what happened to using a bucket and a sponge?

[SWoll]

Aiminghigh123 said:

Just go down to Shell and use the jet wash. 12 min wash for £3.60.

Which is probably 30 mins in total (assuming no queue), does a crap job and costs. £3.60 a time. I can wash by hand at home and do a much better job for about 50p in the same amount of time so what's the upside?

[Chubbyross]

PH User said:

Chubbyross said:

I get why some people aren’t interested in detailing but the results can be astonishing. My FiL’s NSX had been washed at his local Eastern European car wash for years. The bodywork was covered in swirls and the paintwork was faded and dull. Yes, it drove perfectly well but looked shabby. I spent three days on it. Two bucket wash (although the paintwork was so bad I may as well have used a Brillo Pad), full decontamination and then two-stage paint correction. It was worth it.

The paintwork beforehand:



And following the full detail:



It isn’t taken to the car wash any more!

No, some people just like driving their cars, but some people also like them to look great too.

It would have been interesting to see a before and after shot in the same way, so both cars clean but from a little distance.

I know. I was annoyed I wasn’t in YouTuber mode and carrying out before and after shots. It didn’t look bad from a distance beforehand but it looked great when complete. My FiL wasn’t that fussed to have it done as he’s the old school bucket and sponge cleaner (before the days of the ten quid car wash) but he was flabbergasted by the result. It’s the most satisfying paint correction I’ve done. My cars are silver so don’t tend to show much of a transformation. I wrecked loads of pads as it was single stage paint. Worth every penny though.

[Pan Pan Pan]

bad company said:

pyruse said:

Blimey. Am I the only one who just drives to the nearest automatic car wash?

I wouldn’t use an automatic car wash but as soon as our local East European run car wash reopens I’ll be there.

Many years ago my brother was about to take his Europa through an automatic car wash, and whilst watching the car in front go through saw a wing mirror, caught in one of the vertical brushes whipping round and pummeling the side of the car. He pulled out of the line, parked up and informed the garage personnel who promptly shut the car wash down, and retrieved the mirror from the brush. It was unfortunately too late for the car my brother had watched, whilst sitting behind it in the queue, (but it may have been that car, which the mirror had come off in the first place)

[Chubbyross]

Pan Pan Pan said:

bad company said:

pyruse said:

Blimey. Am I the only one who just drives to the nearest automatic car wash?

I wouldn’t use an automatic car wash but as soon as our local East European run car wash reopens I’ll be there.

Many years ago my brother was about to take his Europa through an automatic car wash, and whilst watching the car in front go through saw a wing mirror, caught in one of the vertical brushes whipping round and pummeling the side of the car. He pulled out of the line, parked up and informed the garage personnel who promptly shut the car wash down, and retrieved the mirror from the brush. It was unfortunately too late for the car my brother had watched, whilst sitting behind it in the queue, (but it may have been that car, which the mirror had come off in the first place)

And just imagine how many times people in car washes drop their sponges or cloths and just pick them up and carry on. I’ve seen it happen and will never take my weekend cars to one again.

Love a Europa by the way!

[bad company]

Pan Pan Pan said:

bad company said:

pyruse said:

Blimey. Am I the only one who just drives to the nearest automatic car wash?

I wouldn’t use an automatic car wash but as soon as our local East European run car wash reopens I’ll be there.

Many years ago my brother was about to take his Europa through an automatic car wash, and whilst watching the car in front go through saw a wing mirror, caught in one of the vertical brushes whipping round and pummeling the side of the car. He pulled out of the line, parked up and informed the garage personnel who promptly shut the car wash down, and retrieved the mirror from the brush. It was unfortunately too late for the car my brother had watched, whilst sitting behind it in the queue, (but it may have been that car, which the mirror had come off in the first place)

Yes, there’s lots of horror stories from automatic washes. I haven’t seen one never mind used one for years, are they still around?

[James_N]

I used to use the local ARC car wash. 99p a time!

But since this current shed leaks, i use a 20p sponge and some generic car shampoo for £2 from wilko and it doesn't come up too bad! Not done it since July last year to might treat it to a wash this weekend!

[Downward]

Gets you out of the house for a few hours. Good exercise time to yourself and you can see the results.
Worst thing is a day later it rains and cars filthy again.

Still for the short time it’s clean it does look good.

[icekay]

1 bucket and sponge vs 2 buckets and microfibre cloths, huge difference for what is insignificant added effort or cost. For that reason I for one don't get why you would still wash a car you care for using 1 bucket and sponge.

