silly topic - has anybody used those self car washes???

[The Stigenator]

the ones that you pay a $1.50 or something..

I have never used them, but i want to. I dont know what I should take with me. I cant wash cars in our driveway (LA County Water Saving) therefore I either use the automatic car wash at the gas station or use the one at your self car wash.

I dont mind using the hand car wash but once in a while i want to wash my motorcycle too.

So what am I supposed to take and what is available there.. do they just give a hose with water.. or do they give soap and stuff? and you bring your own towels.

help!

 

[Baked]

Do a google for self car wash. I read one that's pretty in depth. Basically they're time limited with 4-5 phases, pre-rinse, rinse, soap, rinse off, wax. Depends on which self car wash you go to. You need to bring your own towels. And do it quick and don't hog the damn wash bay for half a day, there are people waiting.

 

[GenHoth]

Bring towels, soap, bucket and anywhere from $1.50 to about $4.50

 

[JohnCU]

if you dont bring your own towels and just use the power washer then it gets off the bugs and stuff but it doesnt look that great

 

[The Stigenator]

funny i had googled it and didnt find anything interesting.. back to google

 

[daniel1113]

If it's self-service, there will be a sprayer and a scrubber. You select the type of wash you want when you put your coins in (pre-wash, rinse, wax, etc.) and go to town.

Of course, when I use a self-service bay, I don't use any of the supplied soaps/scrubbers. I just bring my own stuff (buckets, towels, brushes, soap, etc.) and use the provided water supply.

A lot of places don't like it when you do your own bucket washing, especially if there is a line of customers, so check for that. That's why I usually arrive at 8 or 9pm. No one cares if I take up a bay for 3 hours at that time of night.

 

[olds]

If you use the brush, spray it with the sprayer first to get the dirt out of it so you don't scratch your finish.
Plus, bring plenty of quarters. You won't finish with the min numbers and it's cheaper to add quarters than it is ti have it run out and have to start over.

 

[Throckmorton]

Don't use the scrub brush they have. It's probably filled with dirt that will scratch your paint

 

[Baked]

Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
funny i had googled it and didnt find anything interesting.. back to google

First result. I thought it explained the procedure pretty well.

 

[coldmeat]

It's the only way to wash your car in my town unless you want to do it at home or have it detailed.

 

[WelshBloke]

Originally posted by: daniel1113
If it's self-service, there will be a sprayer and a scrubber. You select the type of wash you want when you put your coins in (pre-wash, rinse, wax, etc.) and go to town.

Of course, when I use a self-service bay, I don't use any of the supplied soaps/scrubbers. I just bring my own stuff (buckets, towels, brushes, soap, etc.) and use the provided water supply.

A lot of places don't like it when you do your own bucket washing, especially if there is a line of customers, so check for that. That's why I usually arrive at 8 or 9pm. No one cares if I take up a bay for 3 hours at that time of night.

:shocked: 3 hours :shocked:

Wow. I doubt I spend 3 hours in a year washing my car.

 

[Eeezee]

They're pretty rare here in S California, but I've found one nearby after having lived here for a year.

It's much cheaper, and even when I half-ass it my car looks better than when it comes out of a car wash. You pop in your quarters, the machine turns on, and you can use any number of settings (soap, rinse, etc.)

Just spray the shit out of your car until it looks clean. Dry it off with a towel.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: WelshBloke

Originally posted by: daniel1113
If it's self-service, there will be a sprayer and a scrubber. You select the type of wash you want when you put your coins in (pre-wash, rinse, wax, etc.) and go to town.

Of course, when I use a self-service bay, I don't use any of the supplied soaps/scrubbers. I just bring my own stuff (buckets, towels, brushes, soap, etc.) and use the provided water supply.

A lot of places don't like it when you do your own bucket washing, especially if there is a line of customers, so check for that. That's why I usually arrive at 8 or 9pm. No one cares if I take up a bay for 3 hours at that time of night.

:shocked: 3 hours :shocked:

Wow. I doubt I spend 3 hours in a year washing my car.

No kidding, that's some impressive car love. Or excessive, I'm not sure

 

[SludgeFactory]

Sunday morning always worked for me for low/no crowds.
Bring lots of quarters, soap, a bucket, and something to scrub with.
Don't expect their "super pressure" or "hot wax" to do anything.
Check the bay for shit (literally) and other not-so-nice things before you decide to set up there.

 

[The Stigenator]

thanks for the advice.. it works!

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
thanks for the advice.. it works!

You're already back? Did you wait and read any of the advise before you left?
:laugh:

 

[daniel1113]

Originally posted by: Eeezee

Originally posted by: WelshBloke

Originally posted by: daniel1113
If it's self-service, there will be a sprayer and a scrubber. You select the type of wash you want when you put your coins in (pre-wash, rinse, wax, etc.) and go to town.

Of course, when I use a self-service bay, I don't use any of the supplied soaps/scrubbers. I just bring my own stuff (buckets, towels, brushes, soap, etc.) and use the provided water supply.

A lot of places don't like it when you do your own bucket washing, especially if there is a line of customers, so check for that. That's why I usually arrive at 8 or 9pm. No one cares if I take up a bay for 3 hours at that time of night.

:shocked: 3 hours :shocked:

Wow. I doubt I spend 3 hours in a year washing my car.

No kidding, that's some impressive car love. Or excessive, I'm not sure

That's not even a full detail session. Twice a year I spend 8 hours doing a full wash and detail.

Once a month I'll do the "quick" detail, which is about 3 hours.

Then every week I spend an hour or so washing.

I love my car.

 

[LS8]

You mean a wash bay with the pressure washer? Yup, use them all the time. Don't use the brush though. They are great in the winter for blasting crud off the car.

I also do maybe 1 three-hour detail a month and two huge all-day details a year. If you are going to pay a reasonable amount of $$$ on a car you might as well take care of it.

Maybe I am a car snob but I hate riding in a dirty car, mine or otherwise.

The wash bay down the road from me takes credit cards! You only pay for the time you need. When you are done you hit the stop button and it stops billing your CC.

 

[McCarthy]

Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
So what am I supposed to take

Take your car. Rest is optional.

 

[Eli]

Plenty of times, and they cost a lot more than 1.50, unless you can wash your car like Superman.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

Originally posted by: McCarthy

Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
So what am I supposed to take

Take your car. Rest is optional.

Bring wife/so dressed in thin white tee-shirt, and daisy dukes. Come to think of it, I *have* spent 3 hours washing the car. Back before we could afford a washer/dryer, my wife would make going to the laundromat so much more entertaining, she would take 6 loads, but thats off topic isn't it?

 

[WelshBloke]

Originally posted by: runzwithsizorz

Originally posted by: McCarthy

Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
So what am I supposed to take

Take your car. Rest is optional.

Bring wife/so dressed in thin white tee-shirt, and daisy dukes. Come to think of it, I *have* spent 3 hours washing the car. Back before we could afford a washer/dryer, my wife would make going to the laundromat so much more entertaining, she would take 6 loads, but thats off topic isn't it?

I'm guessing what you meant and what I thought are different here!

If not, yeah that would make it entertaining, exhausting but entertaining.