Car wash?

arleitiss

Hey, I have never washed a car since it was purchased, so I was wondering is there any basic/simple/quick car washes in Dublin area? I mean that would work late hours? And preferably not too expensive, I just need car to look clean from outside. And how much roughly it costs?

gammygils

Do it yourself with a sponge a bucket of lukewarm water and some 'ZipWax' Total cost.... around a fiver!!

Alanstrainor

gammygils wrote: »

Do it yourself with a sponge a bucket of lukewarm water and some 'ZipWax' Total cost.... around a fiver!!

:eek::o:(:mad::(:eek::(:(

No sponge! Ever!

vectra

gammygils wrote: »

Do it yourself with a sponge a bucket of lukewarm water and some 'ZipWax' Total cost.... around a fiver!!

I would hate to see the condition of your paintwork

arleitiss

Still though, any help? :L
I mean late open car washes? at like 10-11 PM?
I heard some petrol stations have like compressed air or high volume water hoses or something how muich those cost?

Jimbob 83

God i just had the thought of one of those car wash brush lances rubbing down the ST's bonnet tiny stones and all (shudder)

vectra

arleitiss wrote: »

Still though, any help? :L
I mean late open car washes? at like 10-11 PM?
I heard some petrol stations have like compressed air or high volume water hoses or something how muich those cost?

If it is just a rinse you need then go to a Service station and foam with the lance, Leave it settle for a few minutes. Then wash down with the Power wash hose.
Do NOT use Brushes or sponges, They will wreck your paint.

If you want to learn more about how to clean your car properly then have a look at the D.I.Y section.

goz83

If you're not interested in protecting your paint, the carwash I would recommend is the one in the Santry Omni Centre. There is a Topaz Garage that has an auto car wash, which glides your car through on rails. It's the most comprehensive one I know. Cost a tenner. If you said what part of Dublin I might have been better able to help.

arleitiss

Dublin 1.

goz83

If you're in Dublin 1, the closest I can think of at this late hour would be the Garage on Ushers Quay, D.8. There is also a garage on Amiens street and I think it has a car wash, but cant be 100%.

arleitiss

goz83 wrote: »

If you're in Dublin 1, the closest I can think of at this late hour would be the Garage on Ushers Quay, D.8. There is also a garage on Amiens street and I think it has a car wash, but cant be 100%.

And what's the price?
Because today my car really pissed me off, yesterday my friend stained it all, she went swimming in sea, then sat on hood and water from hair got onto: hood, windscreen, headlights, it's not the dirt that stains it, it's the salty water, very annoying even wipers after sweeping during hard rain left the stains.

Mar4ix

i know tesco car wash at malahide shopping center working... but that you have to do yourself with jet wash, in around 6 (3 times by 2) euro could wash pretty easy. I know bit far from D1, but at 11pm there is no traffic, 10 min travel , also could join with shopping at tesco
Your friend must be in very good condition, swim in sea this time.... ... i even wouldnt step in to water

Hay_man

Alanstrainor wrote: »

gammygils wrote: »

Do it yourself with a sponge a bucket of lukewarm water and some 'ZipWax' Total cost.... around a fiver!!

:eek::o:(:mad::(:eek::(:(

No sponge! Ever!

What's wrong with the bucket and sponge ?

How much are Ye paying for a car wash?

ShadowHearth

arleitiss wrote: »

And what's the price?
Because today my car really pissed me off, yesterday my friend stained it all, she went swimming in sea, then sat on hood and water from hair got onto: hood, windscreen, headlights, it's not the dirt that stains it, it's the salty water, very annoying even wipers after sweeping during hard rain left the stains.

Sounds like an intro to some porn movie....

biko

Alanstrainor wrote: »

:eek::o:(:mad::(:eek::(:(

No sponge! Ever!

"Purist" response

If you're interested in learning about how to detail and wash your car OP there is many threads that will help you.
Otherwise just take it to a professional and take their advice. It might be a bit expensive the first few times but once you have all the equipment it's actually nice to wash your own car on a nice day, for a fraction of the price the garages charge.

mailforkev

Hay_man wrote: »

What's wrong with the bucket and sponge ?

