Keeping car clean on holiday/road-trip?

[havoc]

Any suggestions?

We've got trips to Scotland and France coming up this year, and I dread to think what state the car will be in at the end of each without any cleaning. Not to mention how it'll look in photos!

So...who does it, and how? Please note that I've absolutely NO space to go putting in anything like a bucket or a hose...I'll struggle to squeeze in a bottle of Quick Detailer and a couple of cloths, but could probably manage.

Thanks,

Martin.

[Flanders.]

I really wouldn't bother until you get home again. Firstly 'Her in doors' might moan about you cleaning the car on your time away and secondly you may inflict swirls by not being able to clean it probaly.

[hornetrider]

Give it a good wax before you leave. Give it a jetwash whenever you need it (not the brush) and keep a shammy to wipe the excess water off. A quick rub over with QD and job done.

[GKP]

At the risk of sounding extremely sad...

I use a collapsible bucket (similar to this one) which can be stuffed into any suitable spare space in the boot/under seat etc.

[RichB]

havoc said:

I've absolutely NO space to go putting in anything like a bucket or a hose...I'll struggle to squeeze in a bottle of Quick Detailer and a couple of cloths, but could probably manage.

Get a collapsable bucket - flat as a pancake, with a sponge and a cloth and you are laughing. Find a tap at one of your hotels and it's job done.

Edited by RichB on Tuesday 27th April 22:49

[Shaw Tarse]

Don't bother.
I think it will look pretty good in the photos covered in road grime & dead flies

[Baked_bean]

Keep It dirty, there's something about the look of a well travelled car. It looks used!

[v15ben]

I prefer the car to look filthy after a good roadtrip. One of the great things about a roadtrip IMO

[louismchuge]

In truth I was having the same thought, me and a mate are doing a 4 week 5000 mile blast around Europe. I'm certainly leaning toward the lazy well used look, it just seems a bit more honest!

[plg]

Go for the used look. Quick jetwash once in a while and some good glass cleaner for the windscreen (baked on bugs)

No one should be detailing their car on holiday or road trip. That is OCD.

[richcorsavxr]

personally it would be a full detail a day before leaving, to make sure it's well protected, then leave it till after you get back,

[Nollub]

I drive regularly to Switzerland and stay for three weeks or so each time. By the time I arrive there after around 625 miles the front of the car seems to have attracted half of France's insect life - which I don't want to leave on there until returning to UK. I have found a good jet-wash place and usually clean the car the day after arrival, once a week whilst there and again in Boulogne on the way home if I have time before the ferry. This works well for me and stops the bugs doing any long term damage to my paintwork.

[Pothole]

plg said:

No one should be detailing their car on holiday or road trip. That is OCD.

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[plg]

Pothole said:

plg said:

No one should be detailing their car on holiday or road trip. That is OCD.

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I think you missed a few full stops.

Signed. OCD grammar police. ;-)

[plenty]

No need for water at all. If you have a good wax or sealant then a once-over with QD and microfibre takes no time at all. Get some proper sealant on the wheels and the brake dust comes right off with a paper towel.

The key is to stay on top of it - 15-20 mins at the end of the driving day is all you need.

[plg]

plenty said:

No need for water at all. If you have a good wax or sealant then a once-over with QD and microfibre takes no time at all. Get some proper sealant on the wheels and the brake dust comes right off with a paper towel.

The key is to stay on top of it - 15-20 mins at the end of the driving day is all you need.

Exactly... 15/20 mins when on a driving tour that could be better spent enjoying the area you have driven to - scenery / bar / restaurant / locals / etc, not detailing a car like a womble on speed with severe OCD....

In 4 weeks = 28*20 mins = a lot of time missed having fun...

[r1ch]

hornetrider said:

Give it a good wax before you leave. Give it a jetwash whenever you need it (not the brush) and keep a shammy to wipe the excess water off. A quick rub over with QD and job done.

This would be my approach also, but i sort of agree with the feelings about filthy cars after a road trip. They do look cool! Then you can right "i wish my girlfriend was as dirty as the car" and amusing things like that :/

[sday12]

Sorry is it just me, but what about this?:

[Bonefish Blues]

sday12 said:

Sorry is it just me, but what about this?:

You do know renegade packs of Detailers roam the land burning heretics like you?

[Dapster]

Many years ago my friend was on business in France and a few of us flew down for a lads week away at the end of his trip using his company's rented Pug 405 as our smoker for the week. We stayed in a farmhouse down dusty lane so by the end of the week it looked like it had done a week on the Safari Rally. So on the way back to the airport we stopped at a car wash on the outskirts of Nice to spruce the old girl up - the brushes worked fine, only there was no water. Cue an early 90's matt wrap look with no wrap, and weeks of embarrassing legal action between the rental company, the garage and my mate's company which all ended badly for him....

I'm assuming any one contemplating detailing their car each evening of a holiday has not got a wife or girlfriend? Shirly a travel stained car is part of the appeal of a road trip?