently before I cleaned it, it took me an age to do it and I said to myself I wouldn't leave it that long again. Keeping on top of it does make it much easier...even though it is a big waste of time at this time of year!
I am of the opinon, that, this time of year, it's most important to give everything a good rinse down with clean water to remove salt deposits. I will use just the hose with a spray connector to rinse off the calipers, under the arches, and underneath (getting on the suspension components etc). Dont forget to give the rads at the front a good rinse too. A quick wipe over with a bucket of soapy water, and then another rinse down.
Not worth making a huge effort in terms ot keeping up appearences, but certainly worth making some effort in terms of keeping up maintinence and reliability of chassis components (and those rads)
Dont forget to keep the windows clean and mirrors too.
Not worth making a huge effort in terms ot keeping up appearences, but certainly worth making some effort in terms of keeping up maintinence and reliability of chassis components (and those rads)
Dont forget to keep the windows clean and mirrors too.
MC Bodge said:
-This "preventative" thing is a mostly a load of nonsense.
Disagree. A car that's not seen any polish / wax for years is much harder to clean and once washed down, they can still look old and tired what with faded trims and stained wheels. Some cars just looked utterly ruined and unloved.
Each to their own, some people see cars as tools / white goods and don't care... others see them as a expensive purchase / an asset and thus like to keep them in good order, much the same as some people don't care about their house / garden / kids / personal hygiene.
There's no point arguing the toss, some people like to spend an hour washing their cars on a Sunday, some people like to smack a small ball around 9 holes and some people like to pop round to service Bob at number 44's wife...
As for asking what to do, that's up to the individual... why should the opinion of others really matter?
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