|
|
Post by davidwilson on Feb 16, 2018 9:58:44 GMT
It was another sub zero start to the day in Worcestershire and I am sure must be even colder further north. Due to either cold weather, rain, illness with the flu, or just too busy, I have yet to wash our car since I bought it in early November! To be honest it doesn't look too bad, being silver probably helps, and I managed a quick vacuum inside yesterday! Maybe I will give it a wash this afternoon - but will wait and see. I know many of you avoid letting anyone else wash your car, and I understand why, but I wondered how often you were managing to wash your car? I see the occasional really clean car where I live but haven't actually seen anyone washing one!
|
|
|
|
Post by Hoovie on Feb 16, 2018 10:16:06 GMT
It was another sub zero start to the day in Worcestershire and I am sure must be even colder further north. Due to either cold weather, rain, illness with the flu, or just too busy, I have yet to wash our car since I bought it in early November! To be honest it doesn't look too bad, being silver probably helps, and I managed a quick vacuum inside yesterday! Maybe I will give it a wash this afternoon - but will wait and see. I know many of you avoid letting anyone else wash your car, and I understand why, but I wondered how often you were managing to wash your car? I see the occasional really clean car where I live but haven't actually seen anyone washing one! "I have yet to wash our car since I bought it in early November" ...  Disgraceful! As a pennance, I think you should come and wash my car! (I haven't washed it since I bought it last July, or my Camper since I had the Stripes done in October  ) My excuse is that the water will just form a sheet of ice around it afterwards and would be dangerous (and been like that since December  ). Also done just over 2,000 miles since July so doesn't get much of a chance to get dirty. But even though I haven't washed it, I still wouldn't let anyone else do it even if they offered for free! |
|
|
|
Post by davidwilson on Feb 16, 2018 12:14:55 GMT
It was another sub zero start to the day in Worcestershire and I am sure must be even colder further north. Due to either cold weather, rain, illness with the flu, or just too busy, I have yet to wash our car since I bought it in early November! To be honest it doesn't look too bad, being silver probably helps, and I managed a quick vacuum inside yesterday! Maybe I will give it a wash this afternoon - but will wait and see. I know many of you avoid letting anyone else wash your car, and I understand why, but I wondered how often you were managing to wash your car? I see the occasional really clean car where I live but haven't actually seen anyone washing one! "I have yet to wash our car since I bought it in early November" ... Disgraceful! As a pennance, I think you should come and wash my car! (I haven't washed it since I bought it last July, or my Camper since I had the Stripes done in October ) My excuse is that the water will just form a sheet of ice around it afterwards and would be dangerous (and been like that since December ). Also done just over 2,000 miles since July so doesn't get much of a chance to get dirty. But even though I haven't washed it, I still wouldn't let anyone else do it even if they offered for free! Well, I do feel bad about not washing it but it is still quite chilly outside so I think it will just have to wait! I think we have done just under 2000 miles so very similar in mileage terms. It will be interesting to see what it looks like when I do finally wash it - I hope there are no car park dents or scratches! We always park well away from others but even so can't escape altogether from people who would rather park next to us rather than emptier spots! |
|
|
|
Post by philip42h on Feb 16, 2018 12:22:46 GMT
Mine, our three, have been 'washed' a couple of time this year - there have been days when it has been warmer than freezing here in mid Wales.
And I follow, to the letter (almost), the guidance given by CharlieFarlie in a thread entitled "Winter Washing.. The Power Of Ten........" on a forum in a galaxy far, far away. I bought myself a snow foam gun and a pressure washer capable of driving it (Nilfisk P150). Then its a simple question of foam on, leave it to dwell for at long as it takes to go around with an under-body lance to rinse of some of the salt and mud from around the wheel arches in particular and then pressure wash and rinse off. No bucket, no sponge just a good 'pre-wash' with snow foam and a spot of shampoo as recommended!
... then the car gets taken down the lane and it's filthy again before it gets to the bottom ...
|
|
|
|
Post by unclebob on Feb 16, 2018 12:30:20 GMT
Have washed all 4 cars/vans a couple of times this year ...it just finding a day I don’t freeze my fingers off !
|
|
|
|
Post by jasehutch on Feb 16, 2018 13:17:21 GMT
Have washed all 4 cars/vans a couple of times this year ...it just finding a day I don’t freeze my fingers off ! I've done our two several times this year, just to clean that crappy salt off more than anything else. |
|
|
|
Post by phaeton on Feb 16, 2018 14:50:36 GMT
People wash their cars, when did that become a 'thing' doesn't it rain where you guys live?
|
|
|
|
Post by Mb2t on Feb 16, 2018 16:18:48 GMT
TBH, I am not that religious, so if the garage washes the car, That is OK... they always note 'Very Dirty'...
