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**Andy M.** · Sep 27, 2008, 07:16 AM

Re: Charity wash supplies

Seeing as this is your first post on MOL, Welcome aboard!

I moved your thread to the break room. I am not really sure about how Meguiars treats such requests, but just imagine if everyone here who had a Charity event asked for supplies.

Make sure you check in and introduce yourself in the Introduce yourself
part of our forum.

Andy M.

**jailed** · Sep 27, 2008, 07:30 AM

Re: Charity wash supplies

I was not asking for donated supplies (although that works) just advice.

**seth1066** · Sep 27, 2008, 07:34 AM

Re: Charity wash supplies

I don't think there is a request in there. I think the OP means that forum members wouldn't dare get there car washed there because they use stuff like Joy for the suds, nasty sponges to wash with and old towels to dry. I like his idea, he buys the product and takes the deduction. And the charity could perhaps get a few more takers by signage mentioning Meguiar's products used.

**Lydia** · Sep 27, 2008, 07:55 AM

Re: Charity wash supplies

Sounds like you have a pretty good plan there! I'm not sure what you want the paper products for, but for windows you might want to consider some Glass MFs from Autodetailingsolutions.com . Less waste and once the charity wash is done you can use them yourself. Just a thought....not sure how cost effective that would be for production work like that. As far as a car wash soap, Deep Crystal car wash is good and pretty cheap. It can be found at the local Walmart too so you don't have to worry about ordering it.

**Andy M.** · Sep 27, 2008, 08:28 AM

Re: Charity wash supplies

You could probably skip the glass cleaner. Not sure how much time you want to spend on each car. I did one of these things for my sons school which was a success. It was a lot of work, and no, even though I was there helping out with the car wash, they didn't wash my car.

I would suggest using the Gold Class Car Wash Soap and Conditioner. It is priced reasonably and is an awesome product. You can find it pretty much anywhere, Wal Mart, or really any auto parts store.

Hope that helps.

Andy

**Murr1525** · Sep 27, 2008, 12:19 PM

Re: Charity wash supplies

A jug of Hyperwash could go pretty far if you think you will have a lot of customers...

Though you can get Gold Class pretty cheap in a lot of places as well.

**VonLego** · Sep 27, 2008, 12:40 PM

Re: Charity wash supplies

3 people for 3 hours, 9 man hours. How much profit are you hoping to return? How many of the products do you have lying around? I hate to say it, but 9 hours of work wont return much profit. Are you hoping to have quality supplies around for your personal use afterwords? If so thats cool, but if they're going to stay with the charity (and be thrown in a dusty closet somewhere) you may want scrape some money out where you can.

Worse comes to worse, use some kitty litter boxes as buckets and Walmart wash mitts. Perhaps throw a kitchen cooling rack in one of the buckets to scrub dirt particles out since you can't use a grit guard. (note that this won't prevent dirt from floating up)

Please note also that I am not saying this would do the best job out there, but look at it from a pure $$$ point of view. The ultimate goal is to have the largest return for the charity while putting out something the customer will be happy with, and doing work you're going to be confident producing. No Dawn/Joy, no bath towels for drying, and no kitchen rags for washing.

Thats pretty much it. If you're dead set on having these products, perhaps have someone buy them then lend them to the wash. In this way the charity doesn't lose money and some lucky guy has an excuse to buy some toys.

**VonLego** · Sep 27, 2008, 12:57 PM

Re: Charity wash supplies

Ok here is a price check from autodetailingsolutions.com. It has been polled on this site before as the most popular due to solid customer service, good turn around times, and dang good prices. You will often here it refered to as "ADS." The origional prices I believe are MSRP.

6 Microfiber Wash Mitt Item # X3002
3 Mitts
~~$14.97~~ Save $3.00

Internet Special...$11.97 (Note: x2 would be $24)

6 Soft Touch Microfiber Chamois Item # X2070
3 Drying Cloths
~~$29.97~~ Save $5.00

Internet Special...$24.97 (Note: x2 would be $50)

Multiple buckets
5 Gallon buckets are set pretty standard at five dollars. Assuming you're going to use the double bucket method (using grit guards in the rinse of course)...
$30

Grit Guard (at least three)
Grit guards are $16 for two, or $9 dollars for one.
$25 for three or $32 for four

Glass cleaner concentrate Item Number: D12001
$7 bucks for some concentrate, might skip this though. I'd grab some wheel brightener instead for the same price.