From that point onward you do need to start buying extra products and gear that will add to the time it takes to wash the car, at that point each to their own and whilst I treat it as a hobby, I can equally see why someone would prefer to do something better with their time.

If you're so not bothered about using 1 bucket and sponge and clearly don't care how the car is washed, I would argue the £3 corner hand car wash is a better option for you.

Besides, bucket and a sponge can't do this

[E63eeeeee...]

I took the Merc in for a service, and they did quite a nice job of washing it. I had previously thought the alloys were grey, so am a little surprised to find they are actually silver. It actually looks really good clean.

I'm now spotting dirt on the 330Ci every time I walk past it, and yesterday I caught myself on Amazon looking at grit traps and washing mitts.

I strongly suspect this is a slippery slope.

I hate you lot.

[Ali_GTS]

Once upon a time I’d happily spend the entire weekend cleaning the car. Don’t have the luxury of that sort of time anymore. Today I spent 3 or 4 hours. I had two buckets and two wash mitts. No polishes no additional steps over and above a snow foam a wash and a dry finished with a spray seal.

Finished by drying it off and adding a product called Zaino Z8. You spray a bit on and wipe/buff with a fluffy microfibre. I don’t have time for multiple coats of wax etc.



Well worth the effort I’d say!

[Jezzerh]

Lmao at these plebs still using water to clean cars. If you don’t use dry ice to clean your pants-strechingly gorgeous NSX are you even trying. (Yes I know it’s not the bodywork but thought you’d enjoy it...)

https://youtu.be/HyKmf-XffAo

[SWoll]

Jezzerh said:

Lmao at these plebs still using water to clean cars. If you don’t use dry ice to clean your pants-strechingly gorgeous NSX are you even trying. (Yes I know it’s not the bodywork but thought you’d enjoy it...)

https://youtu.be/HyKmf-XffAo

Seem to remember Ratarossa on YouTube mentioning dry ice cleaning for his 512BBi. I did wonder and now I know.

Amazing results but wow that's pricey and time consuming.

Edited by SWoll on Friday 2nd April 23:31

[Cold]

Mmm, a soapy rear end.

[bungle]

Recently binned my years-old Karcher, and even my buckets and sponges have seen better days (my cars are dirty)

So looking to replace with a fairly budget set-up new pressure washer and snow foam arrangement. I don't want to spend the earth, it's only for cleaning the car, and even then I'll probably do a shoddy job

I'm not massively into cleaning cars at all, but the fresh air and exercise does me good, and I'd like to upgrade just from buckets (I'm also lazy, and like the look of the foam!), so any recommendations on a pressure washer and snow foam will probably see me good

Given I've seen a few in use on here, I thought I'd ask (my very very limited knowledge tells me that I need a certain minimum power pressure washer to get the foam effect, but no idea what that is!!).

[Chubbyross]

Jezzerh said:

Lmao at these plebs still using water to clean cars. If you don’t use dry ice to clean your pants-strechingly gorgeous NSX are you even trying. (Yes I know it’s not the bodywork but thought you’d enjoy it...)

https://youtu.be/HyKmf-XffAo

Amazing stuff! I hope it doesn’t affect any corrosion inhibitor there might be on the metal. And I also suspect that car won’t ever be driven in the rain.

[Prohibiting]

After a proper clean, paintwork decontaminated (tar removal, iron fall out removal and clayed), finished with a quick detailer spray:

Still looks faded and dull despite being spotless, right?


A few weeks later, a good clean and knowing I’ve done 1/3 of the work above, straight onto machine polishing to remove swirl marks and bring the paint back to life after years of abuse from previous owners:


Now I’ve got it to this standard it’ll be super easy to maintain. Try telling me you can’t see the difference.

[swisstoni]

bungle said:

Recently binned my years-old Karcher, and even my buckets and sponges have seen better days (my cars are dirty)

So looking to replace with a fairly budget set-up new pressure washer and snow foam arrangement. I don't want to spend the earth, it's only for cleaning the car, and even then I'll probably do a shoddy job

I'm not massively into cleaning cars at all, but the fresh air and exercise does me good, and I'd like to upgrade just from buckets (I'm also lazy, and like the look of the foam!), so any recommendations on a pressure washer and snow foam will probably see me good

Given I've seen a few in use on here, I thought I'd ask (my very very limited knowledge tells me that I need a certain minimum power pressure washer to get the foam effect, but no idea what that is!!).

I’m sure some pros will chip in. If not PH has its own detailing forum.

Nilfisk have a better rep than Karcher. And I’d go for something a couple of steps up from the cheapest in the range.

