Measuring Car Wash

[Xtian]

Hi

I've always been aware that the reccommended ratio for car wash solution to water is one ounce of car wash for one gallon of water. Is there a quick and easy way to consistently measure out one ounce of car wash, aside from bringing out the measuring cups, or does it just always have to be a sort of "guessing game"?

[Setec Astronomy]

There are pumps that will fit on half-gallon and one gallon containers that will meter one once per stroke. You may be able to get these directly from Meguiar's or your local detailing supply store, or there are online plastics vendor that sell them. One note with this is that thick products like NXT Wash tend to drip from the nozzle of these pumps after you use them, so you need to be careful if you don't want to make a mess.

[SingingSabre]

One oz of car wash = one capful of car wash.

[trubluscrew]

I just went to the dollar store and bought a couple of cheap shot glasses

[Mike Phillips]

I understand measuring out car wash is a problem a most car washes have a thicker than water consistency and this makes measuring and pour them out and then re-measuring a cumbersome problem. Perhaps post this as a suggestion in the New Products Suggestion forum.

How much water do you usually use when you wash your car?

I use a 5-gallon bucket and I add approximately 4 gallons of water to the bucket. This means I need to add 4 ounces of car wash to the bucket.

For some reason I can't imagine serious car enthusiasts using a one-gallon bucket to wash their car, thus only needing one ounce of car wash.

If others are doing something similar, (using a large bucket for their car wash process, I was thinking perhaps the quick and easy solution can be found in a small Dixie cup?

[SingingSabre]

I've carefully measured out 4 ounces and seen the area it covers the bottom of my bucket. Now I just pour to cover that same area and guesstimate from there.

Just my two cents...again.

EDIT: That dixie cup idea is great...I'm going to try that out!

[Mike Phillips]

I got the idea watching my son get a drink of water after brushing his teeth and getting ready for bed. They're inexpensive, come in different sizes, (I think, I don't shop very often), and can be re-used to some degree, or tossed.

Just thinking out loud...

After finding a size that works, for example if you use 4 gallons of water, you want to add 4 ounces of car wash and you find a 6 ounce Dixie cup, fill it with 4 ounces of water, (4 ounces is a half cup), then look to see where the water levels out at inside the cup and make a mental note of this place relative to some type of design marking on the cup. Now each time you go to wash you car simply fill the cup to the noted level and then add to water. You could then swish the cup around inside the bucket of water to remove all of the car wash and then re-use the cup until it became un-usable.

By doing this, you'll have a process that is consistent and repeatable to insure a no-brainer way of measuring the appropriate amount of car wash for your chosen water volume.

[SingingSabre]

That's pretty much how I measure it by pouring straight into the bucket I use. There's an inside seam on the bottom which when the wash goes to that seam I have 4oz of wash. Then I fill up and enjoy the suds.

Your idea is great. Dixie cups are cheap, disposable, and available practically anywhere.

Perhaps a good product suggestion for Meg's would be a multi-ounce jigger. Two cups bottom-to bottom, one being 2oz, one being 4.

Funny, I use something like that when I make my martinis...

EDIT: Meg's could even add a hook onto it so it would be able to just hang on the side of the bucket for storage.

[romulus]

I know that this might require some change in the bottle and cap; and of course some cost associated with new mold. If I remember, those liquid laundry detergent has a deeper cap in which inside has some markings to let the user pour the amount of detergent based on the laundry load.
Perhaps this can be done with a 2oz cap to keep things with a lower profile.
Or in a cheaper way, new istructions labels printed as SingingSabre mentioned "1 cap full of wash= 1oz."
Just throwing ideas.
cheers

[Xtian]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. As everyone else has already noted to Mike, the dixie cup idea sounds great! I'm going to try that next time I wash my car.

[nx80v]

I went to the local drug store and asked for a small measuring cup(which is exactly 1oz) for the cough syrup and it was free

[Boss_429]

A lot of good tips and ideas here! It's a smart idea to measure the soap out no matter what you use.

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by Xtian
Thanks for all the suggestions guys. As everyone else has already noted to Mike, the Dixie cup idea sounds great! I'm going to try that next time I wash my car.

I have this vision of bolting the Dixie cup dispenser on the garage wall where I keep my car wash tools and supplies...

I like the idea of the convenience of pulling down a clean cup right there where my supplies are. I guess it's time to go to Target and see what's available.

[rusty bumper]

I saved an old #00 bottle and filled it up with Gold Class Shampoo..........The lid pops open easy enough.

For a measuring cup, I use the one that comes with of a Pepto Bismal bottle........I made a mark at the 1 ounce line with a black marker to ensure I use the right amount.

I usually use only 2 gallons of water per wash, along with 4 to 5 gallons of rinse water for the mit.

Another good idea is to mark your 5 gallon buckets with a black marker for each gallon filled......This helps to ensure the proper water amount too.....Which is just as important as the soap measurement.

[RD7673]

What are the negatives for both too much shampoo to water and too little?

As far as the too much shampoo to water, I can only guess the downside being the bottle won't last as long.

Too little shampoo to water wouldn't provide enough lubrication.

Any other ideas?