Car Wash Horror Stories
Discussion
A young chinese chap at my work once decided to wash his VW passat during lunchbreak, on a less than sunny day.
His logic was, as it was raining he wouldn't need to rinse it.
He proceeded out into the carpark with a bucket, yellow dish sponge, and.....a bottle of shower gel!
I watched in amazement as he washed away with his bottle of Lynx (or similar, i forget). The car did smell rather nice later that day, albeit quite a streaky finish!
His logic was, as it was raining he wouldn't need to rinse it.
He proceeded out into the carpark with a bucket, yellow dish sponge, and.....a bottle of shower gel!
I watched in amazement as he washed away with his bottle of Lynx (or similar, i forget). The car did smell rather nice later that day, albeit quite a streaky finish!
designforlife said:
A young chinese chap at my work once decided to wash his VW passat during lunchbreak, on a less than sunny day.
His logic was, as it was raining he wouldn't need to rinse it.
Not quite the same, but I live in a hard water area, and don't have any filtration/gadget on the garage connection. Because of this, I generally try and wash the car when it is raining because it helps prevent the water spots that the minerals/calcium in the water tends of leave.His logic was, as it was raining he wouldn't need to rinse it.
cj2013 said:
Blanket Statement...
Where I worked we had several hundred chamois, microfibres and mitts. If one hit the floor, it got chucked. If one got worn, it got chucked. A freshly machine washed mitt was used for each car that came through, and the same for microfibres when drying etc.
Point proven. You used chamois to dry the cars. Swirl heaven. Use proper drying towels. Where I worked we had several hundred chamois, microfibres and mitts. If one hit the floor, it got chucked. If one got worn, it got chucked. A freshly machine washed mitt was used for each car that came through, and the same for microfibres when drying etc.
I must admit, I do cringe when I see cars going into cheapo car washes or being left with the valeters in supermarket car parks. There is no sympathy to the paint or even common sense. Drop the sponge/chamois, pick up and carry on.
I appreciate these are businesses that want to turn out 'clean' cars every few minutes but it doesn't take a lot of common sense to make the process a little kinder to the car. Not there concern though as most drivers don't care for swirl marks as long as the car looks moderately clean.
I bought a Clio 172 for 800 quid which I knew hadn't been washed by anyone but a local hand wash place for the 12 months my friend owned it. So for speeds sake I took it to a local place to me. They were ok-ish but it was an £800 car so £5 on a wash seemed relative. I recall seeing a new McLaren pull in though and couldn't help thinking that I'm pretty sure he could afford to have it professionally detailed. Ignorance is bliss.
I appreciate these are businesses that want to turn out 'clean' cars every few minutes but it doesn't take a lot of common sense to make the process a little kinder to the car. Not there concern though as most drivers don't care for swirl marks as long as the car looks moderately clean.
I bought a Clio 172 for 800 quid which I knew hadn't been washed by anyone but a local hand wash place for the 12 months my friend owned it. So for speeds sake I took it to a local place to me. They were ok-ish but it was an £800 car so £5 on a wash seemed relative. I recall seeing a new McLaren pull in though and couldn't help thinking that I'm pretty sure he could afford to have it professionally detailed. Ignorance is bliss.
Metrosexual said:
Got home 20 minutes later, my wheels have changed colour, they have completely f**ked the paint finish spraying whatever the crap is was they use. Bad enough to warrant a refurb straight away.
Sounds like a very strong traffic film remover or wheel acid!! That kind of stuff that ruins chrome trims, eats into any stone chips on wheels etc. Another reason to avoid these places unfortunately. Like some I actually like cleaning my cars. Don't get me wrong in the early days of me driving I did take my car to cheapo car washes, but it didn't matter as the car was only £500. Now I'm outside every weekend washing and clay bar, polish, wax every few months! I probably spend a few hours doing the whole car inside and out. It does make me laugh though when my neighbour opposite comes out to clean his year and a bit old black Seat Ibiza with a bucket of whatever and what looks like a dish washing cloth! Slaps it straight on the bodywork, no sign of a rinse or anything. Around he goes then just leaves it to dry off on its own! The inner (very) amateur detailer in me weeps for the poor Seat!
designforlife said:
A young chinese chap at my work once decided to wash his VW passat during lunchbreak, on a less than sunny day.
His logic was, as it was raining he wouldn't need to rinse it.
He proceeded out into the carpark with a bucket, yellow dish sponge, and.....a bottle of shower gel!
