Car Washes - Where's the best??

karltimber · 30-12-2007 11:26pm

cjt156 wrote: »

One bucket of clean hand-warm water to rinse out your wash-mitt, one with your washing solution. Wash from top to bottom, using the solution to wash and rinsing the dirt out into your water bucket.

That way you're not rubbing grit back into your paintwork.

Edit; vinegar and newspaper is the best thing to de-smear windows - takes a bit of elbow grease but nothing will beat it. Makes it much less likely to steam up once its clean too.

I use this method and works a treat. I use Meguiars in the clean water.
I then use a chamois (shammy) cloth to wipe away excess water, so there's no dry water marks on the glass or paintwork.
Really is a nice job.

have a look at their website

Seperate · 30-12-2007 11:43pm

karltimber wrote: »

I use this method and works a treat. I use Meguiars in the clean water.
I then use a chamois (shammy) cloth to wipe away excess water, so there's no dry water marks on the glass or paintwork.
Really is a nice job.

have a look at their website

The camois is letting you down! Get a waffle weave drying towel. It's far easier and better on your paint.

RoundyMooney · 30-12-2007 11:51pm

Right good car valeting folk are hard to find in this neck of the woods.

The results on the Meguiars site, and indeed from some of the users here are excellent, but I have neither the time nor the inclination/skill to try and replicate them at home.

I would pay good money for results of this calibre, as I'm sure would many others.

Any recommendations outside of the pale?

karltimber · 31-12-2007 1:00am

Seperate wrote: »

The camois is letting you down! Get a waffle weave drying towel. It's far easier and better on your paint.

I'll start to use my microfibre cloth instead so, and see if that makes a difference.

thx

for folks with swirl marks on their cars from car washes- they can be got rid of - with Scatch-X or by some of Detail.ie products aswell no doubt.

A good day at your car and it can look smashing.

back to which car-wash so.

E. Fudd · 31-12-2007 2:40am

irishpartyboy wrote: »

I got my car washed in Texaco, Foxrock on St. Stephen's Day. Yes, it is expensive. €11 for the standard manual wash plus €7 for chamois dry and tyre polish. The boy did a very good job in fairness, spent at least 20-25 minutes on it.

Got herself's Mini washed there today, best carwash I've been to so far.

Sully · 31-12-2007 7:02pm

cjt156 wrote: »

One bucket of clean hand-warm water to rinse out your wash-mitt, one with your washing solution. Wash from top to bottom, using the solution to wash and rinsing the dirt out into your water bucket.

Suggestion for a good washing solution / wash mitt?

Edit; vinegar and newspaper is the best thing to de-smear windows - takes a bit of elbow grease but nothing will beat it. Makes it much less likely to steam up once its clean too.

So what, a sheet of news paper with a dash of vinegar (a lot or just a squirt?) and you rub the inside of the window. Thats the best way to prevent the window from fogging up? Driving an 03 Avensis, and Air Conditioning is the best way for me to stop it from fogging up, but it doesnt last very long.

Plus, no matter how many times I wash the car with the power hose / brush when its raining its awful hard to see out the window - the wipers seem to make visibility poor and not better - and there not worn either! Its like there is some scum it drags with it. Very annoying.

Sully · 31-12-2007 7:04pm

RoundyMooney wrote: »

Right good car valeting folk are hard to find in this neck of the woods.

The results on the Meguiars site, and indeed from some of the users here are excellent, but I have neither the time nor the inclination/skill to try and replicate them at home.

I would pay good money for results of this calibre, as I'm sure would many others.

Any recommendations outside of the pale?

Your probably never down this way, but there is a very good valeting crowd in City Square Shopping Center car park. Do an excellent job. Used them once, took a few hours but got the car down inside and out - perfect!

Seperate · 31-12-2007 7:45pm

Sully wrote: »

Suggestion for a good washing solution / wash mitt?

