Car Washes - Where's the best??

poker-jacks

I've been washing my car in Esso in Cabinteely, which is one of those drag along ones, for years.

They increased the price to €10 for the top wash a few weeks back, which I think is pretty expensive and the quality of the wash is pretty poor. Its brushes miss the windows (driver and passenger) around where the mirrors are. It doesn't remove bird sh1t.......etc.

Can anyone recommend a good value, good quality car wash?? I'm too lazy to self wash..

bazz26

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.

ianobrien

That type of car wash is terrible. It puts small scratches on the paint. Think of it this way, If I go through before you, and my car is dripping mud, that mud is now on the brush. They you go through, and the mud comes off on your car (thanks to the grit, scraping it) and is washed away!

If you are too lazy to self wash, go to a place that has a power hose car wash.

The best is to wash it yourself with a nice clean cloth (not a sponge) and two buckets of water (one to rinse the cloth) and don't use washing up liquid!

MarkN

ianobrien wrote: »

a nice clean cloth (not a sponge)

:eek:

Dunno WHO gave you that advice!

You do not clean a car with a cloth.

cjt156

Lambswool washmitt. Two buckets. Zymol autowash. The odd wax. Very occasional polish. Clay bar maybe once a year.

ciarsd

Best place, is the driveway doing it yourself IMO.

cjt156 wrote: »

Lambswool washmitt. Two buckets. Zymol autowash. The odd wax. Very occasional polish. Clay bar maybe once a year.

Pretty much myself also.

nytraveller

ianobrien wrote: »

If you are too lazy to self wash, go to a place that has a power hose car wash.

Power hose can also remove the paint if setting is too high and user puts it too close to the car.
Self washing is the way to go!

MarkN

Using jet washes for 8 years (albeit my own one) but I've never seen that happen in my life unless you have paint flaking.

drdre

I used to go to cabinteely,Now i go to Top Notch in shankill for a nice hand wash.it costs the same 10 euro but its a handwash and not a machine wash, also you get a tyre shine and alloys cleaned properly.

Seperate

I personally wouldn't let any punter near my car. 99% of them will be using either a dirty sponge & water, or a powerhose that would be almost stripping the paint off your car. The people using powerhoses usualy use chemicals which have bad effects on the paint also. If you have old dirt on the car, the power hose will drive the dirt into the car before moving it around.

As said above, doing it yourself (with the two bucket method) is the only way you can be sure its being done properly.

drdre

Seperate wrote: »

I personally wouldn't let any punter near my car. 99% of them will be using either a dirty sponge & water, or a powerhose that would be almost stripping the paint off your car. The people using powerhoses usualy use chemicals which have bad effects on the paint also. If you have old dirt on the car, the power hose will drive the dirt into the car before moving it around.

As said above, doing it yourself (with the two bucket method) is the only way you can be sure its being done properly.

Ah it all depends on what the person uses.Ive had maguier's product used on my car and i have to say it looks the business.

jimmycrackcorm

I love th jet wash at the Texaco garage beside the foxhunter pub. The minimum price is €2 with which if you are quick you can do a quick wash. that means you can clean your car more often. But best of all, the turtle wash smells of bubble gum and changes colours. Very cool.

blackbox

I'd never use a cloth - just rubs the grit into the paint. I always use a brush with lots of water and a little car shampoo. The regular car gets left to dry ittself but the pride and joy gets chamoised dry.

I don't think washing up liquid is a bad idea as long as you polish afterwards. It's better for for the windows than the shampoo.

dogmatix

Hand washing is well and good but what if you live in an apartment block and it's just not practical to lug buckets of warm water back and forth? The underground car park at my place has no taps and the car spaces are too small to get in and around your car.

Thats why this tread seemed interesting, but so far only a few posters have really answered the OP's question - where is the best place to get your car washed?

Mr.Boots

My ma dose a nice topless wash for a fiver....:p

Seriously....i usually use one of those ones in shopping centere car park....perhaps a bit pricey....but realy only use them when the car is realy dirty ( in winter )
In the summer 2 buckets of warm water will easily wash a slightly dirty car....one with car wash suds......one for rinsing
Here is my "seceret" .....2 sponges!!!!!!
One for soapy washing
One for rinsing
A good Chamois for drying (not a cheap one)

blastman

The tyre place at Blake's Cross has a good jet wash if you're in the north Co Dublin area. Brush washes I wouldn't even consider, no matter how one is supposed to be. Washing it yourself really is the best way.

Seperate

You shouldn't use a sponge or chamois if you want your paint kept at its best.

Both are flat, and so is the paint. They will find grit and rub against each other, then hey presto, you've got swirls!!

Lambswool washing mitt & a waffle weave drying towel should be the washing tools.

