Tips for having to use a commercial car wash?

Garce421 · May 24, 2015

After our house that we were renting suffered flood damage too severe to continue living in, my wife and I were left with the only option of going back to an apartment. Besides not having a garage anymore a huge problem I am having is ill have to go back to using a commercial car wash again. I like to keep my new truck clean an waxed and HATE those dirty wash bays and pressure washers. Any tips for using a car wash and still getting a nice hand wash? I was thinking of going real late at night and bringing my bucket, soap, and wash mit and just using the sprayer for rinsing. Any other tips or suggestions? Thanks!

caps · May 24, 2015

A friends house?

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DavidRam · May 24, 2015

Garce421 said:
After our house that we were renting suffered flood damage too severe to continue living in, my wife and I were left with the only option of going back to an apartment. Besides not having a garage anymore a huge problem I am having is ill have to go back to using a commercial car wash again. I like to keep my new truck clean an waxed and HATE those dirty wash bays and pressure washers. Any tips for using a car wash and still getting a nice hand wash? I was thinking of going real late at night and bringing my bucket, soap, and wash mit and just using the sprayer for rinsing. Any other tips or suggestions? Thanks!

That is exactly what I do. I use the sprayer for high pressure spray with soap, then I wipe it down with the mitt, then I use high pressure rinse and last I use the spot-free rinse. Drive my truck home about 2 miles, then blow it off with a leaf blower and dry it off. DONE

The paint looks brand new on my 3 year old truck, because no car wash and no person, other than me, has ever washed it since I drove it off the lot.

Garce421 · May 24, 2015

A friends house isn't really an option. We aren't from the area and are in the military so friends come and go. Most live in apartments like us and the ones who do have houses don't really care about their cars enough to wash them at home maybe a drive thru wash once a month. I like to wash mine at least once a week if I can and don't want to bug someone to use their hose every week.

DiabeticKripple · May 24, 2015

just use the pressure washer. it isnt that bad. bring a mitt and wipe it down after you soap it and all will be good

Squidbilly · May 25, 2015

DavidRam said:
That is exactly what I do. I use the sprayer for high pressure spray with soap, then I wipe it down with the mitt, then I use high pressure rinse and last I use the spot-free rinse. Drive my truck home about 2 miles, then blow it off with a leaf blower and dry it off. DONE
The paint looks brand new on my 3 year old truck, because no car wash and no person, other than me, has ever washed it since I drove it off the lot.

I did the same. I even waxed there if it wasn't busy. I made sure to stay away from the scrub brush. That thing will swirl the crap out of your paint.

charonblk07 · May 25, 2015

Just NEVER use the foam brush if they have it. Spray soap and use the mitt like everyone else has said.

DavidRam · May 25, 2015

Exactly. Don't even touch that brush, not for the wheels or anything.

Pull Ya · May 25, 2015

Microfiber wash mitt
Jay

DavidRam · May 25, 2015

Pull Ya said:
Microfiber wash mitt
Jay

Amen! I use the Chemical Guys premium extra plush. Afterwords, hand wash it and let it dry for the next car wash.

tipnitty · May 25, 2015

I use the two bucket method in the wash bays as my primary washing method. I can't use the hose here so it's my only option. Or you can look into a rinseless wash like ONR. I also clean my car and truck in my garage with it all the time. Works great.

Tips for having to use a commercial car wash?

Garce421

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