How do you wash a car?!

[TheChosenTwo]

Dh usually takes mine once a month for a full valet inside and out, now costs £55 (he does pay!) but I think if I bought a bucket and a few sponges it’s probably easy enough to do myself? What else do you need? What detergent do you use on a car, is it a special soap? I’m sure it’s not quite fairy liquid… do I also need to buy something to dry it with so it doesn’t dry streaky?
I’ve never washed a car before (can you tell?!) and would like to give it a go!

The £55 is because he’s getting a full valet- inside and out. Much cheaper to just get the outside washed (£15ish) and give it a quick hoover and dust yourself.

Well I went and got the stuff this morning and my car now looks pretty nice and shiny!
I didn’t bother drying it off, just gave it a good rinse at the end with the hose.
its not really dirty inside, definitely cba with hoovering or dusting it, it will still go and get valeted sometimes just not monthly.

Warch detail geek on YouTube.

I know people have different approaches to their cars but we always keep ours in good condition and looked after. They cost a lot of money and we rely on them to get us everywhere so for us they are worth looking after.
Someone at work recently got their car scratched by the faulty gate, they were (imo, understandably) a bit miffed about it while another colleague said they couldn’t understand the big deal, it was only a slight dent and scratch in the paintwork. Her car has a wing mirror held on with tape, more dents and scratches than you’ve ever seen on a car and 2 missing hubcaps, she just doesn’t care about cars.

I used to wash cars as a job and would say this is spot on! Only thing I would add is after lathering with a shammy, unless able to use a really decent one, it often leaves water marks, so i would dry with microfiber cloths then use something called 'spray and shine' (sometimes i think it is known as 'showroom shine') its cheap in various shops/online but works really well.Just spray on then rub in with microfibres- so much easier than polishing/waxing.

Personally, now with 3 young kids I just bung ours through morrisons carwash every few weeks for £7 shampoo, wash & dry 😅

I never knew that about not washing it in sunshine. I'll do it in the evening from now on

Don't bother with car shampoo, buy baby shampoo. Works just as well. Don't use washing up liquid as it will damage the paintwork. We have a hosepipe ban so mine will be left until it really needs it. Has anyone used those pump things that can go in a bucket of water and works like a pressure washer? I see them on FB but don't know if they are any good.

I'm shocked at £55, a full valet here is €150, small country place.

One of my old cars had a paint protection on it , I was told not to use washing up liquid as it can damage the paint .

I employ the "Get Your Adult Son Method"
He is tall and might as well be useful.

Bucket of warm water , microfibre cloths ( rinse well) and some of that spray ( Demon Shine at the moment ) that you spray and wipe then buff .

I did read the late Queen's cars were washed only with water . Probably by a lot of people with time on their hands .

@Anon501178 It's good to know I'm doing it right. I'm of the generation where everyone checked their tyres and oil levels and washed their cars outside their houses every weekend. No one would have dreamed of paying someone else to wash their cars - unless it was Bob a job week when you paid the scouts to do it!

As taught by the valeter at the car company I work for, and in hosepipe ban conditions......

you need: Bucket, nylon brush with handle, sponge, chamois, car shampoo, tar remover, cloth. Essential to choose a cloudy day or wait until sun is low in the sky. Or wash in full shade.

1, water/shampoo in bucket

1. Wet brush over car to remove the majority of the dirt and any grit.
2. Clean water/ shampoo in bucket.
3. Sponge down car to renove any further dirt, concentrate on gutters, window seals, number plates, glass, mirrors, wiper blades etc.
4. Clean water only in the bucket. Rinse the car, and then chamois off.
5. Tar remover on a cloth to remove any tar spots. Rinse area and chamois dry.
6. Wash and rinse the wheels separately. Spray resistent dirt with alloy cleaner, leave to soak, wash and rinse again.

It doesn't take too long if you are organised, and is a very effective remedy for both bingo wings and droopy boobs. All the stretching and scrubbing. 😁

Do not go near it with a sponge until you have given it a good hose down first as you are rubbing in the grit and dust into the paintwork.

I always pay for someone to do it. Life is too short to wash cars!

Just take it to a drive through wash at Morrisons or whatever. £8 job done.

tapdancingmum,we got a battery operated jet washer,goes in the bucket,yes, pretty good.

I wash mine as refuse to go to the local modern slavery places.
Have a large SUV. TBF it takes me a couple of hours. Give a good spraying to loosen the dirt , then soap parts, rinse , chamois cloth.
I struggle with the roof as it's a big car, so the roof probably doesn't get washed very well.
Don't take either to drive through as they can often scratch the paint work.

I jet rinse it first to try to remove as much of the crap as possible. Wait a bit for water to soak into remaining crap, then rinse again. Then snow foam it. Use one of those hand mits to rub in the snow foam to remove the stubborn dirt. Then rinse again to remove the foam with the jet wash. Use another hand mit to remove the excess water. When it is dry apply polish, wait for it to dry and then polish off. Use a microfibre cloth on the windows to remove streaks.

The wheels can be done via jet rinse, then scrub them with a plastic brush, then rinse again.

There are loads of videos on youtube if you want to learn how to do it properly.

With a bucket dear Henry with a bucket
With water dear Liza ,with water dear Liza.