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How do you wash your car?
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More to do with the terrible quality of steel they used at the time and the poor rustproofing than any recent advances in Fairy Liquid.Car_54 said:
And back in the 60s they then proceeded to rust away to nothing within a year or two …Grey_Critic said:Back in the 1960s I recall a similar question - one answer given was.When you get the car give it a polish with a good quality wax polish (put plenty on) but do not buff off Keep the glass clear, use a hose to clear mud/grit and nothing more. When you come to sell it then is the time to wash with a quality shampoo and poliish to a sign.It was claimed doing so would give you an as new finish.It is not quite as daft as you may think - when cars used to come from the factory to the dealer they had a thick coat of wax sprayed on them - they would sit in compounds for months subject to all kinds of weather until sold when they would be cleaned off.0 -
motorguy said:More to do with the terrible quality of steel they used at the time and the poor rustproofing than any recent advances in Fairy Liquid.The reality is that its the paint on the cars that gives it its shine and protects from rust, just washing nor Fairy liquid will harm the paint.I would love to buy a new car and spray the underside with Waxoil, but the best place for rust protection is in the factory where its made.0
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Usually take it to the jet wash every month or so for a jet down but doesn't do a good job. I did go to one of those back street hand car wash places a while back for a full inside and out job but not sure what they used on the inside plastics as they left the steering wheel dangerously slippy on the way back home.
Planning on washing my car myself now since I got an outside tap fitted recently. Just need to find the motivation.0 -
A mole? Luxury! We have to make do with a rat that doesn't like us and bites...motorguy said:
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.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)
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 wash my car with shampoo in a bucket and a hose pipe or, if feeling flush, go to the hand car wash place. Interior is done with a Henry, who sucks!4 -
Yup. Absolutely.sevenhills said:motorguy said:More to do with the terrible quality of steel they used at the time and the poor rustproofing than any recent advances in Fairy Liquid.The reality is that its the paint on the cars that gives it its shine and protects from rust, just washing nor Fairy liquid will harm the paint.I would love to buy a new car and spray the underside with Waxoil, but the best place for rust protection is in the factory where its made.
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Ditzy_Mitzy said:
A mole? Luxury! We have to make do with a rat that doesn't like us and bites...motorguy said:
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.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)
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 wash my car with shampoo in a bucket and a hose pipe or, if feeling flush, go to the hand car wash place. Interior is done with a Henry, who sucks!
Well spotted!
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So one was supposed to potter about in a crappy looking car for several years and only make it look nice when one was about to sell it? Did they keep the plastic bags on the seats too?Grey_Critic said:Back in the 1960s I recall a similar question - one answer given was.When you get the car give it a polish with a good quality wax polish (put plenty on) but do not buff off Keep the glass clear, use a hose to clear mud/grit and nothing more. When you come to sell it then is the time to wash with a quality shampoo and poliish to a sign.It was claimed doing so would give you an as new finish.It is not quite as daft as you may think - when cars used to come from the factory to the dealer they had a thick coat of wax sprayed on them - they would sit in compounds for months subject to all kinds of weather until sold when they would be cleaned off.Tall, dark & handsome. Well two out of three ain't bad.0 -
Washing up liquid contains salt - which is not good for your metal or paintwork. I take mine to a hand car wash usually.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)0 -
Hose pipe, bucket of warm water with car shampoo and rinse off with hose pipe. Takes about half an hour once a fortnight. Easy peasy.0
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***So one was supposed to potter about in a crappy looking car for several years and only make it look nice when one was about to sell it? ***
That was the downside and the wife was not happy.
You do however need to think about it this. We are talking over 50 years ago - a time when you could actually mend your own car (and we often did at the side of the road going to the seaside) none of this new-fangled electronics, some car radios even had valves.
Cars came with a handle at the front to wind them up.
The warranty in those days was 6 months 6,000 miles - or till you got to the end of the street. I heard tales of new cars coming complete with the rust - no need to wait.
I recall filling a hole with tissue paper and paint and it looked quite good - lasted for a long time did that repair.
I knew a chap with a Vauxhall Cresta - looked great until someone ran into the back of him at the traffic lights. The entire car disintegrated around him - it really was just filler held together by the paint (Pink in this case) The recovery people really did sweep it up.
I remember cars with wood floors, you could replace them when they rotted if you did not like inspecting the road under the car as you drove. And petrol cost the equivalent of THREE PENCE a Litre. As I said earlier The wax polish and Muck actually would hold the car together.
We could probably have an interesting topic about cars of that time **and the repairs wot we did**
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