Car Washing

[Gregory Colton]

My old 240 estate had become a mobile moss reserve by the time I reluctantly parted with it after 5 happy years of neglect. I had never been big on washing it and it being stored outside under sap-oozing trees. I even had complaints from people that it was so dirty that they were getting too much filth on their hands when writing rude messages with their fingers on the rear window!

The tailgate was rotten with corrosion and had been filled by the time I bought it, which I thought was probably due to dirt in the drain-holes or a leak from the rear jet, which never worked.

I'm a bit keener to keep its replacement and 850 estate at least looking reasonable, as my embarrassment threshhold is decreasing with age. Yesterday I put it through the top wash at a nearby automatic washer. This seemed to do a fairly good job, but left details like the crannies of the alloy wheels still covered in grime.

I am keen to establish the best way of keeping this car looking nice and preserving it, without becoming obsessive about it, making a hobby of cleaning it (I just don't have much time to spare), or ruining it through neglect or ignorance. It would also be useful to understand how to care for other cars in the family without blasting off decals or leaving pools of water around to rot the metalwork.

Can anyone suggest:

a) the absolute best approach to washing a car
b) a useful compromise for busy people for a decent, though not absolutely pristine result.

It would be most useful if the dos and don'ts were explained and specific detergents or other cleaning products mentioned.

Many thanks in advance,

- Greg.

[KeatV70D5SE]

This is a difficult question to answer on a forum like this as you'll find that most on here are enthusiasts and therefore will take cleaning their cars to an extreme level....

Mine gets washed once a week, every week as follows;

Power wash with cold water & no shampoo to remove all loose and excess dirt. at the same time the wheels get sprayed with a dilute aluminium cleaner and pressure washed fully. Inside wheel arches are also given a good rinse.

Large bucket of warm water with a few capfulls of "Mer" shampoo (not the polish). Wash the car starting from the roof and working down with a large, clean sponge.

Rinse car fully and comprehensively with power washer to ensure all soap removed.

Car dried using Autoglym rubber squeegy and synthacham drying cloth.

Clean windows with standard glass polish (specialist car ones are pricey and not much better IMO)

In addition every month the wheels are taken off and cleaned front and back.

Every three weeks or so a fresh coat of Autoglym Resin Polish is applied.


I would never use a car wash as the majority use re-cycled water that, although filtered, could contain grit particles. Besides, I find cleaning the car is quite relaxing.

[Paul Wildsmith]

The autoglym website is a good read (see their car care guide)

http://www.autoglym.co.uk/frame2.html

[George Holmer]

I wash my car once a week, every week; on Sundays in fact. The way I do it is by taking it to the local hand car wash. I hose it down, then use hot water and shampoo in a high pressure hose and go over the car thoroughly with that. I then pour hot wax over the car and rinse that off with water.

I clean the inside of all glass surfaces with window cleaner, dry off all surfaces with a wet cloth and then vacuum the car making sure to get at all little pieces of rubbish between seats and such.

That is all I ever do, once a month I also use a wheel cleaner on the alloys and use leather conditioner and cleaner on the seats. That is enough for where I live.

The biggest don't is to park a wet car in a warm garage. Condensation will rot the car from inside.

[imac]

Thought about paying to have it washed?

A drive in, drive out hand washing place takes about 15 minutes max, usually nearer 5 and costs £3.50 > £5.00. You just sit in the car and read the paper whilst it's being washed!

Either that or give a local kid a fiver to clean it every other week. You'll have time to be 'busy' still, and the kid earns a bit of dough.

As a car 'enthusiast' I take pleasure in washing my car myself.

It's usually washed twice a week in the following way:-

Powerspray all over to remove dirt
Bucket and sponge all over with lots of liquid wax
Hosepipe all over to remove soap suds
Give wheels a basic clean
>> If sunny or warm, dry car with chamois or silicone dryer.

Every two months or so I'll remove the wheels to clean them behind, powerspray under the car and give the whole car a hand wax which takes an age.

My car is dark and shows up the dirt really quickly, hence the basic clean usually twice a week! My parents cars are both white, and they can get away usually with 2-3 weeks until they need even a basic clean!!

[cootuk]

Plus in summer at the hand car washes you get to see the girls frolicking in the water jets.....or is it just wishful thinking?

[GorgeousGeorge]

how about this

http://www.freshliving.com/flashcarwash/home.htm

[cootuk]

I thought that was going to be a pic of a girl frolicking in a wet t-shirt .....

[GorgeousGeorge]

have a squint in the gallery for some lovely ladies washing cars....