I watched in amazement as he washed away with his bottle of Lynx (or similar, i forget). The car did smell rather nice later that day, albeit quite a streaky finish!
Washing up liquid is best.His logic was, as it was raining he wouldn't need to rinse it.
He proceeded out into the carpark with a bucket, yellow dish sponge, and.....a bottle of shower gel!
I watched in amazement as he washed away with his bottle of Lynx (or similar, i forget). The car did smell rather nice later that day, albeit quite a streaky finish!
Seriously do you think 99% of car washers use professional products? I've used washing up liquid and it's fine on a boggo car.
EazyDuz said:
Point proven. You used chamois to dry the cars. Swirl heaven. Use proper drying towels.
Amazing how you've reached that conclusion just by use of the word "chamois" in conjunction with no other 
(Ah, the typical thrust of a PH poster, enthusiastically cutting corners to seize the opportunity to "win" the internet)
Chamois were used to dry off things like abuse white panel vans, or vehicles that would have much bigger bodywork issues to be concerned with, other than micro-marring in the paintwork.
You could have easily read the word "microfibre" and chosen to think "that could mean shorthand for a microfibre drying towel"
cj2013 said:
Amazing how you've reached that conclusion just by use of the word "chamois" in conjunction with no other
(Ah, the typical thrust of a PH poster, enthusiastically cutting corners to seize the opportunity to "win" the internet)
Chamois were used to dry off things like abuse white panel vans, or vehicles that would have much bigger bodywork issues to be concerned with, other than micro-marring in the paintwork.
You could have easily read the word "microfibre" and chosen to think "that could mean shorthand for a microfibre drying towel"
Its a big no no to use chamois if you care about your paintwork. Creates holograms and like you said, micro marring which looks terrible in direct sunlight and means you have to cut it back or cover it with SRP every time you wash the car. (Ah, the typical thrust of a PH poster, enthusiastically cutting corners to seize the opportunity to "win" the internet)
Chamois were used to dry off things like abuse white panel vans, or vehicles that would have much bigger bodywork issues to be concerned with, other than micro-marring in the paintwork.
You could have easily read the word "microfibre" and chosen to think "that could mean shorthand for a microfibre drying towel"
You can't claim to run a decent car was business with a fresh cleaned wash mitt for each vehicle then in the same sentence say you dry it with chamois.
Hence, point proven. No different to a high class escort saying she gives a premium service, then in the same sentence says, 'I have genital warts'. Well then you're not high class.
EazyDuz said:
Its a big no no to use chamois if you care about your paintwork. Creates holograms and like you said, micro marring which looks terrible in direct sunlight and means you have to cut it back or cover it with SRP every time you wash the car.
You can't claim to run a decent car was business with a fresh cleaned wash mitt for each vehicle then in the same sentence say you dry it with chamois.
Hence, point proven. No different to a high class escort saying she gives a premium service, then in the same sentence says, 'I have genital warts'. Well then you're not high class.
I'm not sure you can read very well.You can't claim to run a decent car was business with a fresh cleaned wash mitt for each vehicle then in the same sentence say you dry it with chamois.
Hence, point proven. No different to a high class escort saying she gives a premium service, then in the same sentence says, 'I have genital warts'. Well then you're not high class.
I don't claim to have run any car wash business, nor did I say we dried each vehicle with a chamois.
Don't let you quest to win get in the way of your ability to be patronising, though.
cj2013 said:
I'm not sure you can read very well.
I don't claim to have run any car wash business, nor did I say we dried each vehicle with a chamois.
Don't let you quest to win get in the way of your ability to be patronising, though.
I was referring to the owner of the business.I don't claim to have run any car wash business, nor did I say we dried each vehicle with a chamois.
Don't let you quest to win get in the way of your ability to be patronising, though.
''we had several hundred chamois, microfibres and mitts. If one hit the floor, it got chucked. If one got worn, it got chucked''
If you had several hundred chamois and work at a car wash business, if you don't dry each car with a chamois, what did you dry them with? Since you never mentioned drying towels or a leaf blower...
EazyDuz said:
I was referring to the owner of the business.
''we had several hundred chamois, microfibres and mitts. If one hit the floor, it got chucked. If one got worn, it got chucked''
If you had several hundred chamois and work at a car wash business, if you don't dry each car with a chamois, what did you dry them with? Since you never mentioned drying towels or a leaf blower...