So what, a sheet of news paper with a dash of vinegar (a lot or just a squirt?) and you rub the inside of the window. Thats the best way to prevent the window from fogging up? Driving an 03 Avensis, and Air Conditioning is the best way for me to stop it from fogging up, but it doesnt last very long.

Plus, no matter how many times I wash the car with the power hose / brush when its raining its awful hard to see out the window - the wipers seem to make visibility poor and not better - and there not worn either! Its like there is some scum it drags with it. Very annoying.

Wash Mitt - Meguairs lambswool - About €20 in halfords

Washing Solution - Poorboys Super Slick Suds...only available online. If you have to buy in a shop, Meguairs Gold Class Shampoo.

Sounds like you need to clay your windows. My advice would be to get some APC (all purpose cleaner), give the windows a good scrub with that. Then clay them and polish. Inside and out.

highlandseoghan · 31-12-2007 8:40pm

you should get a good multi purpose cleaner and wash the window and get a good window polish and apply it to the window. dont forget to give the wiper blades a good clean too and too apply a good concentrate into the washer bottle.

Sully · 31-12-2007 8:43pm

Seperate wrote: »

Wash Mitt - Meguairs lambswool - About €20 in halfords

Washing Solution - Poorboys Super Slick Suds...only available online. If you have to buy in a shop, Meguairs Gold Class Shampoo.

Links? Ill buy em online. Appreciated

The local shops seem to sell this "Turtle" brand for outside cleaning and Mr. Armor wipes which are great for interior.

Sounds like you need to clay your windows. My advice would be to get some APC (all purpose cleaner), give the windows a good scrub with that. Then clay them and polish. Inside and out.

Suggestions, and ill buy online? Also, what you mean by "clay"?

Sorry, im not big into cars but I like to keep it clean! So all recommendations for each product etc. would be really appreciated.

Seperate · 31-12-2007 9:29pm

Don't think the mods would approve of me firing out links, I have PM'd you Sully.

poker-jacks · 17-01-2008 1:58am

Will be trying out this "top notch" place in Shankill and will report back...

drdre · 18-01-2008 12:42am

poker-jacks wrote: »

Will be trying out this "top notch" place in Shankill and will report back...

It should be good, Ive never had a problem.What day are you heading down.Is it just for a wash?

poker-jacks · 21-01-2008 4:27pm

Someday this week, prob Thursday. Yeah just for a wash.

Although I did see a 5 Series BMW with "Top Notch" on the back window with a Garda Car sticking out of the side of it in Ballybrack last night. Looked pretty bad!!

liljenny · 22-01-2008 3:37pm

a bucket and sponge always does the job for me it doesnt even take that long like, even the do it yourself car washes in garages are better than the automatic ones

WHITE_P · 05-03-2008 4:19pm

bazz26 wrote: »

I would avoid automatic car washes with those brushes. They wreck your paintwork and tend to pull things off your car like ariels and wipers, in the process.

A self service or attended car wash with a power hose is probably the safest.

But personally I prefer to wash my car myself, weather permitting of course.

x2. Just like retail therapy, only for car enthusiasts. Don't forget to give it a good polishing too.

Bendihorse · 05-03-2008 5:23pm

Super one in Roscommon, drive into a covered shead, two guys armed with brushes (only used on low panels on the car for heavy dirt) and sponges clean your car to within an inch of its life for 8 euro, they have NEVER missed a spot on mine and you get a light spray of polish over it at the end.

quarryman · 05-03-2008 6:07pm

*heads off to Roscommon to drive around looking for a "covered shed"*

regedit · 28-03-2008 9:49am

Just wanted to know what your thoughts are on the morale behind using a power washer. With the greens in power, they have appealed on water conservation etc. I have this Kaercher machine for the past 4 years and it is fantastic. It may waste more water than washing a car using buckets but then again, it washes off the dirt well. In some countries, washing a car using a hose is forbidden (Switzerland) so youy need to bring the car to a dedicated car washing place.

Car Washes - Where's the best??

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