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How do you wash your car?

44 replies

Flatinbed · 15/03/2026 15:56

I used to handwash it when living in a house. But now I live in a flat it is too much hassle. So i go to the nearest petrol station and pay for the second-cheapest option once a month / every second month depending on the season. Does an acceptable job apart from the wing mirrors. But it annoys me having to pay 15 quid for it, when it used to be free.

The guy before me today sprayed his car before taking through. It looked like some kind of cleaning solution spray. What would that be about?

OP posts:
Sandcaaarstle · 15/03/2026 17:17

Local hand car wash. Washed, waxed, dried and tyres painted. £7. Wouldn’t even attempt to do it myself - and I balk at paying for anything I can do myself!!

OtherS · 15/03/2026 17:22

Another at the dodgy carwash. £18, in and out. The inside's always worse than the outside so not much point going to the drive-through.

RedRiverShore6 · 15/03/2026 17:25

DH does it, I think he enjoys it, he also cleans the windows

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Seawolves · 15/03/2026 17:26

I don't. It's too bloody tall so rather than give it half a wash I just leave it all unwashed

helpfulperson · 15/03/2026 17:28

Once a year I pay £40 for a full valet, inside and out.

QuietlyWonderful · 15/03/2026 19:14

My garage cleans mine when I take it in for its annual service and MOT. It comes back sparkling and they vacuum inside too - even the boot. Apart from that, I wait for rain.

tutugogo · 15/03/2026 19:16

£6 at the local car wash when I can be bothered, was last summer probably

DustyMaiden · 15/03/2026 19:19

I’m married. I don’t wash cars.

Donotpanicoknowpanic · 15/03/2026 19:26

Comedycook · 15/03/2026 16:39

£6? Where do you live? 1992?

Normally I can get the top level automatic wash at a supermarket for £10 so £6 for a lower option is probably realistic

When I take it to a hand car wash it's £10 for the outside wash

I get my car washed every month, it's a company car so just put it on the expenses

The inside I hoover out myself for free, ideally ever week

I spend a lot of time in my car so like to keep it clean (not a taxi)

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 15/03/2026 19:28

I stop at the hand car wash every couple of weeks and spend a fiver

donttellmewhaticantdo · 15/03/2026 20:01

I live on a farm and surrounded by single track filthy roads, so i need to wash mine weekly (thats not to say it actually gets washed weekly🤣) but I use our power washer to get all the dirt off, then use a sponge and soapy water to give it a good clean, then rinse off and dry with microfiber cloth.

donotmissyourchancetoblow · 15/03/2026 20:10

I hate washing my car so I just don’t do it. I pay to get it valued every 3-4 months. The guy come to the house and it’s about £35 for inside and out to get done. Money well spent in my opinion

Tintackedsea · 15/03/2026 20:13

As God intended…rain!

ToadRage · 15/03/2026 20:14

My husband washes cars for a living so he does it at work.

Spaghettea · 15/03/2026 20:25

Automatic car wash a couple of times a year and the local fire station when they do a charity car wash.

The road is too far from my house for me to wash it.

troppibambini6 · 15/03/2026 20:27

I take it to be done. I don’t think I’ve ever washed a car 🤣 £25 for inside and out probably do it once a month ish.

aintnospringchicken · 15/03/2026 21:54

user1469565563 · 15/03/2026 16:44

I hose it down first, then use a bucket and car shampoo. Then hose it down again and then chamois wipe. It doesn't take long on a nice day. I probably clean it every 2 months. No man required!!

I do exactly the same,and occasionally I’ll apply wax afterwards.
DH offers to do it when he washes his car but I prefer doing it myself as I think I do a better job of it.

WhereDidIPutThat · 15/03/2026 22:09

Car wash service in Tesco. £25 inside and out.

Well worth it.

To be honest, I've never washed the outside of a car and I've been driving for 30 years.

Mumblechum0 · 15/03/2026 22:16

I have mine hand washed once a fortnight in winter and once a month in summer, inside valeted every other month.

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