What exactly do you think the Microfibres were used for? Or 'drying towels' are?''we had several hundred chamois, microfibres and mitts. If one hit the floor, it got chucked. If one got worn, it got chucked''
If you had several hundred chamois and work at a car wash business, if you don't dry each car with a chamois, what did you dry them with? Since you never mentioned drying towels or a leaf blower...
If you bother to read a post fully, the chamois were used for white panel vans. I can assure you that workmen in dented and rusted Transit vans would rather save £2 and 5 mins time than worry about microscopic marring in paintwork.
You come across like someone who bounds about in life making negative presumptions about things - you're entitled to do that, but making snarky and patronising comments does nothing to enhance the topic.
cj2013 said:
What exactly do you think the Microfibres were used for? Or 'drying towels' are?
If you bother to read a post fully, the chamois were used for white panel vans. I can assure you that workmen in dented and rusted Transit vans would rather save £2 and 5 mins time than worry about microscopic marring in paintwork.
You come across like someone who bounds about in life making negative presumptions about things - you're entitled to do that, but making snarky and patronising comments does nothing to enhance the topic.
Seems odd to just assume a van owner doesnt care about micromarring. If you bother to read a post fully, the chamois were used for white panel vans. I can assure you that workmen in dented and rusted Transit vans would rather save £2 and 5 mins time than worry about microscopic marring in paintwork.
You come across like someone who bounds about in life making negative presumptions about things - you're entitled to do that, but making snarky and patronising comments does nothing to enhance the topic.
Still, if thats how the business is ran. I'd still rather do it myself. Rinse, TBM, clay bar, polish and finish with a high end wax. That way you know its done right
Metrosexual said:
Sgt Bills, Gillingham, Kent.
I never use these places, someone told me they have an under chassis wash, end of the winter do thought I'd pop in to get th crap off the underside of the truck.
While queuing a random bod walks by spraying liquid on my wheels, don't think anything of it at the time.
Paid for the 'best' spec, loads of bits missed - vacuum, glass inside and out, etc. I wasn't that worried because I only wanted the underside done properly.
Got home 20 minutes later, my wheels have changed colour, they have completely f**ked the paint finish spraying whatever the crap is was they use. Bad enough to warrant a refurb straight away.
Oh, and I'm struggling to get the smell of smoke out from the 'technician' that was smoking a fag whilst half heartedly wiping a dirty rag over my paintwork.
Since it first opened in the 90's Sgt Bills has NEVER had an underchasis washer.I never use these places, someone told me they have an under chassis wash, end of the winter do thought I'd pop in to get th crap off the underside of the truck.
While queuing a random bod walks by spraying liquid on my wheels, don't think anything of it at the time.
Paid for the 'best' spec, loads of bits missed - vacuum, glass inside and out, etc. I wasn't that worried because I only wanted the underside done properly.
Got home 20 minutes later, my wheels have changed colour, they have completely f**ked the paint finish spraying whatever the crap is was they use. Bad enough to warrant a refurb straight away.
Oh, and I'm struggling to get the smell of smoke out from the 'technician' that was smoking a fag whilst half heartedly wiping a dirty rag over my paintwork.
just the two guys with hot pressure washers who clean the car, before it goes inside to be hand washed.
Is the full inside and out valet still £15?
I took the Big Green Dollop of doom to the local Kosavo Karwash 18 months ago and it was a different guy to the really helpful and good chap that usually did it. He jet washed a piece of trim off the bumper, never to be seen again and used something different on the paintwork which seemed to take all the polish off. Never been back - invested £7 in an extendable hose and £3 on a tap adaptor and away we go.
When the MX5 was serviced recently the dealer gave it a 'courtesy wash' which it desperately needed but whatever they used wrecked the wheels - polished rims with clouds all over them and the silver now patchy and dull. I couldn't complain as it was free, but I did wonder just what the hell they use?
When the MX5 was serviced recently the dealer gave it a 'courtesy wash' which it desperately needed but whatever they used wrecked the wheels - polished rims with clouds all over them and the silver now patchy and dull. I couldn't complain as it was free, but I did wonder just what the hell they use?
I got told by someone quite strongly once that me wasting a whole day cleaning, polishing and waxing my car was a waste of time and the local Polish car could do a better job. They they drove out of the car park of the place we were, I'd parked across the road so as they turned onto the road my lights caught sight of very wavy looking paint work on what was a brand new Kia.
Good thread but I'm cringing quite a bit
Good thread but I'm cringing quite a bit
Sa Calobra said:
Washing up liquid is best.
There was a thread about this many years ago.https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
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