I use the automatic car washes, usually the ones at the gas station. We have three cars and I run each of them through anytime that they get dirty and the weather is forecasted to be good enough that they will stay clean for at least a few days after they're washed.
How often do you wash your car?
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some people think I'm weird for it, but even though it's raining for weeks on end here in Portland, I usually just rinse off my truck or car after I get home from a days driving....... this keeps the road grime from building up, keeps the truck or car surprisingly clean and makes the weekly, or bi-weekly washes easy. Keeping a couple of layers of carnuba wax them only serves to make this easier.
I've seen the weird looks before as well. There's been plenty of times I've driven home in the rain and rinsed my vehicle off, even if it is still raining. It removes alot of the dirt, mud, etc. off and keeps it looking clean the next day.
Neighbors and passersby will give you strange looks.
Neighbors and passersby will give you strange looks.
Yep, me too ... I've washed my vehicles during a slack up when it's raining ... I'll wash it with some type of wash and wax product such as Eagle One and let the rain rinse it off spot free ... I may get a strange look or two but it's quick and easy and my vehicles stay clean and shiny.
If they have a lot of dirt or road film (or it hasn't rained in a couple of weeks!) I'll either wash them at home or take them to a friends spray wash that will usually clean at least 95%, if not all of the dirt/grime away (it has an excellent grime removing spray soak) and carry my wash bucket with some wash and wax product in it and finish it off with some light hand washing before the final rinse ... but, most of the time, they get washed when it rains.
If they have a lot of dirt or road film (or it hasn't rained in a couple of weeks!) I'll either wash them at home or take them to a friends spray wash that will usually clean at least 95%, if not all of the dirt/grime away (it has an excellent grime removing spray soak) and carry my wash bucket with some wash and wax product in it and finish it off with some light hand washing before the final rinse ... but, most of the time, they get washed when it rains.
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Originally Posted By: bigmike
Neighbors and passersby will give you strange looks.
Which is fine by me.. if someone wants to say something, I'll just tell them .. "When you start paying for my cars, you can decide how and when you wash them"
Neighbors and passersby will give you strange looks.
Which is fine by me.. if someone wants to say something, I'll just tell them .. "When you start paying for my cars, you can decide how and when you wash them"
I will wax my car everytime I wash it since that is half the work right there. This generally occurs every 2-3 months.
Not as often since the college gals fundraiser deal is over. They dressed for the customers, washed allot of cars (many looke nearly fresh waxed), so I'm sure they racked in the bucks.
Depends on two factors for me, summer and winter.
Winter I usally wash it good once a week because they salt in my state(MN) I'll run it through the do it your self wash and get the under carridge(salt really builds up around the bumper, spair tire and inner bed sides) then I'll run it through the automatic one(comes out nice shiney and dry)
In the summer I'll wash it a few times a week in my drive way. If I go four wheels I'll let it sit for a week or two depending on if the weather forecasts calls for rain( mother nature can take of it and my drive ways a 1/4 mile of class 5)
Winter I usally wash it good once a week because they salt in my state(MN) I'll run it through the do it your self wash and get the under carridge(salt really builds up around the bumper, spair tire and inner bed sides) then I'll run it through the automatic one(comes out nice shiney and dry)
In the summer I'll wash it a few times a week in my drive way. If I go four wheels I'll let it sit for a week or two depending on if the weather forecasts calls for rain( mother nature can take of it and my drive ways a 1/4 mile of class 5)
As needed.
68 Torino show quality--never. John--Las Vegas
Every night when I get home. Warm water only and micro fiber mit.
Minimum once a week through an automatic wash. As others have mentioned it truly does keep the vehicle cleaner, in spite of inclement weather as it prevents build-up. I also like the undercarriage blast going through the automatic wash, keeping the underside very clean and nearly rust free on a ten year old Cherokee.
Those who look at you with odd faces simply means they know nothing about vehicle maintenance. All they know how to do is jump in and drive, which is asking alot from most individuals.
Those who look at you with odd faces simply means they know nothing about vehicle maintenance. All they know how to do is jump in and drive, which is asking alot from most individuals.
Agreed - the ones who look at me funny also marvel at my very clean truck. Little mystery about it, really. Stay ahead of it and it is never a real chore. Pretty simple....
Originally Posted By: SplashnGo
Agreed - the ones who look at me funny also marvel at my very clean truck. Little mystery about it, really. Stay ahead of it and it is never a real chore. Pretty simple....
just had another obligatory "Why do you rinse your truck off all the time?" question... answer was simple.. "So I can keep it cleaner than your Honda Momyvan" Should have seen the look on her face.. looked like the classic "Well! I never!!"
