What's the cheapest most efficient way to keep my car clean? Do you have any tips for self serve car washes? What should I expect to pay for hand wash? I don't have a garage,
Keeping your car clean
bn030687 on 21/12/2017 - 07:15
Comments
Read the description again, OP asked how to keep it clean, not how to clean it.
how to keep it clean, not how to clean it.
What the hell is the difference. The answer is pretty much the same.
What the hell is the difference.
If you have to ask..
Anyone is capable of cleaning their car, but the main problem with this is keeping it clean, as cars can get dirty quite quickly from every day driving, even after giving it a good wash.
There are products and services available to assist with keeping car from retaining dirt and road grime, such as waxing and sealants which will allow longer times between car washes.
my $2 self serve car wash technique (before I got a pressure washer). not sure what time you get now, it was 1min45seconds the last time I went….
$1 - foaming brush, get one lap around car before time runs out, continue brushing for another lap afterwards and try to brush in different directions.
$1 - high pressure rinse and use last 15 seconds as wax/spotless rinse concentrating on windows. really have to hustle with this dollar.
bought a basic Gerni 'classic 100.3S' from supercheap for $70, haven't visited a car wash since. it takes longer than at the self serve, but get a better finish as cleaning/rinsing as you go ensures less missed spots.
When I lived in an apartment for a while it was a challenge to see how little I could pay for a car wash. Used a very similar technique, and free cardi workout too.
Try a few different ones, some give you more time for your $2.
I used to fill a bucket with the high pressure wash $1, then use a sponge/cloth to clean the car taking your time. Then use the high pressure rinse and you're done.
Pretty sure you're not meant to fill a bucket, but I'd go at like 4-5 in the morning - because I'm up anyway and there's no queue at the car wash.
That was my $1 self serve care wash technique - run around the car with foaming brush then switch to the rinse.
Don't have kids - mine can make a good mess of a car in less than a minute - they bring grass into the car, touch all the windows, etc…
All that aside, I just use the cheapest kmart/ALDI car cleaning products - $2 interior wipes, Glass wipes from ALDI, Kmart car wash detergent, Kmart tyre shine. I spend about an hour on it.
i take the car for an interior and exterior clean every 3 months it costs me $35 each time. and takes roughly an hour. the place I go has a nice café around the corner. to which I take my kids and have a breakfast with them and spend some quality time.
now the kids are older I let them wash the car in warmer weather, they enjoy that far more than anything else. still takes an hour, but its all relative on what else you would rather spend your time doing,
but washing your car for $2- $3 awesome..
What's the cheapest most efficient way to keep my car clean?
cheapest would be a bucket of water,
most efficient would be to get a pressure hose or similar.
cheapest would be a bucket of water,
how about just wait for rain?
btw, washing car (with soap and sponge) in light rain is great as no drying stains, just park under cover when ready to chamois.
I have not cleaned my car since 2013 lol
Rainwater is the cheapest way to clean your car.
Be careful of the self serve car washes as the broom part can be used on wheels and collect small stones which can then scratch the paintwork for the next person.
I use a Karcher at home with the following:
-Bowden's Own Wheely Clean - spray on first, leave for 5 mins then spray off with hose down of car
-Eagle One Wax As You Dry (while I chamois dry)
-Bowden's Own Tyre Sheen
-Bowden's Own Naked Glass
-Bowden's Own Vinyl Care
-Bowden's Own Leather Love
-Bowden's Own Fabra CadabraBowden's products are quite good. Recently they had a Aussie bucket on sale for $69
Bowden's products are quite good
Agreed.
Mostly Made in Australia. That's what matters. I support them. Hopefully not from imported ingredients…
Edit: I use Megiuar's Ultimate Wash and Wax for the main wash only because it was on special. Before that, I used Bowden's Own Body Gel.
Be careful of the self serve car washes as the broom part can be used on wheels and collect small stones which can then scratch the paintwork for the next person.
Yep had this happen to us once, never usually clean at car washes but decided to on the way back from fishing, got scratches all down the side of the door from the brush
Leave it out in the rain = $ 0
That can work if you live in areas with heavy rains. Those spot showers we're occasionally getting in Sydney actually leave them even dirtier. They are not heavy enough to wash off and leave behind dirty residues.
I use a common long handle soft bristle house broom instead of a sponge.
I heard this leaves really faint scratches on the paint. Has this happened to you?
Not that I can tell.
Buy a broom solely for washing the car and keep it off the ground to prevent dirt pickup. Rinse with garden hose regularly to keep clean.
Buy a cheap pressure washer, don't have to take your car to the car wash, and can use it around the house.
You don't NEED a pressure washer to clean a car. Hose, Sponge, bucket is sufficient.
Sufficient to leave scratch and swirls on paintwork.
Just get a bucket, a $30 exterior buffing cloth and some car detergent