If you live in an apartment block, surely your brother or sister or parents or friends can et you use their driveway for an hour?

nialler

€15 - nice wash and dry with chamois from Everready in Donnybrook (beside shell station) well worth it, the lads do a great job. Considering it's €9 for the shell one plus you throw the guy a few quid and he washes it with a dirty sponge from the same bucket all day I think it's great value for money. Then get the full monty from Beacon once a year.

ianobrien

MarkN wrote: »

:eek:

Dunno WHO gave you that advice!

You do not clean a car with a cloth.

What I meant was one of those thick wollen things, but not a sponge. I found that dirk sticks to the sponge.

poker-jacks

drdre wrote: »

I used to go to cabinteely,Now i go to Top Notch in shankill for a nice hand wash.it costs the same 10 euro but its a handwash and not a machine wash, also you get a tyre shine and alloys cleaned properly.

Cheers drdre! Where is this? In esso?

Also, thanks for the replies. But, I'll only hand wash my car in summer. Its too cold and wet to put all that effort in, only to splash through a mucky puddle and ruin all your hard work.

I agree with the poster who brought up the apt car park...

What this thread is about is recommendations for Good Value, Good Quality drive through washes....

drdre

poker-jacks wrote: »

Cheers drdre! Where is this? In esso?

Also, thanks for the replies. But, I'll only hand wash my car in summer. Its too cold and wet to put all that effort in, only to splash through a mucky puddle and ruin all your hard work.

I agree with the poster who brought up the apt car park...

What this thread is about is recommendations for Good Value, Good Quality drive through washes....

Nah its a place called Top Notch in the BBQ Centre on main street shankill going towards bray.

Volvoboy

Statoil on the Howth Rd, €5 a wash, in a automatic car wash, it does the biz, that said i'm very fussy about driving a dirty car, even road dust doesnt be on my car for more than 3 days witout a wash.


-VB-

Atomic Pineapple

if your ever passing through ardee then theres a attended car wash there, €6 for a car and its a great job, car is alaways shining afterwards and you get your alloys cleaned too. they do spend about 15 minutes washing the car, highly reccomended

its beside the esso station on the collon, slane, dublin road (N2)

MarkN

Lads I know this is about car washes but I can't sit back and watch someone tell you to wash your car with fairy liquid, cause it's good for the glass and then to polish it after! FFS like, the salt in washing up liquid will strip any wax off the car, WHAT it has to do with glass I dunno and then to POLISH the car and cut through another layer of top coat!? Niiiiice.

poker-jacks

MarkN wrote: »

Lads I know this is about car washes but I can't sit back and watch someone tell you to wash your car with fairy liquid, cause it's good for the glass and then to polish it after! FFS like, the salt in washing up liquid will strip any wax off the car, WHAT it has to do with glass I dunno and then to POLISH the car and cut through another layer of top coat!? Niiiiice.

Won't be doing this.............:rolleyes:

Rowley Birkin QC

For anyone outside the pale there is a self service car wash between Ballymahon and Longford.

€5 and no time limit on how long you can use the foam/power lance/wax etc.

steel serpent

There's a place along the canal, after the Rathmines turn off. Purpose built with a few car washing bays. Haven't used them yet so can't advise on price but it looks interesting. Loads of places like that in Australia, in Perth anyway. Anyone have any feedback on these guys?

The garage in Foxrock village is also good, can be very busy though - especially over weekends.

High&Low

I'd also recommend the Texaco in Foxrock village

poker-jacks

High&Low wrote: »

I'd also recommend the Texaco in Foxrock village

Is it not really expensive??

lightening

Can someone go throught the "two bucket" system? Thanks.

Anyone know the best way to clean the inside of your windscreen?

High&Low

poker-jacks wrote: »

Is it not really expensive??

Can't remember exactly how much it is, but they also chamois it dry after. Much, much better than a brush wash, can't believe they are charging €10 for that.

You could also get your car washed in the Texaco in clonkeen, €6 for a car (lance), you can do it yourself or one the guys who works there will do it.

cjt156

lightening wrote: »

Can someone go throught the "two bucket" system? Thanks.

Anyone know the best way to clean the inside of your windscreen?

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.

jkav

Hi All, If any of ye pass through Wexford call to Kavanagh's Ferrybank or Rocklands and you can see a proper hand car wash in operation.

Car €7
Jeep €10
Van €10

drdre

jkav wrote: »

Hi All, If any of ye pass through Wexford call to Kavanagh's Ferrybank or Rocklands and you can see a proper hand car wash in operation.

Car €7
Jeep €10
Van €10

It sounds like you work for them

jkav

drdre wrote: »

It sounds like you work for them

I own them, just got fed up with brush washes, touchless and rough handed attendants. Site 1 running 2 years now Fri,Sat,Sun 175 cars a day. Site 2 just opened 2 weeks 70 cars a day all week.