Agreed - the ones who look at me funny also marvel at my very clean truck. Little mystery about it, really. Stay ahead of it and it is never a real chore. Pretty simple....
just had another obligatory "Why do you rinse your truck off all the time?" question... answer was simple.. "So I can keep it cleaner than your Honda Momyvan" Should have seen the look on her face.. looked like the classic "Well! I never!!"
So it seems quite a few hear use auto washes...I was expecting a different response to those I guess...
I've been weary about running my BMW through the Auto Wash (probably conditioned to all I read about how "bad" and damaging they are???), but we did run the Elantra and the Tbird through one after the last snow/salt fest we had a few weeks ago. the Bimmer didn't see much salt/snow so I didn't do it, BUT now it's just generally dirty and the white shows it...I've been weary about auto car washes for such a "new" (to me) car....but it has reached the point where people tell me " dang that car's dirty!" ...esp. the wheels.
while the Elantra and Tbird looks pretty clean and nice, even though it was just the exterior (auto) wash and hand dry (That's all I got - not even the interior, as i can do THAT at home better than them - or at least I use better products)
We live in an apt complex and car washing is not allowed...and I've been way too busy to take it to a DIY car wash...same reason (time) I can't do anything with a No-Rinse type of product either... will wait till we move and have our own place/garage to REALLY start washing/detailing by myself.
I guess I'll bite the bullet and run it through the auto wash, and then I can keep it clean using the Poor Boys' quick detailer I have...After all, when I took the Tbird to the Auto Wash (they hand dry the cars afterwards) I saw a MB CL55 AMG being run through it...it can't be that bad, huh? This auto wash is a one with where the car is run through big rubber stripes or whatever...not the huge "brush" like things...
I've been weary about running my BMW through the Auto Wash (probably conditioned to all I read about how "bad" and damaging they are???), but we did run the Elantra and the Tbird through one after the last snow/salt fest we had a few weeks ago. the Bimmer didn't see much salt/snow so I didn't do it, BUT now it's just generally dirty and the white shows it...I've been weary about auto car washes for such a "new" (to me) car....but it has reached the point where people tell me " dang that car's dirty!" ...esp. the wheels.
We live in an apt complex and car washing is not allowed...and I've been way too busy to take it to a DIY car wash...same reason (time) I can't do anything with a No-Rinse type of product either... will wait till we move and have our own place/garage to REALLY start washing/detailing by myself.
I guess I'll bite the bullet and run it through the auto wash, and then I can keep it clean using the Poor Boys' quick detailer I have...After all, when I took the Tbird to the Auto Wash (they hand dry the cars afterwards) I saw a MB CL55 AMG being run through it...it can't be that bad, huh? This auto wash is a one with where the car is run through big rubber stripes or whatever...not the huge "brush" like things...
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In the winter I try to hit the touchless auto carwash to get the salt off. I do this weather permitting but try for weekly or every second week.
In spring/summer/fall I like to hand wash once a week or at the latest every second week and use detailer to keep her looking good inbetween.
In spring/summer/fall I like to hand wash once a week or at the latest every second week and use detailer to keep her looking good inbetween.
No slap and scratch auto wash.
I would see a thousand swirl marks in my paint if I ever did.
They would neglect to tape down my rear wiper anyway and it would get snapped off. Then they would argue that it was "not original equipment" because "sedans don't got no rear wipers".
If there are open bays and no one waiting to use the wash, I will use the coin-op, but not the brush. Bringing a bucket in spite of the sign. It's rare though. I probably will after all the snow and ice is gone just to blast all the magnesium chloride and other nasty stuff off the undercarriage.
Around once a week
I would see a thousand swirl marks in my paint if I ever did.
They would neglect to tape down my rear wiper anyway and it would get snapped off. Then they would argue that it was "not original equipment" because "sedans don't got no rear wipers".
If there are open bays and no one waiting to use the wash, I will use the coin-op, but not the brush. Bringing a bucket in spite of the sign. It's rare though. I probably will after all the snow and ice is gone just to blast all the magnesium chloride and other nasty stuff off the undercarriage.
Around once a week
If it truly a touchless car wash it will get it clean - will also blow all the wax off. I live in the South now so salt is no longer a problem, but I used to use Ernie's Touchless in Mass. It even returned the OWL tires to looking like new.
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