If a car was absolutely encrusted I might dig my snowfoam gear out but it’s overkill otherwise.
That’s a fairly controversial view.

The holy grail of snowfoaming is to be able to hose it off to reveal a perfectly clean car. So far this has been impossible despite what people have claimed.

Now there are ‘touch less’ foams coming out that suggest they are the Holy Grail at last. We shall see.

[Chubbyross]

Prohibiting said:

After a proper clean, paintwork decontaminated (tar removal, iron fall out removal and clayed), finished with a quick detailer spray:

Still looks faded and dull despite being spotless, right?


A few weeks later, a good clean and knowing I’ve done 1/3 of the work above, straight onto machine polishing to remove swirl marks and bring the paint back to life after years of abuse from previous owners:


Now I’ve got it to this standard it’ll be super easy to maintain. Try telling me you can’t see the difference.

That’s a fantastic job! That colour is pretty much my favourite and has been ever since I received a Raleigh Europa in that colour for Christmas one year in the ‘70s. A Caterham in that colour would be my ultimate keeper.

[Pan Pan Pan]

Chubbyross said:

Pan Pan Pan said:

bad company said:

pyruse said:

Blimey. Am I the only one who just drives to the nearest automatic car wash?

I wouldn’t use an automatic car wash but as soon as our local East European run car wash reopens I’ll be there.

Many years ago my brother was about to take his Europa through an automatic car wash, and whilst watching the car in front go through saw a wing mirror, caught in one of the vertical brushes whipping round and pummeling the side of the car. He pulled out of the line, parked up and informed the garage personnel who promptly shut the car wash down, and retrieved the mirror from the brush. It was unfortunately too late for the car my brother had watched, whilst sitting behind it in the queue, (but it may have been that car, which the mirror had come off in the first place)

And just imagine how many times people in car washes drop their sponges or cloths and just pick them up and carry on. I’ve seen it happen and will never take my weekend cars to one again.

Love a Europa by the way!

I have seen this very thing happen several times at hand car washes. anyone who takes his car through one of these, or the automatic type does not give a f*ck about their car, which is fine, but which begs the question, if this is the case, why do they bother to wash it at all?
As posted earlier I saw a new Bentley being put through a hand car wash where one of the operatives, dropped their sponge onto the floor (a floor covered with the dirt, and grit just washed off preceding cars) and just carry on using it without first rinsing it off.
the most expensive car is saw undergoing this treatment was a Ferrari, and I remember thinking, `that guy must be mega rich, if he can afford to f*ck up his hundred and fifty thousand pound car putting it through a car wash' But that may have just been his way of demonstrating how `really, really' loaded he was?

[Chubbyross]

Pan Pan Pan said:

Chubbyross said:

Pan Pan Pan said:

bad company said:

pyruse said:

Blimey. Am I the only one who just drives to the nearest automatic car wash?

I wouldn’t use an automatic car wash but as soon as our local East European run car wash reopens I’ll be there.

Many years ago my brother was about to take his Europa through an automatic car wash, and whilst watching the car in front go through saw a wing mirror, caught in one of the vertical brushes whipping round and pummeling the side of the car. He pulled out of the line, parked up and informed the garage personnel who promptly shut the car wash down, and retrieved the mirror from the brush. It was unfortunately too late for the car my brother had watched, whilst sitting behind it in the queue, (but it may have been that car, which the mirror had come off in the first place)

And just imagine how many times people in car washes drop their sponges or cloths and just pick them up and carry on. I’ve seen it happen and will never take my weekend cars to one again.

Love a Europa by the way!

I have seen this very thing happen several times at hand car washes. anyone who takes his car through one of these, or the automatic type does not give a f*ck about their car, which is fine, but which begs the question, if this is the case, why do they bother to wash it at all?
As posted earlier I saw a new Bentley being put through a hand car wash where one of the operatives, dropped their sponge onto the floor (a floor covered with the dirt, and grit just washed off preceding cars) and just carry on using it without first rinsing it off.
the most expensive car is saw undergoing this treatment was a Ferrari, and I remember thinking, `that guy must be mega rich, if he can afford to f*ck up his hundred and fifty thousand pound car putting it through a car wash' But that may have just been his way of demonstrating how `really, really' loaded he was?

Some people just aren’t bothered about the looks of their cars, or not bothered to the extent of us detailers. That’s fine by me, but to me how a car looks is all part of the ownership experience. If my cars are freshly washed then I’m happy to just have them sitting there as much as driving them. That’s why I was happy during lockdown. Detailing them gave me as much satisfaction as taking them out for a spin.