How do you wash your car?

ElefantEd

Grey_Critic said:

We could probably have an interesting topic about cars of that time **and the repairs wot we did**

I once fixed a leaking radiator on my Mini with some chewing gum...... this eventually solidified so hard that I never bothered to fix it properly. Lasted for several thousand miles if I remember correctly!

Herzlos

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

I have one of them (though it was £12 on ebay), and whilst it's great for washing mud off my bike before putting it in the car, or cleaning stuff out of reach of the hose, it'd be a nightmare to wash a whole car with.

For a car you'd be better off with a hose head that has a pressure spray end - more water and more pressure. That's all I use with me (albeit car shampoo rather than washing up liquid).

JustAnotherSaver

[Deleted User] 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 ...

The dental checkups one is a poor example. 

The rest fair enough. 

scrappy_returns

Snow foam, rinse, wash with some sort of car shampoo- never washing up liquid, never with a sponge, rinse, water repellant, rinse, dry-not with a chammy, wheel wash on with some sort of iron out, rinse, maybe tire shine, then waxes and polishes as and when appropriate. CLAY bar yearly.

TripleH

My father had his car washed every Friday for 2 years (except when bad weather) when my parents had my nephew over (he was a toddler) and he was obsessed with grandad having a clean car.

Only problem was he couldn't reach beyond the windows or half way up the bonnet.

Parents got through a small fortune in car shampoo. My mother wasn't impressed as hers didn't get cleaned.

Jenni_D

The way I wash my car has vastly improved my Karate technique. 😎🥋