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Original poster

Car washing

35 replies

iamnottoofatiamjusttooshort · 12/03/2023 08:35

Didn't have a clue which topic to put this in 🤭

Can anyone advise on best option for car washing

I've just changed my car , it's not new but new to me and I'd really like to keep it looking nice

Previously I've gone to the many available road side car wash set ups or gone through the automated washing machine

Sons tell me this is really damaging , I did see swirls and small scratches on the paintwork

I have no outside tap or private drive to wash myself

What do you all do to keep cars clean and maintain decent paintwork ?

Thank you in advance

OP posts:
Wombats23 · 12/03/2023 08:36

Get yourself on YouTube & go deep into the world of detailing. 😁

Basically, wash with two buckets & lots of cloths

Wombats23 · 12/03/2023 08:38

Wash with a clean cloth, i use lots rather than rinse, which is what the 2nd bucket of clean water is for. Then dry, maybe spray

Original poster
iamnottoofatiamjusttooshort · 12/03/2023 08:41

Thanks @Wombats23 ... it's my worst nightmare .. cold soapy water running down my sleeves ... 😂

May have to just get on with it 😩

Any other suggestions?

OP posts:

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Driving & parking
Wombats23 · 12/03/2023 08:44

With a wet polish but it's up to you.

If you pop into Halfords, they have buckets with products in as starter kits. Autoglym is a good brand.

You can rinse with a bucket or with a little portable power wash thingie, fed from a bucket or use a supermarket jet wash. Take care round the windows when using a powerful jet.

As you may have gathered, I really washing my vehicles. It doesn't take long & you don't get the damage.

Wombats23 · 12/03/2023 08:47

Sorry, I keep pressing post, half-asleep.

Big rubber gloves!

Once you have the bits, it doesn't take long. I enjoy washing the little car especially as it looks very shiny, as previous owners were also careful.

Wombats23 · 12/03/2023 08:49

Just clocked your user name, me to a T!

Little set of steps for roof!

BeetleyCarapace · 12/03/2023 08:50

The rollover car washes are bad for paintwork, yes.

I have someone come and do a wash ‘n’ valet once or twice a year, then do interim rinse-offs at the jet wash which isn’t as rough on the paint.

eurochick · 12/03/2023 08:51

The hand car washes are fine for paintwork. They are doing the same as you would do yourself. The automated ones are not great for paintwork.

BeetleyCarapace · 12/03/2023 08:54

Related subject: I highly recommend CarCleaningGuru on YouTube. Oddly therapeutic and relaxing watching him meticulously clean and polish people’s cars. And he’s got a lovely melodic Merseyside accent.

Original poster
iamnottoofatiamjusttooshort · 12/03/2023 08:55

BeetleyCarapace · 12/03/2023 08:50

The rollover car washes are bad for paintwork, yes.

I have someone come and do a wash ‘n’ valet once or twice a year, then do interim rinse-offs at the jet wash which isn’t as rough on the paint.

My local Tesco used to have a self service one , I've blasted with the water and soapy stuff a few times , never used the brush as I know they full of dirt grit etc

But it's now closed , this would be my first choice if there was another local to me but looks as if I'm off to buy a bucket of bits

And some steps 😂😂😂

OP posts:
Magenta82 · 12/03/2023 08:56

I get mine done at the supermarket/shopping centre carpark hand wash. There are loads of them about and you save time by getting it done when you are shopping.

Winemygoodenemy · 12/03/2023 08:58

Hand wash, inside done and hoover by a roadside one. £15 every few months. My car looks fine

BeetleyCarapace · 12/03/2023 08:59

If you get a full valet done, they will apply a paint protector at the end. It lasts for a few months, and it means any grime just rinses off. I use the jet wash but only the spray, I don’t go near the brushes. A valet will be quite expensive — I pay about £100 for a full job, inside and out — but the end result does last.

Wombats23 · 12/03/2023 09:01

If the guys handwash with gritty cloths, it'll do damage.

My local Mini dealer has terrible problems with paint swirling, its easy to see in a showroom. It's their own valet, I think.

Oscarover · 12/03/2023 09:01

We have a jet washer that you can also use by putting the pipe into a bucket of water

AlwaysLatte · 12/03/2023 09:01

I've stopped using car washes and pay DS15 to wash the cars every Saturday. If I didn't have a drive, it d be using the car washes where you jet wash it yourself.

BeetleyCarapace · 12/03/2023 09:08

Wombats23 · 12/03/2023 09:01

If the guys handwash with gritty cloths, it'll do damage.

My local Mini dealer has terrible problems with paint swirling, its easy to see in a showroom. It's their own valet, I think.

Mini paint is very thin. It looks mirror-smooth from new but it often marks really easily.

Original poster
iamnottoofatiamjusttooshort · 12/03/2023 09:08

Wombats23 · 12/03/2023 09:01

If the guys handwash with gritty cloths, it'll do damage.

My local Mini dealer has terrible problems with paint swirling, its easy to see in a showroom. It's their own valet, I think.

This is the problem .. seeing that swirling in direct sunlight - especially as it was a black car - really put me off carrying on going to them

OP posts:
SleepingisanArt · 12/03/2023 09:20

We use a mobile valeting service once a month. He comes to us, washes and hoovers the cars and if we want an extra protective wax we pay more. He has new cloths for each car he washes.

Original poster
iamnottoofatiamjusttooshort · 12/03/2023 09:23

@SleepingisanArt would you mind if I asked how much that costs ?

I'm googling local to me but it's not clear

OP posts:
SleepingisanArt · 12/03/2023 09:35

Depends on car size on most sites - we pay £20 per car (normal VW golf size) friend pays more for their range rover as it's bigger and takes longer. Message a local company for a quote - they should be able to based on the make/ model of your car.

sanityisamyth · 12/03/2023 09:36

Never let the kids at school do your car as part of a sponsored car wash. They clearly hadn't been told not to put the sponges on the ground, which picked up a load of gravel which then basically scoured all the paintwork off the cars 🙈🙈🙈

Wombats23 · 12/03/2023 09:40

BeetleyCarapace · 12/03/2023 09:08

Mini paint is very thin. It looks mirror-smooth from new but it often marks really easily.

Show quote history

Ah, ok.

That makes sense. Tho the sales exec did say it was their own valet when I commented on the swirls, in this case, a green car.

Both me and my friend have black cars. Mine is considerably older than hers and I was surprised by the swirling on hers. I've not had a black car before and it's great when it's clean but it does show the dirt!

I've got round to doing a ceramic wax coat, Meguiars, and now it's both shiny and dirty!

Wombats23 · 12/03/2023 09:42

sanityisamyth · 12/03/2023 09:36

Never let the kids at school do your car as part of a sponsored car wash. They clearly hadn't been told not to put the sponges on the ground, which picked up a load of gravel which then basically scoured all the paintwork off the cars 🙈🙈🙈

Oh god, I've just had to do some deep breathing exercises.

Ha, ha, clearly lockdown & learning stuff was both good and bad for my MH.

Wombats23 · 12/03/2023 09:44

Mind you, could be worse, I used to work near a dockyard and the spray from painting the battleship in dock floats over the carpark one day. Several cars got turned a shade of grey, or maybe more than one...