JHMEG

jkav wrote: »

I own them, just got fed up with brush washes, touchless and rough handed attendants. Site 1 running 2 years now Fri,Sat,Sun 175 cars a day. Site 2 just opened 2 weeks 70 cars a day all week.

Jeez there's money in car washes! Time to start looking for sites..

So, what makes your's different if it doesn't have brush washes, touchless or rough handed attendants?

drdre

JHMEG wrote: »

Jeez there's money in car washes! Time to start looking for sites..

So, what makes your's different if it doesn't have brush washes, touchless or rough handed attendants?

Ah you have to have a amazing location with a nice hot wash, easily charge 10 euro in dublin for that.My cousin's has a car wash in manchester and he is seriously making a mint.Cash in hand business (you know what i mean)

jkav

Come visit if u are not 100% happy i'll give u ur money back.

IncredibleHulk

Anyone use Tescos?

drdre

jkav wrote: »

Come visit if u are not 100% happy i'll give u ur money back.

I would love to try your wash but i am abit far away, Im based in dublin.Anyway good luck with it.

Masada

i prefer to do the car by hand but the calafornia wash in statoil howth Rd, killester is one of the best ive been in., they also have good powerhoses in the self service wash and the turtle wax shampoo they use smells like sherbit sweets.,:D
oh, and the cheapest option is only a fiver and cleans the car very well.,;)

Tabnabs

The Texaco station on Newtownpark Ave has a fancy new car wash, €8/10/12. The lads give it a quick hosing down and scrub before you drive into the car wash, hands and feet off all the controls and it guides the car through on a track, very unnerving the first time to see the steering wheel moving by itself :eek:. Decent enough wash, washes under the car too, but not as thorough as a hand wash, but when it's 4 degrees outside and dark...

Seperate

Dyflin wrote: »

The Texaco station on Newtownpark Ave has a fancy new car wash, €8/10/12. The lads give it a quick hosing down and scrub before you drive into the car wash, hands and feet off all the controls and it guides the car through on a track, very unnerving the first time to see the steering wheel moving by itself :eek:. Decent enough wash, washes under the car too, but not as thorough as a hand wash, but when it's 4 degrees outside and dark...

Next time the sun comes out, it will look like your car was washed by a brillo pad though. These washes are the worst treatment you can give to your car cosmetically.

jkav

Seperate wrote: »

Next time the sun comes out, it will look like your car was washed by a brillo pad though. These washes are the worst treatment you can give to your car cosmetically.

Dont totally agree with you, even though i have 2 hand washes a fully automatic wash in the southest is in the pipelines. The advances in this area is very positive for a complete clean to Totally safe auto wash.

Seperate

jkav wrote: »

Dont totally agree with you, even though i have 2 hand washes a fully automatic wash in the southest is in the pipelines. The advances in this area is very positive for a complete clean to Totally safe auto wash.

There's no two ways about it...if you put your car through an automatic, or wash with a sponge/brush....you will have swirly paint....

For alot of people, a clean looking car is enough. And thats how you make your (sucessfull) living. But it breaks my heart when i see 40k+ BMW M3's (and the likes) queuing up for auto washes, and 'hand washes' that use dirty water & brushes.

irishpartyboy

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.

High&Low wrote: »

Can't remember exactly how much it is, but they also chamois it dry after. Much, much better than a brush wash, can't believe they are charging €10 for that.

lightening

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.

Thanks a for the advice! All makes sense.

highlandseoghan

I found that the best car wash is the new 1 open in the clarehall shopping center on the Malahide road and they also have one in Artane castle not sure if there is any other ones. but they wash all cars by hand and put polish on tyres and do valeting. I used to pay 110 euro in malahide for it and they do it for 45 euro it excellent and the lads spend loads of time making sure its done perfect.;) excellent service i highly recomend it.

highlandseoghan

dogmatix wrote: »

Hand washing is well and good but what if you live in an apartment block and it's just not practical to lug buckets of warm water back and forth? The underground car park at my place has no taps and the car spaces are too small to get in and around your car.

Thats why this tread seemed interesting, but so far only a few posters have really answered the OP's question - where is the best place to get your car washed?

:DThe best place to wash your car is the new Hand Car Wash at Artane Castle and ClareHall Shopping Center. They do a fab job

Theboinkmaster

highlandseoghan wrote: »

:DThe best place to wash your car is the new Hand Car Wash at Artane Castle and ClareHall Shopping Center. They do a fab job

And you don't own/work for them do you

highlandseoghan

No i just am very big into my car and have spent ages trying to find the best wash. I used to wash it myself but its so expensive and takes me so long to get it perfect. Why should I wash it myself when I have found ssomewhere that does a brilliant job. Im not asking you to believe me but if you are interested in your car and want to give it the best wash ever why not try it. LETS REMEMBER THE QUESTION "WHERE IS THE BEST CAR WASH" WELL i JUST ANSWERED IT.