How to judge a local (self wash) car wash?

[Deaner5]

Re: How to judge a local (self wash) car wash?

Thats a good idea but about the fire, I think thats pushing it. It would draw attention. I like your idea about the bucket in the front of the car though. Also I like to take my dad and my brother with and we do all three cars. 3 guys on one car can go pretty fast and sometimes (like on my smaller car) we can finish it in one cycle.

When I say fire in the garage I mean a wood burning stove, so it's safe, no worries.

Another tip is that I like to go a few days after it has snowed so that the roads are dry and a little bit cleaner. This way your car stays cleaner for maybe a day or two longer. I personally can't wait until I move into an apartment with a heated underground garage with a wash bay (in January).

[MaximusZTS]

Re: How to judge a local (self wash) car wash?

Find a Turtle Wax Touchless place, I haven't used one but I hear they are very good.

I have one buy my house and I used it once. It dripped some chemicals on the car after it was done washing and it staind/etched my glass. The other PC and I tried to get it off with all kinds of things nothing worked. Paul even used some #4 with a cutting pad on a rotory.

[rqk]

Re: How to judge a local (self wash) car wash?

Is it a new enough car that you could go and ask the salesperson at the dealership you bought it at if you could wash it there once in a while? I did this a couple times with a Cadillac I owned a few years ago.

JRau in central Iowa

The car is just a few months old. Actually, I could bring it to the dealer and they'd wash it for free, but I don't trust their automated car wash (although they say it doesn't scratch). Also, the dealer is far enough away that the car would probably be filthy by the time I got home. Good suggestion though ...

[Sergei]

Re: How to judge a local (self wash) car wash?

I just get past the thought on the rinseless method - ONR or QEW. I trust you guys have seen it first hand and trust using these products. But after using the two bucket method with grit guard, I just can't resolve that the rinseless method is going to introduce less swirls as the two bucket method.

[Mayur]

Re: How to judge a local (self wash) car wash?

Well I just went to local self service wash last night. Im pretty sure no one ever goes there because the parking lot was not plowed and had ice all over the lot. I looked at almost every sign and none saying that I could not use my own bucket so Ill be using my own stuff

[Tom Weed]

Re: How to judge a local (self wash) car wash?

The dealer where I've bought the wife's and my car lets me run it through their automated wash for free, it doesn't scratch it, due to it being a touch-less wash and it does a decent job. It's great for winter washings because it knocks all the winter crud and salt out of the wheel wheels and bottom of your car. It's no where close to a good hand-washing, but when it's below freezing, it's a decent alternative. Usually if I go there, then when I get home, I break out the QEW and add a little Last Touch to it and wash it in the garage. I would be afraid to use QEW on a car covered in winter crud, due to the possibility of marring the paint especially on black...



Tom

[93civic_sedan]

Re: How to judge a local (self wash) car wash?

I have this same issue in the winter. I go to the local places and use nothing but their water, bring my own bucket, wash, mitt, wheel cleaner and drying devices.

There are some places that I go that have signs about no buckets but I go really late so I don't have to worry about that. When I do this I really freeze my butt off, its definatly worth it.

[gollums_friend]

Re: How to judge a local (self wash) car wash?

At the half dozen self-wash bays around here, the "no bucket" rule is strictly to cut down on time when people are waiting in line.....and the only time there are lines are in the summer, or an exceptionally warm winter day.

Only ONE of those bays I mentioned even has attendants on duty, and that's only until 7pm. Who cares if it's the middle of the day---as long as there aren't cars lined up or an attendant watching you, go for it. Of course, I also don't live in a large city, so I only know about the places around here.

[netspec]

Re: How to judge a local (self wash) car wash?

My self wash has a policy (unwritten) that if you get there early enough, you can bucket wash. In the summer months, I'll get there around 5:30-6 AM and I can do everything I need to do in the wash bay.

[Mayur]

Re: How to judge a local (self wash) car wash?

At the half dozen self-wash bays around here, the "no bucket" rule is strictly to cut down on time when people are waiting in line.....and the only time there are lines are in the summer, or an exceptionally warm winter day.

Only ONE of those bays I mentioned even has attendants on duty, and that's only until 7pm. Who cares if it's the middle of the day---as long as there aren't cars lined up or an attendant watching you, go for it. Of course, I also don't live in a large city, so I only know about the places around here.

Hehe you must be lucky. I dont see how it would take longer. Anyone bringing their own bucket is probably knowledgeable enough on how to clean cars. Why would they take their time? Your paying by the minute. Id try to do everything in one cycle.

[Jeepster04]

Re: How to judge a local (self wash) car wash?

Local car wash doesnt have the no bucket sign. I will not get it out when a bunch of people are waiting though.. I was there for an hour and a half the other day.. I did quik wax and everything..

The attendant was giving me some strange looks.