A sponge drags any particles of dirt across your paint, get yourself a microfibre wash mitt.

josephsoap

I've always washed my cars over the years with a sponge never had any problems with paint work,

Sure it's a bit of excerise to

vectra

josephsoap wrote: »

I've always washed my cars over the years with a sponge never had any problems with paint work,

Sure it's a bit of excerise to

Are you certain about that :P

corktina

josephsoap wrote: »

I've always washed my cars over the years with a sponge never had any problems with paint work,

Sure it's a bit of excerise to

totally agree...if you damage your paintwork washing with a sponge, then your paintjob must have been pants to start with. Wet well first with plenty of water and then plenty of bubbly stuff and water to wash it....

doctorchopper

there is a hand wash (they do it not you) 24hr place in goatstown think its about 10 euro for a basic wash

gammygils

Alanstrainor wrote: »

:eek::o:(:mad::(:eek::(:(

No sponge! Ever!

When I say a sponge I mean a special car cleaning sponge with no abrasive bits and tiny holes.
I have been using sponges for years. No problem

gammygils

Alanstrainor wrote: »

:eek::o:(:mad::(:eek::(:(

No sponge! Ever!

vectra wrote: »

I would hate to see the condition of your paintwork

My paintwork is immaculate.
Thank you very much!

Jimbob 83

Sure throw afew handfuls of sharp sand in that bucket with the sponges to be sure lads

arleitiss

I ended up hand washing it, tbh I am quite tired, I would rather pay 10 euro to someone to do it,
First I hoovered all insides.
With hand removed all dirt chunks on body,
Washed with some liquid I got from petrol station,
Washed with clean water,
Dried it with towels.
Washed all insides such as windows, dashes etc..
Now I am tired

doctorchopper

arleitiss wrote: »

I ended up hand washing it, tbh I am quite tired, I would rather pay 10 euro to someone to do it,
First I hoovered all insides.
With hand removed all dirt chunks on body,
Washed with some liquid I got from petrol station,
Washed with clean water,
Dried it with towels.
Washed all insides such as windows, dashes etc..
Now I am tired

Sure if only wash it a couple times a year,fine pay someone, but if you wash it up to a couple times a week you just couldn't afford to have someone else do it, plus i'm the kinda person that wouldn't trust them to do it right.

VictorRomeo

I'd never, ever pay someone to wash my car..... you see it all the time.... using the same brush and glove to clean the entire car.... what gets to me most is when you see them washing the wheels with all that nasty brake dust and then back up onto the bonnet.... They want you in and out..... Unless you pay good money to an absolute pro with all the correct potions and tools, then forget it.

I'm not the most energetic of fellows but the right steps can make washing the car effortless...

At a bare minimum for a decent wash;

I use two microfibre gloves and two buckets. One bucket full of suds (Meguairs) and the second bucket to rinse and clean the 'dirty glove' before back in for more suds.

Before that though I spray some bug removal first on the obvious spots. I then snow-foam the car with a Karcher foam attachment and Meguairs then lightly hose clean(always at least 2 feet between jet and car) for a first rinse. Then hand wash as above. It's effortless. Then wheels. Using a microfbre towel I dry the car.

So no swirls, no scratches and a great finish for little effort - just a bit of forethought and some extra steps.

Twice a year I'll clay, polish and wax.

vectra

gammygils wrote: »

My paintwork is immaculate.
Thank you very much!

Unless your car is brand new out of a showrooms it is not perfect.
Even then it can be marred

I can assure you 100% if you car has been washed by sponge/brush there is marks on your paint.

Marcin_diy

arleitiss wrote: »

Hey, I have never washed a car since it was purchased, so I was wondering is there any basic/simple/quick car washes in Dublin area? I mean that would work late hours? And preferably not too expensive, I just need car to look clean from outside. And how much roughly it costs?

nah
don't wash it - sell it and buy a new one too much effort with washing.

