How do you wash your car?

molerat

Washing up liquid is quite harsh, it is designed to remove fats and burnt on food, so although very good at removing dirt it also removes the waxes on top of the paint and does not replace them unlike a car shampoo.

motorguy

sevenhills said:

I have always used the old sponge and bucket of hot water with some washing-up liquid in. I wash my car and my VW Crafter.

I have started to use a flat-mop on a pole, but the sponge is still good.

Maybe you got some new equipment for Christmas?

I am thinking of buying this - HI-GEAR Portable Power Washer (8 Litre - £20)

https://www.millets.co.uk/15987300/hi-gear-portable-power-washer-8-litre-15987300/?utm_medium=SocialRemarketing&utm_source=FacebookInstagram&utm_campaign=SA - Catalogue Sales - DPA - RTG (ATC/VC/Purchased) - Always On - (SR)&istCompanyId=b238823a-59fd-4816-9c36-7dd47877f2a8&istFeedId=c29d1b82-f582-4d7c-9350-95240d8662eb&istItemId=imprllrqa&istBid=tztx&utm_content=FB+IG - RTG - All 16-65+ - ATC/VC/Purchased - 0-60 - Always On&utm_term=zQulDGb52RR4zTGs&fbclid=IwAR2KhNXtRIJsHCluZgNjWKyx2HVsEI4ZivFNhy01HJ6ZUvNfCiPwiIepNwg

Fairly liquid is a very bad idea.  It'll remove any wax and polish thats left on your car.  Its also quite harsh on the paint.

Flat mop on a mole is a bad idea also.  Any grit will be stuck on it and will at best micro scratch your vehicles.

I wouldnt call that a "power washer" by any stretch of the imagination.  It'll produce a little pressure but not much and also need refilled frequetly.  I've a similar thing for spraying weeds for which its fine, but will give you an idea of the pressure it produces.

motorguy

Car_54 said:

neilmcl said:

sevenhills said:

The_Fat_Controller said:

Use a decent car shampoo, washing up liquid is for dishes not car paintwork.

In 2016, research by car cleaning company Simoniz found that 43 per cent of UK drivers prefer to wash their own vehicles rather than going to a car wash. Their survey also found that 41% of those who wash their own are doing so with washing up liquid.

Perhaps you are wasting your money?

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/1267690/car-wash-can-you-wash-car-with-washing-up-liquid

Just because a large proportion of people do something doesn't mean it's correct. All it shows is that there's a lot of people uneducated regarding the damage stuff like washing up liquid can do to the paintwork of their cars, either that or they simply couldn't care less. If you're part of this group of car owners then I'm not sure the point of this thread.

Is there any evidence for this, apart from sources like Simoniz? (Who co-incidentally sell car shampoo.)

See also 6-monthly dental check-ups, as recommended by dentists. And replacing your mattress every few years, as recommended by bedding sellers. And so on ...

Google the term "should i wash my car with washing up liquid"

Loads of independent info as to why its a really bad idea.

motorguy

Brie said:

I have decided to never wash mine other than to clear any bird droppings.  Last time I took it through the car wash I ended up clogging the drains under the windscreen wipers resulting in a flood of water into the foot wells of the car.  Took a good month to dry it out.  

The drains were clogged before you went.  The car wash didnt do it.

Marvel1

sevenhills said:

The_Fat_Controller said:

Use a decent car shampoo, washing up liquid is for dishes not car paintwork.

In 2016, research by car cleaning company Simoniz found that 43 per cent of UK drivers prefer to wash their own vehicles rather than going to a car wash. Their survey also found that 41% of those who wash their own are doing so with washing up liquid.

Perhaps you are wasting your money?

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/1267690/car-wash-can-you-wash-car-with-washing-up-liquid

You missed a bit of the article.

Also its a survey what people do not answering the question of the headline - what you quoted.

Merlin139

All comes down to your time and how much you think your time is worth. I actually enjoy washing mine and my wife's cars. I wash and she dries. I then consider polishing mine and hers. Have the room on the road outside my house because its blocked off from an undeveloped field at the moment.

Washing my Motorbike and polishing that is a whole other story. That can take 3 times as long than washing cars!

Belenus

Rain does most of my car cleaning. It is about 4 months since my car was last cleaned although I do spot clean bird poo or lumps of dirt etc with a hand held water sprayer and a small cloth.

I occasionally use a car wash place that use a pressure washer initially and then clean it by hand with detergents and cloths, pressure wash again to rinse and then dry it off with cloths. They do a very good job for £6.

At home I might occasionally get my own pressure washer out and use that. Sometimes that will do and sometimes I also use a brush and car shampoo. I don't use washing up liquid.

I never use an automatic car wash as they can scratch and damage paintwork and worse.

sevenhills

motorguy said:

I wouldnt call that a "power washer" by any stretch of the imagination.  It'll produce a little pressure but not much and also need refilled frequetly.  I've a similar thing for spraying weeds for which its fine, but will give you an idea of the pressure it produces.

I have had similar, I was hoping this would build up more pressure.

sevenhills

Car_54 said:

Is there any evidence for this, apart from sources like Simoniz? (Who co-incidentally sell car shampoo.)

See also 6-monthly dental check-ups, as recommended by dentists. And replacing your mattress every few years, as recommended by bedding sellers. And so on ...

I am surprised that so many, 41% use washing-up liquid and Simoniz quoted it.

prowla

Either when it gets a service or if it crosses my mind as I'm out shopping and there happens to not be a queue at the car washers stand in the car park.