Self Serve Car Wash - Time Per $1 - Cost Effective Car Washing Technique? Time Bargain?

• 

  yoyo on 16/02/2015 - 12:18

  In the past I used to do high pressure wash, then use a bucket and sponge to detail my car, I personally don't find the high pressure soap to be effective on dirt. Then follow up with a high pressure water. In terms of value for money, I think it will be a lot more expensive then what you are doing.

  But that doesn't matter as most (if not all) car wash places have banned buckets :)

  • 

    Aap Ke Papa on 16/02/2015 - 12:22

    How time do you get per dollar?

• 

  xyron on 16/02/2015 - 12:26

  +2

  All the self service car washes I've been to in Adelaide either give you 1 min 30 or 1 min 45 for $1.

  I don't live down that way anymore but the little car wash bay at the On The Run BP in Burnside/Leabrook was awesome - had heaps of nozzles which spat out different waxes and things, and a hand-air-dryer function.

  Typically I will find a bay that's just been used, go into it, do a high pressure soap all around with $1, making sure I quickly spray the brush too while I go around.

  Then I just give the car a once-over with the still wet and sudsy brush from the previous user.

  Than I do a $1 high pressure rinse.

  Gets probably 80% of the gunk and dirt off my car and keeps it looking relatively respectable - every couple of months I'll get the chamois out and do a proper wash though. :)

  • 

    Aap Ke Papa on 16/02/2015 - 12:28

    +1

    That is actually a good idea to use a foam brush that has been previously used by someone before you. Thanks

    • 

      xyron on 16/02/2015 - 12:34

      just make sure you give it a quick blast with the high pressure soap to get out any stones or sticks that might be stuck in it from the previous user.

      • 

        thatonethere on 16/02/2015 - 13:23

        The self service car wash places have gotten wise to me trying to game their system:

        1. the car wash system doesnt' startup until $3 is in the system (to prevent "start stop start" users I guess)
        2. not allowed to have non-car wash buckets or brushes in the bay
        3. not allowed to be in the bay if you don't have money on the clock.
      • 

        Aap Ke Papa on 16/02/2015 - 13:32

        +1

        I have noticed that the staff is usually present on Sat and sun and if they see that the clock is not on while you are scrubbing your car with a foam brush. They tell you to put money in. So i think its better to use it late evening or weekdays.

• 

  cuteseal on 16/02/2015 - 14:51

  I use $3:

  $1 - High Pressure Soap, blast the car and try and get as much dirt off
  - with about 30 secs left, I blast the foaming brush to clean it, and then switch to foaming brush
  - soap and scrub half the car

  $1 - High Pressure Rinse, wash off the soap, blast the car again
  - with about 30 secs left, switch to foaming brush
  - soap and scrub remaining half of car

  $1 - High Pressure Rinse, leisurely wash off the rest of the car

  I do half a car at a time as I find that if I soap the whole car, the first half tends to get a bit "dry". Otherwise I'd probably be able to get it down to $2.

• 

  cuteseal on 16/02/2015 - 14:54

  My beef is that I never get my wheels clean though with those places. I don't use the foaming brush on the wheels (or should I?) as I can't stand the thought of all the grime and dirt from the wheels being scrubbed into my car paint. Or is that naive thinking as other patrons before me have probably used it on their wheels already?

  Recently I've taken to sneaking a bucket and brush in, just for the wheels. I reckon I could make a persuasive argument… lol… although I mostly go in the evenings when there aren't any attendants about.

  • 

    padfoot07 on 16/02/2015 - 15:13

    People use the brush on their wheels. I normally spray the brush before I use it, then first clean the windows, then work my way from the top to the bottom of the car, cleaning the wheels last. At least this way it is cleanest on the windows and you don't bring dirt from the wheels to other parts of the car.