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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to take my filthly car to be cleaned

21 replies

unlucky4marie · 28/07/2015 10:06

I've never gone to one of these car cleaning places in supermarket car parks, I'm very intimidated by the group of guys there are there and having to reverse into a space while everyone is watching.

But my car is filthly, been waiting until it passed its mot before doing anything.

It is really really messy inside. Obviously I'll empty it but can it ever be too dirty to drop off at one of these places? Its an old car and I usually only see people with nice cars with light soiling using them.

OP posts:
TheRealAmyLee · 28/07/2015 10:08

I took my 12 year old battered car to one. It hadn't been washed in 2 years at this point. No one batted an eyelid.

ohtheholidays · 28/07/2015 10:09

I'd go for it.

DH has to get our car valeted this week,really nice car,1st new car we've ever owned and he's let the kids bloody trash it inside.

Beyond pissed off(he's in the car a lot more with kids than I am)I pick up any rubbish and make the kids pick up after themselves as soon as we pull up outside our house.DH just leaves it the way it is.

So he's the one that has to pay to get it cleaned.

HighwayDragon · 28/07/2015 10:16

I have the car washed once a couple of times a year, usually give them a tenner instead of 7.50, they seem to appreciate the gesture!

We only get the outside washed though not a full valet

19lottie82 · 28/07/2015 10:18

do it, it will feel like a new car!

you can get a "mini" valet (while you wait), where they wash it, hoover it and give the inside a quick dust (should be about £10-15), or a "full" valet (you'll prob need to book and leave it for at least half a day), which is more of a deep clean, including shampooing the seats, and will cost £45-50 ish.

if your car really needs it, then go for the latter, if you can afford it. but be warned, air your car out afterwards (windows down, even a crack), as the seats need to dry and if the windows are all closed, it can get a bit honky!

19lottie82 · 28/07/2015 10:19

PS My DH buys and sells quite a few cars and often they will be a right state when he gets them, so he gets them valeted before he sells them. He's taken some right shit heaps in, and no one has ever blinked an eyelid!

HighwayDragon · 28/07/2015 10:22

Might do, we would need to take carseats etc out?

MaxPepsi · 28/07/2015 10:22

We are taking ours next week after the muddy camping trip

It's brand new but we bought it for the dog and it's an absolute shit tip in the boot, full of yellow labrador hair and muddy paw prints.

Granted, the rest of the car is pretty much pristine still but it will take them eons to get it clean.

DH is taking it however as he knows the best place!

Mindexplode · 28/07/2015 10:26

can you take a look around to where the car washes are? My local garden centre has one, £13 for inside and outside, boot included (and they got rid of all the sand) and I can have a tea and cake in the café inside :-)

Take car seats out and empty boot, leave children at home and have an hour to yourself with a good book.

It works for me

QforCucumber · 28/07/2015 10:27

Took mine on Sunday to a place that's a hand car wash and valet on an industrial estate between our local town and home, spur of the moment decision as dp complains my car is a mess every time he has to get in it - was £15 for wash wax and mini valet, took them about 20 mins and I'm over the moon with it. its only a 7 year old corsa but its like new again.

Original poster
unlucky4marie · 28/07/2015 10:34

Thanks everyone, its sounding like a deep clean I need. The seats could do with shampooing as I don't have ac and hate diesel fumes so get a bit of sweat on them in the summer Blush

I may just go for the mini vallet to get rid of all the bits to start with, 50 is sounding a lot for a car worth 800ish. Though might do it on a weekend away just in case they laugh me away with the state of my car. Really haven't bothered cleaning for the last 8 months as I thought it would jynx the mot.

OP posts:
whois · 28/07/2015 10:38

Intimidated by having to reverse into th e space? FFS if you can't reverse your car into a space you shouldn't be driving.

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 28/07/2015 10:45

They will always have seen worse...!

Yes 50£ is a lot - think of it pleasure per mile afterwards when it's sparkly!

Or do what i do - see how much you clean in 30 mins working really, really fast! It really does make an amazing difference.

maamalady · 28/07/2015 10:49

My local tesco one is great, just drop it nearish and give them the keys. Last time the battery died so all the guys pushed it into the wash area, cleaned it, pushed it out, and then gave me a jump start so I could get home. Lovely guys :)

SomedayMyPrinceWillCome · 28/07/2015 11:09

They will clean around car seats - and even vacuum inside them!

Imnotbeingyourbestfriendanymor · 28/07/2015 11:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LilyMayViolet · 28/07/2015 11:52

Sorry to say that my friend took her filthy car to one of these and the folks who worked there asked her to give it a bit of a clean on the inside before bringing it next time! She was a bit mortified. It was grim though, rotting food in the door pocket things and squished froobs and crisps on the seats etc.

Gruntfuttock · 28/07/2015 11:54

"Really haven't bothered cleaning for the last 8 months as I thought it would jynx the mot."

Can you explain this, please, OP? I'm a bit puzzled.

MiddleAgeMiddleEngland · 28/07/2015 11:59

Someone I know takes her car regularly to the lovely Bulgarian car cleaners at Sainsburys. She says she wouldn't let anyone else do it, they do such a careful and thorough job.

ShellyBobbs · 28/07/2015 12:03

I get a valet company come to my house. Cheaper and you don't have to hang about, the bloke I use charges £35 and does a good job.

AgathaChristie01 · 28/07/2015 12:05

Go for it. Once it's empty, they have all the gear for cleaning, and it makes a big difference, getting it properly done. Can't imagine them raising an eyebrow, why would they. It's the business they are in.
In some places, you just leave it, and they move it into place when they are ready to get started, so don't worry about that part either.

Plomino · 28/07/2015 12:17

Oh yes , do it ! I took my DS's car in there when he passed his test because we'd had to borrow it, and it was like new ! I've threatened to take DH's Landrover in there ( affectionately known as the skip ) and they laughed and said they love a challenge.

My local one gets about five of them on it , so it doesn't take long either.

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