Hyperwash (1:400 dilution ratio)

12 oz sampler (concentrate)
= 4800 oz soap
= 75 gallons soap
= 18.75 four gallon buckets
= 6.25 fills for three buckets

$6 -- just make sure you are careful not to pour to much in, might measure it out.

------------------

You're looking at $142-150 of product

$150/9 hours = $16.67/Hour to break even.

$50/Person, probably like 5 washes per person in three hours. Shouldn't be to hard to do, but probably won't turn much profit either. You may want to look at places you can cut costs. That being said... this may be more of a "for fun" thing, in which case go at it and enjoy a day in the sun washing cars with some buddies!

Sorry if I'm a downer, engineering student here

Now if you do this two days in a row, grab a gallon of hyper wash and run your supplies through the wash over night. Looking at solid profit after about $170 (ADS usually is cheap on shipping)

**seth1066** · Sep 27, 2008, 01:15 PM

Re: Charity wash supplies

Originally posted by VonLego View Post

Now if you do this two days in a row, grab a gallon of hyper wash and run your supplies through the wash over night. Looking at solid profit after about $170 (ADS usually is cheap on shipping)

If I was one of the three washers, I'd rather donate the $57 instead!

**Andy M.** · Sep 27, 2008, 01:42 PM

Re: Charity wash supplies

3 people for 3 hours, 9 man hours. How much profit are you hoping to return? How many of the products do you have lying around? I hate to say it, but 9 hours of work wont return much profit. Are you hoping to have quality supplies around for your personal use afterwords? If so thats cool, but if they're going to stay with the charity (and be thrown in a dusty closet somewhere) you may want scrape some money out where you can.

With charity it is not about gain. I have been involved in these charity car washes personally and have had a good experience being involved. The funny thing is the people who were bringing their vehicles in didn't know that I was a car washing/polishing nut. They got more than what they paid for and that is perfectly fine with me. I got to show some young people what to do and what not to do. Even the adults learned a thing or two. That is what this forum is about.....learning and making friends who have the same interests.

Andy

**RogueGypsy** · Sep 27, 2008, 01:43 PM

Re: Charity wash supplies

Grit guards are cheaper here:

Website Down For Maintenance | U.S. Plastic

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/product.asp?catalog_name=USPlastic&category_name=20326&product_id=25277

I would also think about a Foamaster if you have access to a hose. Makes 'soaping up' go much faster, plus at ADS you get free soap and a wash mitt. Not to mention, those watching will like the foam and may tip better.

http://www.autodetailingsolutions.com/gilmour-foamaster-wash-gun.htm

**jailed** · Sep 27, 2008, 01:47 PM

Re: Charity wash supplies

Thank you for the replys. Since I will be donating the supplies to the charity, I want to be sure that they do not fail before they even start. Whatever profit they make can go toward their funding goals. But I do not want to purchase products that are not going to help them and that I will have no use for after the event.

Thanks for the information. I have alot to thnk about

**VonLego** · Sep 27, 2008, 02:21 PM

Re: Charity wash supplies

Originally posted by Andy M. View Post

With charity it is not about gain. I have been involved in these charity car washes personally and have had a good experience being involved. The funny thing is the people who were bringing their vehicles in didn't know that I was a car washing/polishing nut. They got more than what they paid for and that is perfectly fine with me. I got to show some young people what to do and what not to do. Even the adults learned a thing or two. That is what this forum is about.....learning and making friends who have the same interests.

Andy

Aye I think I brought this up, forgive me if I didn't.

Sometimes washing cars with buddies is fun no matter what. Washing solo is boring, but with friends or family it is fun. If its a charity event, so what its fun!

**VonLego** · Sep 27, 2008, 02:23 PM

Re: Charity wash supplies

Oh man that foam master is tight... I am running low on soap and might just grab that in my next purchase. I use gold class soap now, but I can't imagine much of a difference between soaps. They are all Meguiars, and as such can't be to bad.

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