As I am doing high mileage, the car will probably die before the paint will show any signs of deterioration.
Previous car got the same treatment, and looked good when sold, it did not help anything in the price, as the mileage is more dominant.
I like it, and I like when it is clean, but do not have the time to wash it. If I had time, I probably prefer to do something else.
Last time I washed the car was.... do not remember, probably sometime last year.
|
|
|
|
Post by charliefarlie on Feb 16, 2018 17:58:58 GMT
Living where we do now I have to accept clean cars are a very hard thing to achieve.
But I still clean them if only to rid them of the salt abd silicas the council spread. I employ the touch less wash system which means snow foam and a power wash off paying attention to the underside. I run hot water through my machine and combined with a really good quality foam me and a good clean car...
|
|
Fido
Club Member
Posts: 63
Primary Vehicle: RAV4
Year: 2006
Model Spec/Trim: VVT-I XT3 5 door Auto
Engine Capacity: 1998cc
Fuel Type: Petrol
Transmission: Automatic
Drive Type: 4WD/AWD
|
Post by Fido on Mar 3, 2018 9:49:56 GMT
As a newcomer, I love this thread. Makes me feel better. My 1999 RAV4, which I had for nearly four years, got washed twice by me. It spent a lot of time in my garage and hardly showed the dirt. A former neighbour power washed his car every week. Made quite a racket. I like to keep my cars looking reasonable so will continue to wash it myself. I take my wife’s car to a local hand wash. She finishes it off when I return.
|
|
|
|
Post by jasehutch on Mar 3, 2018 10:08:44 GMT
I have personally never trusted anyone else to wash my car.
I know a lot of people who use these hand wash gangs, but do you really know what harsh additives they may be using to get your car clean ?
Am I being over cautious?
|
|
|
|
Post by davrav on Mar 3, 2018 10:15:31 GMT
I have personally never trusted anyone else to wash my car. I know a lot of people who use these hand wash gangs, but do you really know what harsh additives they may be using to get your car clean ? Am I being over cautious? .............and how many times they drop the sponge/cloth? |
|
|
|
Post by charliefarlie on Mar 3, 2018 10:19:21 GMT
I have personally never trusted anyone else to wash my car. I know a lot of people who use these hand wash gangs, but do you really know what harsh additives they may be using to get your car clean ? Am I being over cautious? The cheap car washers use TFR cos it’s cheap. Mixed even weak it will remove any wax or sealent on contact. It’s vile horrible stuff that contains among other things caustics . It will destroy finishes that are silver or aluminium finished. Just foam and power wash. Don’t bother if you like guys but the harsh s hit they council spreads will eat your cars over time. |
|
|
|
Post by davidwilson on Mar 3, 2018 10:34:14 GMT
I have personally never trusted anyone else to wash my car. I know a lot of people who use these hand wash gangs, but do you really know what harsh additives they may be using to get your car clean ? Am I being over cautious? I guess it’s like most things in life and down to personal preference. I used to really enjoy washing my car and would find it relaxing! I am not sure that I still do but I do like looking at a clean car! I let the main dealer wash my car but no one else yet! My father in law has his washed when he shops at Sainsbury’s and for him it is ideal. Both he and the car have been around a fair few years so it just makes a lot of sense for him. The main risk is a scratch but he probably wouldn’t notice and it wouldn’t affect the car’s value! If I had a super set up with all the equipment, like Charlie, and the know how to use it I would probably go for the non contact snow foam method but I don’t ! Maybe a good valeter would be the way for me to go? |
|
|
|
Post by Hoovie on Mar 3, 2018 11:22:36 GMT
As a newcomer, I love this thread. Makes me feel better. My 1999 RAV4, which I had for nearly four years, got washed twice by me. It spent a lot of time in my garage and hardly showed the dirt. A former neighbour power washed his car every week. Made quite a racket. I like to keep my cars looking reasonable so will continue to wash it myself. I take my wife’s car to a local hand wash. She finishes it off when I return. I am not obsessive about keeping my car clean (as Big Kev will happily tell anyone), BUT ... I am obsessive about the paintwork condition and no one, but no one, washes my car except me! So it may be dirtier than many cars on the road most of the time but the paintwork is in great condition and no swirls to be found unlike 99.999% of others Right now this snow is great for sucking up the grime and getting it clean though - the ultimate SNOW Foam Contactless clean  |
|
)
). Also done just over 2,000 miles since July so doesn't get much of a chance to get dirty.
