AHHH I hate the rain.

G

G37

New member
I don’t like my car going more than 2 weeks without a washing during the rainy season. More than a few times this year it has rained constantly on and off for two straight weeks. The car gets too much dirt build up to touch without doing a traditional car wash but can’t do that if it’s raining.



I was thinking of going down to the local coin operated car wash and using a pressure washer and just rinsing it down to try to get as much dirt and contaminants off of the car from the previous two weeks.



In quite a bit of threads I have seen most recommend staying away from coin operated washes due to the cleanliness of their water?



Is this a good idea?



Is it ok it that water dries on the finish?



Better that water than all the dirt and contaminants?



Anyone have better suggestions?



I don’t want to do a rinse less wash the finish gets too dirty and even after a coin op pressure wash don’t have a garage to do a rinse less wash I live in a condo community so my garage is an underground structure..
 
Good question. I too usually do the same when there is a good amount of dirt on my vehicle, but if memory serves me correct, didn't you just purchase a foam gun? Why not use that to lather the body and then just use a regular hose to water down any contaminants that the foam may have picked up.
 
SilverCivic said:
I'll take some rain any day over having my car blasted with salt all winter long.
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lmao I know right?

The poor guy would have a heart attack living in the conditions with salt and snow.

I thought I had issues?:rofl:



It's only rain dude, my first car which is still on the road went through 13years (still running great and looks fine) of winter's worst, snow and salt.



And you're worried about rain and washing every 2 weeks? :der: lol

jk, but seriously, chill, it's just rain.
 
kuba said:
lmao I know right?

The poor guy would have a heart attack living in the conditions with salt and snow.

I thought I had issues?:rofl:



It's only rain dude, my first car which is still on the road went through 13years (still running great and looks fine) of winter's worst, snow and salt.



And you're worried about rain and washing every 2 weeks? :der: lol

jk, but seriously, chill, it's just rain.
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I dont have any issues.. I am just a worry-wart extraordinaire...and it seems everytime the car is driven in constant rain for two weeks without being washed I have to spend 30 to 60 minutes after doing a wash donig spot treatements..
 
scanlessfool said:
Good question. I too usually do the same when there is a good amount of dirt on my vehicle, but if memory serves me correct, didn't you just purchase a foam gun? Why not use that to lather the body and then just use a regular hose to water down any contaminants that the foam may have picked up.
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^^ I like this.



sadly i live in an apartment and using coin operated car washes is my only option(still have carport and DA the car in my space). all the ones that i have used if all i do is a spray down, I ALWAYS get hard water spots. However, for washing they get the job done just fine. Yes this is better than letting all the crud sit on your car.



steps i use(4 minute machine):

(1.5min) regular rinse (get wet and any extra dirty places + wheel well/undercarriage)

(2.5min) soap (rinse everywhere for a while, soak MF)

-use your soaked microfiber top to bottom to wipe everything.

(4min) rinse

-dry with MF.



I drive on dirt roads a lot, no scratches or spider webs in the direction i wipe.
 
I've been known to put on a rain coat and wash cars in the rain. Neighbors think I'm nuts sometimes. Don't worry G37 you won't melt! It won't be your best sunny day work, but it will be much improved over the road grime and leave stuck to your fenders now.



I've lived with the snow guys too, so I know that routine too!
 
bigltc said:
I've been known to put on a rain coat and wash cars in the rain. Neighbors think I'm nuts sometimes. Don't worry G37 you won't melt! It won't be your best sunny day work, but it will be much improved over the road grime and leave stuck to your fenders now.



I've lived with the snow guys too, so I know that routine too!
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bigltc, Over the years I have pondered on sevearal occasions to go and wash the car in the rain to remove several weeks of caked on dirt and grime, but the worry of what the neighbors thought stopped me.



When you wash in the rain you dont dry the hose water off the car right? You just let the rain wash that water off?



lostdaytomorrow said:
What exactly is you question? The water from the coin-op will not damage your paint in any tangible way...
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After the car has two weeks of caked on dirt and grime and the rain doesnt stop to get a wash in..Is it safe/OK to go down to the coin op and just rinse as much dirt and crud off and let the rain wash the water off from the coin op or is it better to just do a wash in the rain??.. I say this because twice this rain season the rainy weather didnt let me get in a wash and by the time I was able to wash the car I spent an hour spot treating crud spots.



This problem made me switch my LSP due to the reason that I didnt think it was doing an adequate job of protecting the finish..
 
G37, I use ONR, one panel at a time with 2 towels to dry...just try to go out when its a light rain. lol. Hang in there!
 
G37 said:
Is it safe/OK to go down to the coin op and just rinse as much dirt and crud off and let the rain wash the water off from the coin op or is it better to just do a wash in the rain??.. I say this because twice this rain season the rainy weather didnt let me get in a wash and by the time I was able to wash the car I spent an hour spot treating crud spots.
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Depends on the car wash. If they extensively re-use their water, you may be pressure washing dirt and crud onto your car. Rather than that option or washing in the rain, I'd go to a parking garage and do a ONR wash. A gallon of that stuff is practically a lifetime supply for most people taking care of 1 car, and it probably wouldn't take you much longer than the coin-op.
 
G37- IMO the tough truth at the bottom of this whole thing is that you need some kind of garage/shop. I know, that can be a tall order, but even when I was a kid I was able to rent space for stuff like this. Guess the locale, and a scad of other factors, will make this more/less feasible for different people though :nixweiss



IME, once dirt builds up enough to bother you it will be too much for a touchless wash (of pretty much any type). The self-serve ones can use really potent chemicals that can strip LSPs (or even do worse!), but my wife runs her A8 through them when on extended roadtrips and it's never caused any trouble.
 
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