Do You Wash Your Own Car??

dannymccann

I decided to treat our workhorse to a clean last weekend, after leaving it for nearly a year. I dont have a hose point out the front and no side entrance to the rear so I had no chance of rinsing the car off, left it dirtier (to the eye) and streaky. From now on the rain can continue to wash my motor for me, its only worth £1000 anyway, not even worth washing :rotfl:

Rumman

trinidadone wrote: »

wow, well I have been using this spray for years, infact i just spent ten mins doin the car, never had a problem. The shopping channel advises on not using on the windscreen and some cars experience glar from other driver front lights, but again, never had a problem. I will have to look at the ingrediants, petrol you say, wonder why I have not been burnt then

That spray and shine is very misleading, if you are into your cars, detailing, and maintaning good body paintwork you should not use this spray as it will cause 'swirls on your paintwork'. These are visible in bright light. If you go to nearly every single car detailing forum they doubt that this product can encapsulate the dirt and prevent swirls or minute light scratches appearing on the surface of the car over a period of time. If you have a banger, or are not bothered too much about your car then it's a good product to use, or if you are using it as a polish only after washing you're car. If it's a 20k car i'd stay well well away from this produc if tend to use it your sole washing product.

tight_arze

mudcow007 wrote: »

spray car with hose getting rid of most of the grit that is sitting on the paintwork working from top to bottom. Next use sponge an body shampoo wash each panel individually turning/ rinsing the sponge often. wash the soap off each panal before moving on to the next panel

Dont use a sponge to wash a car, you will scrape it to bits. Sponges trap grit (even if you rinse it well) and you will rub this accross the paintwork and scratch it when you are cleaning each panel.

A wash mitt is much better.

harveybobbles

Or just don't wash it. Wont have any swirl marks on it then. Well thats my answer. Just wipe the rear numberplate so the Bizzies can read it and wipe the headlights

skiddlydiddly

Get a silver car, they don't show the dirt.Closely followed by white.The worst colour I've found is black which always looks dirty within a day or 2 of washing it.

I really don't mind washing my own, its quite relaxing.I certainly wouldn't pay someone else to do it.I've heard rumours that the hand wash places can be a front for money laundering but I don't know if its just an urban myth.

mcjordi

its white so always looks dirty so now i cant be bothered lol

PasturesNew

I used to try to wash mine and, quite frankly, made a right pig's ear of it. I'd get soaked - and there's this whole strip down the middle I could never reach. As for car washes, they petrify me, I've been in a couple and when those things come at you across the bonnet, I duck under the steering wheel in case they take the roof off instead of following up the line of the windscreen.

So, if I wash mine, it looks worse when I've finished - and I'm drenched - and it's taken time/effort.... so I stopped bothering.

ukjoel

I worked for a company for several years where not only where the cars supposed to be spotless but they did random car inspections and gave us warnings if they didnt seem clean enough.

Swore then that when I left and got out company car scheme I would never wash my car ever. (with exception of keeping windows and mirrors clean for viewing.)

Juvenile yes but I dont care. Its been 18 months now without a wash. Its minging but I love it.

I also notice that while people used to love to park next to me in the supermarket (even when loads of spaces available) they dont seem to do it anymore.

Each week I chuck a fiver into the moneybox that would have been spent on the wash previously. I figure that by the time the car dies a natural and pleasant death after a long and happy life that box will hold a couple of grand.

Shoshannah

I take mine to the jetwash to wash it myself. I then dry it off and complete the job at home with the old Autoglym stuff. Polish the paint, bumper-care the black parts, clean the glass etc. This takes around 2-3 hours total and gets done at least every fortnight.

The 18-year-old paintwork doesn't look too bad.

motorguy

My car hasnt been washed since march....

:whistle:

My previous cars i've nursed like babies but this one i just see as a workhorse. I wouldnt abuse it and the alloys etc are all unkerbed but i just dont have my heart in it to keep it clean.

Might have to do something soon though as the inside is starting to smell a bit.