I always use to clean my car. I.e hoover it out wosh and polish it and so on. Got a jet wash and so on. But today I payed £30 to have my car cleaned top to bottom and a polish. And it only took about half hour to have it done. But how many of u still clean yer own car or do you go to one of these cleaning places. My car was the biggest **** whole as was so dirty inside and out
In reply to Post #1
I should really clean my car myself but it's to easy to pay someone else to do it. They do a good job in half the time.
I should really clean my car myself but it's to easy to pay someone else to do it. They do a good job in half the time.
It all depends on how you view your car. If its just an asset to use to get your to where you need to be, then your local hand car wash is absolutely fine
However if your car really means something to you, then you should never use your local car wash.
Dont know if you have any knowledge of the detailing scene, but a car that is washed and cared for properly is in a different league to one taken to the local car wash.
Even if you clean your car yourself at home you can cause damage if your not using the right methods. For example, do you use a bucket of soapy water and a sponge? If so you have just put loads of swirl marks into your clear coat which can only be removed by machine polishing.
Going into detailing is a whole new topic, but there are some basics that everyone can do easily.
Two bucket wash method: Use a bucket with your soap to drench the wash mitt, wash a panel, then dip it in the second bucket which just contains water to wash the dirt out of the mitt before loading it back up in the soap bucket.
A good jet washing before touching your car with a wash mitt is also a must to remove as much debris as possible.
Never use the same mitt to do your wheels and lower doors as the rest of the car
If the wash mitt ever touches the floor its only good for the bin
I could go on, but a lot of people just dont care. If anyone wants to know more then post away...
However if your car really means something to you, then you should never use your local car wash.
Dont know if you have any knowledge of the detailing scene, but a car that is washed and cared for properly is in a different league to one taken to the local car wash.
Even if you clean your car yourself at home you can cause damage if your not using the right methods. For example, do you use a bucket of soapy water and a sponge? If so you have just put loads of swirl marks into your clear coat which can only be removed by machine polishing.
Going into detailing is a whole new topic, but there are some basics that everyone can do easily.
Two bucket wash method: Use a bucket with your soap to drench the wash mitt, wash a panel, then dip it in the second bucket which just contains water to wash the dirt out of the mitt before loading it back up in the soap bucket.
A good jet washing before touching your car with a wash mitt is also a must to remove as much debris as possible.
Never use the same mitt to do your wheels and lower doors as the rest of the car
If the wash mitt ever touches the floor its only good for the bin
I could go on, but a lot of people just dont care. If anyone wants to know more then post away...
In reply to Post #3
I always do it myself. I like the process to be honest.
I always do it myself. I like the process to be honest.
This message has been suppressed by a moderator.
The convenience of paying a few blokes 15 quid to clean your car was always better than doing it yourself. Last weekend I got the car clean and they charged me 30 quid. Absolute piss take
Parts of my car inside are disgusting 
I know where they are so I avoid looking at them
I know where they are so I avoid looking at them
In reply to Post #1
Clean it yourself and save £30
Next we will be moaning about the foreigner who owns the car wash driving a Bentley
Are we getting to the point where we have to pay for everything. Something trivial but there is a Starbucks drive through that has opened up near me, packed out all the time (£). What the **** did all these people do for a cup of coffee before this opened, probably paying £30 a week for coffee ffs, choices of course 
That's £60 on fishing tackle and bait
Clean it yourself and save £30
Next we will be moaning about the foreigner who owns the car wash driving a Bentley
Are we getting to the point where we have to pay for everything. Something trivial but there is a Starbucks drive through that has opened up near me, packed out all the time (£). What the **** did all these people do for a cup of coffee before this opened, probably paying £30 a week for coffee ffs, choices of course
That's £60 on fishing tackle and bait
In reply to Post #7
When I gave my company car back I got it cleaned, when when he saw the state of it he quoted me an extra £30 as it was so filthy
When I gave my company car back I got it cleaned, when when he saw the state of it he quoted me an extra £30 as it was so filthy
In reply to Post #8
Yes I was talking to someone who runs two businesses and he said how difficult it is to get jobs filled.
We need to find a way of getting the stay-at-homes off the arses.
It's no good importing labour if we have to pay them and the stay-at-homes.
It doesn't cost me anything to wash my car, as long as I can see through the windscreen that's good enough for me.
@post#9
The mate of my missus had her car refused by a car wash because it was so bad
Yes I was talking to someone who runs two businesses and he said how difficult it is to get jobs filled.
We need to find a way of getting the stay-at-homes off the arses.
It's no good importing labour if we have to pay them and the stay-at-homes.
It doesn't cost me anything to wash my car, as long as I can see through the windscreen that's good enough for me.
@post#9
The mate of my missus had her car refused by a car wash because it was so bad
In reply to Post #6
Mine was £25 at the weekend; I have been using the same place for years and have seen the prices going up from £10 to £15, £20 and now £25 (I have a 4wd SUV type thing).
I chat with the guy that runs it and we spoke about the prices; he says that for the 200 litre barrels of cleaning stuff, the wholesaler just increased the price from £130 to £190 overnight. That's almost impossible for the cleaning place to absorb without raising prices. In addition, as the cost of living sky rockets, people who used to have their car washed once a week only get them done once a month (that could be me actually), etc.
So prices are going up for materials, wages still need to be paid, but there is significantly less custom than there was in the past. So I wouldn't say it's an absolute piss take; it's just a reflection of what's happening with prices everywhere - petrol, food, clothes, all manner of services. Unfortunately, the local car wash isn't immune and they're doing what they need to do to stay afloat.
As an aside, I've tried to clean my car numerous times and am terrible at it, and it takes me ages. I don't mind paying someone to do a much better job in a fraction of the time!
Mine was £25 at the weekend; I have been using the same place for years and have seen the prices going up from £10 to £15, £20 and now £25 (I have a 4wd SUV type thing).
I chat with the guy that runs it and we spoke about the prices; he says that for the 200 litre barrels of cleaning stuff, the wholesaler just increased the price from £130 to £190 overnight. That's almost impossible for the cleaning place to absorb without raising prices. In addition, as the cost of living sky rockets, people who used to have their car washed once a week only get them done once a month (that could be me actually), etc.
So prices are going up for materials, wages still need to be paid, but there is significantly less custom than there was in the past. So I wouldn't say it's an absolute piss take; it's just a reflection of what's happening with prices everywhere - petrol, food, clothes, all manner of services. Unfortunately, the local car wash isn't immune and they're doing what they need to do to stay afloat.
As an aside, I've tried to clean my car numerous times and am terrible at it, and it takes me ages. I don't mind paying someone to do a much better job in a fraction of the time!
I think it's only the stubborn under stains that are holding my car together....
In reply to Post #11
Food for thought post mate. Thanks for typing.
Food for thought post mate. Thanks for typing.
In reply to Post #10
The unemployment rate fell to 3.7% between January and March, its lowest for almost 50 years, as job openings rose to a new high of 1.3 million.17 May 2022
Are there lots.of stay at homes that can do your mates jobs?
The unemployment rate fell to 3.7% between January and March, its lowest for almost 50 years, as job openings rose to a new high of 1.3 million.17 May 2022
Are there lots.of stay at homes that can do your mates jobs?