Crap Car Wash - Should I be entitled to a free wash?

regency_man

Birds attacked my car overnight last night, took it to a car wash this morning and paid the princely sum of £10 for the 'Platinum' wash. Just went out for lunch and noticed it hasn't removed the bird droppings from the rear boot lid (they aren't fresh ones, as you can see they've been partially scrubbed).

Is there a reasonable expectation when using a car-wash that it will remove bird droppings from the car? I've used this particular wash before and it's never been a problem before.

I will go back this evening and complain, not sure how far I will get. What is people's experience in getting a 'free wash' in these circumstances?

maninthestreet

Was this an automatic car wash?
Just get a an old trigger spray bottle, and put some hand hot water in it, then spray the the birds muck with it, liberally. This should soften it eough to be removed with a sponge.

neilmcl

regency_man wrote: »

I will go back this evening and complain, not sure how far I will get. What is people's experience in getting a 'free wash' in these circumstances?

I wouldn't bother. If you want your car washing properly then the only way is to do it by hand.

regency_man

maninthestreet wrote: »

Was this an automatic car wash?
Just get a an old trigger spray bottle, and put some hand hot water in it, then spray the the birds muck with it, liberally. This should soften it eough to be removed with a sponge.

This is very bad for the car's paint work, bird droppings contain lots of small hard items like grit, sand, seeds etc. Just spraying with water and rubbing with a sponge is a sure way to end up with circular micro-scratches all over your car.

The reason I use this car wash is that it has a pre-shampoo and pressure wash which is the correct way to remove bird dirt.

It just doesn't seem to have worked this time.

marleyboy

Meh, all any on site valeter is likely to do is a spray it and wipe off with a leather.

I would do this myself (concerning scratches) with a little spray of Mr Muscle window spray and a kitchen paper towel as it does not scratch the paintwork.

Horizon81

regency_man wrote: »

This is very bad for the car's paint work, bird droppings contain lots of small hard items like grit, sand, seeds etc. Just spraying with water and rubbing with a sponge is a sure way to end up with circular micro-scratches all over your car.

The reason I use this car wash is that it has a pre-shampoo and pressure wash which is the correct way to remove bird dirt.

It just doesn't seem to have worked this time.

What sort of tosh is this post? How is any sort of automated car wash going to be any more delicate than yourself with some hot water to soften then kitchen roll or a microfibre and some judicious wiping to remove the bird mess.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

regency_man wrote: »

Birds attacked my car overnight last night, took it to a car wash this morning and paid the princely sum of £10 for the 'Platinum' wash. Just went out for lunch and noticed it hasn't removed the bird droppings from the rear boot lid (they aren't fresh ones, as you can see they've been partially scrubbed).

Is there a reasonable expectation when using a car-wash that it will remove bird droppings from the car? I've used this particular wash before and it's never been a problem before.

I will go back this evening and complain, not sure how far I will get. What is people's experience in getting a 'free wash' in these circumstances?

You've allot to learn!!


If your concerned about swirls then never ever ever ever ever use a manned or automated car wash.


Manned washes tend to use TFR in itself mixed wrongly with water can be deadly to paintwork especially solid based paints, with lots and lots of dirty grimy stone ridden hand wash mits deep scratches and swirls is a given to happen, they hold pressure washer nozzles too close to paint work causing paint to either chip, chips to englarge, or simply puts scratches over the paint.


automated washes, would you go outside with a hard bristle garden brush dunk it in a bucket of wash wax then continue to wash the paintwork? NO, then why use a automated wash where they use hard nylon wire that spins all over your paintwork using the shampoo wax as a lubricant! the result is the same as using a hard bristle garden brush and bucket of wash wax on your car, scratches and swirls.


remove bird poo with warm water followed by a microfiber cloth folded and using the folded edge catch the bird poor in the cloth, rinse and repeat until gone.

photome

regency_man wrote: »

This is very bad for the car's paint work, bird droppings contain lots of small hard items like grit, sand, seeds etc. Just spraying with water and rubbing with a sponge is a sure way to end up with circular micro-scratches all over your car.

The reason I use this car wash is that it has a pre-shampoo and pressure wash which is the correct way to remove bird dirt.

It just doesn't seem to have worked this time.

What is very bad for a cars paint work?
Auomated car washers
and the hand car wash places by the side of the road.

A pressure washer used incorrectly will take the top surface of paint/laquer off,

Washing yourself by hand correctly is the best for your car

robatwork

The only way to wash a car as every rock star knows, is to get the guy who does Rod Stewart's motors at £2000 each. Surprisingly the place where I get mine done inside and out for a tenner won't be quite as good.

InsideInsurance

You'd "expect" them to fix the issue now, be that with a quick spray and cloth or putting it through the machine again if its an automatic one now.

I wouldnt expect them to offer you a free wash in X weeks/months etc just for a small miss, especially as you've said its been fine before.

Went to a new (to me) hand carwash place today as my old one has closed down after their land was sold from under them. £7 for a standard wash, nice lads/girls doing it but a poor job compared to the old place. My car was fithy but there are many spots which they've missed, they didnt polish the chrome elements etc. Personally just wont go back to them rather than going back to demand they fix all the bits they missed.

londonTiger

i had some stubborn bird lime on my car, can take 2-3 washes to get it off. Don't force it and go mad scrubbing at it - it will damage the paint.

place 2 lasyers of toiler paper on the bird lime and then spray it with waster (or carplan bug blitz). Stand for 5 minutes, let the moisture/bug blitz get to work moistening the bird lime.

Then come back 5 minutes later with a wet microfiber cloth and remove whatever comes off.

If you have some stubborn lime left, just leave it for the next wash. What I found was that time is the best cure for this. When the remaining lime re-dries onto the car it doesn't stick. it tends to come off very easily for some reason.