What are your tips? Do you have a process? Also im looking for a place with a coin operated steam cleaner in the outer south east Melbourne (clayton, dandenong, narre)
DIY Coin Operated Car Wash Tips?
bn030687 on 21/01/2018 - 23:44
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Before I bought a pressure washer, I used the same technique except $1 for soap and $1 for rinse. Note that $1 was buying 1min45seconds back then.
I would avoid using the contact brush in those car washes - they're often filled with dirt and other little nasties which will do anything from micro-abrasions to clearly visible scratches.
Doing what thevofa suggested above is what I do, although modified; wetting the car, applying as much soap as possible, and then using microfibre towels from home to scrub the car.
Go first thing in the morning when there is still dew on the car. Works like a pre-soak
Put money in, use the high pressure jet to spray the soapy scrubber to get as much dirt off it as possible before you spray/wet and scrub your car.
When using the scrubber, do metal first, then plastic, then wheels last.
Whether it's the jet spray or scrubber, always start from the top of the car and go down.
Wash it at home.
Those car washes are nasty.
Bring plenty of cheap microfiber cloths to wash and dry out the car. The place we usually go to sells towels for $2 each which doesn't last a quarter of the car. I usually use the cheap Bunnings pack of 20 which costs around $10.
go early when there are less cars there and you'll find increased pressure in the hose
Do not use the brush on the car unless you really don't care.
Try a few washes around your area, as they will give you different time per $. The BP near chadstone gives 3 mins per dollar, I've been to some as low as 90 seconds a dollar.
I save time and money by letting the rain wash my car.
OK, time to get serious. Here's the kahn technique:
- Buy a bucket like this for $10.
- Buy a microfiber wash mitt like this for $10.
- Buy a car wash liquid like this for $30 or whenever there's a discount.
- Buy a waffle weave microfober towel like this for $13.
- Buy a quick detail spray like this for $19.
- Combine water and car wash liquid in the bucket at home before you set off. Plonk in wash mitt. Put bucket in passenger footwell and ensure lid is on (duh!).
- Rock up to DIY car wash when it is quiet or unattended.
- Put in a dollar for the rinse setting, foam up the bucket for a couple of seconds, then give the car a quick rinse.
- Wash the car with your own wash mitt and soapy water, starting with the top/middle of the car and leave the bottom last. Do this as quickly as possible so the liquid doesn't dry on the paint.
- Put in another dollar for a final rinse, you've got to be accurate here to get rid of the soapy water without running out of time.
- Drive the car for a couple of minutes to get rid of some of the water (optional).
- Dry the car with the towel while periodically spraying the towel with the quick detailer. Never use a completely dry towel.
This doesn't include sponging the wheels, which I only do with old rags when required. Tyre dressing also helps - Poorboys Bold 'n' Bright has served me well over the years. Step 11 is risky but I find it helpful to get rid of most of the water on a waxed car and it helps to dislodge the water stuck in panel gaps, door handles, side mirrors, etc. Some DIY car washes have a wax option, so use it regularly for the bling. Otherwise, use your own spray sealant. If you want to be a cheapo like me, re-use your soapy water a couple more times if it's not too dirty. Just make sure that your wash mitt is clean every time and it won't be too bad.
Because there's no one else waiting to wash their car in the bay you've occupied:
You might as well put the water on boil and enjoy your coffee/tea there while you're at it.
And on a day that you're feeling extra good, bring your own sofa and just relax there while watching your car dry.
I've actually used hot water from home a couple of times and brought that to a DIY car wash when it was so damn cold. I recall barely being able to move the selector switch because it was so damn cold. I thought it might have been broken. And then there was the nightmare of drying the car with a microfiber towel and barely being able to wring it because it was so damn cold.
myusername
go early when there are less cars there and you'll find increased pressure in the hose
Absolute rubbish.
This is what I do:
$1 high pressure soap
$1 the brush / broom thing with suds, smother as much of the car as I can before it stops
continue brushing for 5 mins or so, also using fingernails to get the tiny bug/bird shits off because the brush is useless at anything other than road dust
$2 high pressure rinseHowever, the last two times I've been and done it, it has left soak streaks all over my car once it dries, I am thinking I might need to up the final high pressure rinse to $3 to avoid that.
I'm pretty sure all the self service car washes near me only give about 90 seconds per dollar.
Edit: my car is an old 2004 Pulsar sedan that gets me to work and back. I don't care about it enough to invest in serious cleaning techniques, nor do I care if it gets a scratch or 5 while washing it. As long as it looks respectable. If your car is much, much newer, don't take my advice.
When washing at home I use a two bucket technique, but I'm pretty lazy now.
Equipment: Wool wash mitt + quick dry chamois
- Put in $2 and soap the whole car + spray wash mitt
- Switch to foaming brush and wash all wheels until satisfied.
- Use wash mitt to go once over on the car (yes yes I know if there's dirt there will be scratches, however it will get all the grime off)
- Put in $1 and rinse with high pressue
- Shammy off excess water
Always choose the bay closest to the control room as it switches over the the selected fluid quickest and never wash when it's so hot that it dries before you can shammy.
i rather pay $10 for a machine wash and wax car afterwards myself.
Put in $2, quick spray to get the car wet, then get the soapy brush on and get as much suds on the car as possible till the credit expires. Now you have as much time as you need to lather and brush down the entire car. Finish off with another $2 for a thorough rinse. Clean car for $4 but harder to do on very hot days when the soap dries quickly.