Jimbob 83

OSI wrote: »

You wouldn't get anywhere near all that work for €10

Yea that's pretty much a mini valet which would run about €60, was considering getting one today but feck it i will spend the money in Halfords tomorrow instead on some new cleaning gear

arleitiss

probably what annoyed me the most was that it was at midnight So all I could see is where car is wet that's what probably annoyed me when washing it.

gammygils

Jimbob 83 wrote: »

Sure throw afew handfuls of sharp sand in that bucket with the sponges to be sure lads

Where do you live?
The feckin desert????

lad12

Right so this evening with the sun shining i noticed a load of swirl marks on my car! Its black in colour so in the sun it shows up badly! The car is only a year old! I used the two bucket sytem with mitt glove approach when washing it..power hose it down.then wash panel by panel..i wash a panel and clean/rinse the glove in one bucket before proceeding to next panel..thought this would stop swirl marks but im in swirl hell now..just wondering if there is anything else i should be doing? Do ye normally use anything else after washing? Do you use a grit gaurd in one of the buckets i dont use one! Any help would be appreciated? Is there a wax or something? Clay bar? Never used one? Also is a power hose a good idea for rinsing off sudds? Is it likly to damage paint work? Cheers!!

VictorRomeo

All you need to know....

http://forum.meguiars.co.uk/showthread.php?1723-Starters-guide-to-car-detailing&

art davidson

lad12 wrote: »

Right so this evening with the sun shining i noticed a load of swirl marks on my car! Its black in colour so in the sun it shows up badly! The car is only a year old! I used the two bucket sytem with mitt glove approach when washing it..power hose it down.then wash panel by panel..i wash a panel and clean/rinse the glove in one bucket before proceeding to next panel..thought this would stop swirl marks but im in swirl hell now..just wondering if there is anything else i should be doing? Do ye normally use anything else after washing? Do you use a grit gaurd in one of the buckets i dont use one! Any help would be appreciated? Is there a wax or something? Clay bar? Never used one? Also is a power hose a good idea for rinsing off sudds? Is it likly to damage paint work? Cheers!!

you need to sit down with a cup of coffee and read about car detailing,

you need a dual action polisher (200gbp or so for a decent one) and polishing compound to get rid of your marks on the car.

auto shops will charge well for this service.

you have to wash it with a power hose, a few times maybe.

then get a clay bar and after you 'think' its washed you polish it.

after that you would be wise to put on a sealant.


...and make more coffee

TestTransmission

art davidson wrote: »

you need to sit down with a cup of coffee and read about car detailing,

you need a dual action polisher (200gbp or so for a decent one) and polishing compound to get rid of your marks on the car.

auto shops will charge well for this service.

you have to wash it with a power hose, a few times maybe.

then get a clay bar and after you 'think' its washed you polish it.

after that you would be wise to put on a sealant.


...and make more coffee

Wash it with a power hose?Whats that going to accomplish?

Supraman

Looking for a good car wash in Dublin I'd suggest going to elite auto clean .

Fantastic professional service by a real enthusiast for very reasonable money .

http://eliteautoclean.com/?page_id=320

Based in 36-40 Upper Dominick Street Dublin 7.

gammygils

art davidson wrote: »

you need to sit down with a cup of coffee and read about car detailing,

you need a dual action polisher (200gbp or so for a decent one) and polishing compound to get rid of your marks on the car.

auto shops will charge well for this service.

you have to wash it with a power hose, a few times maybe.

then get a clay bar and after you 'think' its washed you polish it.

after that you would be wise to put on a sealant.


...and make more coffee

Power hoses caused peeling on an old car of mine
Never use them since

VictorRomeo

gammygils wrote: »

Power hoses caused peeling on an old car of mine
Never use them since

The powerhose is not there to clean - it's to rinse. So many people, including the guys at car washes, forget that.

You were probably placing the jet too close to the metal...

As a tool to quickly rinse and at a safe distance of about 18" to 24" it's fine.....

Bandara

A power hose powered by a nuclear reactor would still not be able to damage the paintwork on a car. Isnt possible unless the paint is already damaged/creased or the car has been sprayed/resprayed incorrectly.