I recently moved away to college, and while i have a garage. i do not have access to a water supply. Here is what i propose, i have been used to hose washes and then detailing inside my parents garage. Now my idea is to-go to car wash, hose the car down w/ the rinse setting. Then fill my soap bucket and rinse bucket and use my car soap(nxt), then after rinsing the car off, washing w/ the soap and then rinsing it off and drying. Does this sound good, im somewhat concerned about the high pressure of the water. Any suggestions welcome, i have thought of using qew but would rather not, i also cannot detail in the garage because it is very small, where can i qd and wax? Thanks Everyone
College Detailing
- Thread starter Robb
- Start date
Also look into a product called Quick & Easy Wash (search for QEW here). Requires no rinse and only a couple buckets of water to wash the whole car.
I'm in a similar situation to you (no water/hose access where my car is parked) and started using QEW this summer; it's been great. Was a little nerve-wracking at first with so little water, but it doesn't seem to cause any more paint issues than a traditional wash, so I haven't lookd back.
I'm in a similar situation to you (no water/hose access where my car is parked) and started using QEW this summer; it's been great. Was a little nerve-wracking at first with so little water, but it doesn't seem to cause any more paint issues than a traditional wash, so I haven't lookd back.
l33
New member
Here's my routine at the coin-op, (i haven't tried QEW, a little nervous about it on black and daily driver.)
1. Rinse the car (high stream)
2. Spray wheels, wheel wells with EFHI.
3. Fill up one bucket with soap for wash, one bucket for the wheels.
(water has now run out)
4. Clean wheels
5. Wash Car
6. Rinse Car (high stream)
7. Clean tools.
8. Dry car in bay.
It's key to go an night while the sun is setting or down. First usually no one is behind you waiting. Second the sun will not dry the water. You may have to do it once or twice to get the routine down.
When spraying the car with the pressure washer,
- keep a distance, stand a little infront of the car to wash the back of it.
- Don't spray straight on, more of a 45 degree angle
- Keep the hose moving in a up and down direction so not in the same spot too long.
If you feel the end of the water stream with your hand it's not as bad when it immediatly comes out of the hs
Sounds like a lot, but it really only takes about a half hour and i enjoy doing it, it has become my weekly routine since the hose got taken away at my apartment (was washing my car too much, owner's water bill was up :nixweiss) Then i QD afterwards
1. Rinse the car (high stream)
2. Spray wheels, wheel wells with EFHI.
3. Fill up one bucket with soap for wash, one bucket for the wheels.
(water has now run out)
4. Clean wheels
5. Wash Car
6. Rinse Car (high stream)
7. Clean tools.
8. Dry car in bay.
It's key to go an night while the sun is setting or down. First usually no one is behind you waiting. Second the sun will not dry the water. You may have to do it once or twice to get the routine down.
When spraying the car with the pressure washer,
- keep a distance, stand a little infront of the car to wash the back of it.
- Don't spray straight on, more of a 45 degree angle
- Keep the hose moving in a up and down direction so not in the same spot too long.
If you feel the end of the water stream with your hand it's not as bad when it immediatly comes out of the hs
Sounds like a lot, but it really only takes about a half hour and i enjoy doing it, it has become my weekly routine since the hose got taken away at my apartment (was washing my car too much, owner's water bill was up :nixweiss) Then i QD afterwards
I'd like to add to the above suggestions. Instead of filling my wash buckets at the car wash I bought two 4 gallon paintbuckets w/lids from Home Depot. I fill the buckets with soap and water from my kitchen sink and carry them in the trunk. Since the bucket wont actually fit in the sink I use a large pot to transfer water to the bucket. This way you save money by not having to use your minutes at the car wash.
Your car washing life would be a LOT easier if you used QEW. There are countless threads in the search engine about hesitant black car owners who found QEW to be harmless, and made them wonder why they waited so long to give it a try.
I used to be in the same "spigot challenged" situation you're in, and QEW was the prescription.
Your current routine is perfect when the car is too dirty for QEW, but for most dirty car situations you can't beat it.
My 2 cents...
I used to be in the same "spigot challenged" situation you're in, and QEW was the prescription.
Your current routine is perfect when the car is too dirty for QEW, but for most dirty car situations you can't beat it.
My 2 cents...
l33
New member
To be completely honest, i really don't mind it. I like the high pressure spray for my wheels, wells, underbody and side skirts.
Plus what i don't get about QEW is when i see "if it's not too dirty" how do we measure that?
I don't QD during the week either, unless there is a bird poop or tar spot.
About pre-filling the buckets, IMO there is only so much water you can spray on your car and rinse your car with. I've pretty much got it down to a routine where i know exactly how much to use on each. I only do a final rinse with what water i need so not to soak the car, normally i'm left over with a lot of extra water time.
Plus what i don't get about QEW is when i see "if it's not too dirty" how do we measure that?
I don't QD during the week either, unless there is a bird poop or tar spot.
About pre-filling the buckets, IMO there is only so much water you can spray on your car and rinse your car with. I've pretty much got it down to a routine where i know exactly how much to use on each. I only do a final rinse with what water i need so not to soak the car, normally i'm left over with a lot of extra water time.
I too have water problems. I actually prefer going to the car wash because Missouri water is pretty hard and has lots of chlorine in it. The best time I have found to do a bucket wash is later at night, around 9:00 or 10:00. Here is my routine. I do it in this order to make for the most efficent use of my money at the car wash. Set up is a very impotant key. Usually costs around 7 or 8 bucks.
1) Pour your favorite soap into a bucket.
2) Set the car wash to spot free rinse and then insert just enough quarters to start the time clock.
3) Put the spary gun at the bottom of the bucket and start filling it with the spot free water. You can only fill it so high because of the massive amount of bubbles produced.
4) After filling the bucket I then turn the dial to the rinse setting and spray the car down. (After doing this procedure a few times, you should not have to add extra time to the clock.)
5) I then wash the car top to bottom. Of course I use different mitts for different parts of the car, namely one for the main part of the car and then another for the lower part of the vehicle where most of the road debris forms.
6) The I was the wheel s and tires
7) Lastly, I start the car wash again and start rinsing on the rinse setting. Then I switch to teh spot free rinse setting. I add as many quarters as neccassary to sweep the bubbles away. Just as there is abouta minute left I rinse all my tools.
8) Start drying and then pack up your stuff and off you go.
*This procedure takes me around 45 minutes. It might take you less if your car is smaller.
Hope this helps you water restricted students!_Rayn
1) Pour your favorite soap into a bucket.
2) Set the car wash to spot free rinse and then insert just enough quarters to start the time clock.
3) Put the spary gun at the bottom of the bucket and start filling it with the spot free water. You can only fill it so high because of the massive amount of bubbles produced.
4) After filling the bucket I then turn the dial to the rinse setting and spray the car down. (After doing this procedure a few times, you should not have to add extra time to the clock.)
5) I then wash the car top to bottom. Of course I use different mitts for different parts of the car, namely one for the main part of the car and then another for the lower part of the vehicle where most of the road debris forms.
6) The I was the wheel s and tires
7) Lastly, I start the car wash again and start rinsing on the rinse setting. Then I switch to teh spot free rinse setting. I add as many quarters as neccassary to sweep the bubbles away. Just as there is abouta minute left I rinse all my tools.
8) Start drying and then pack up your stuff and off you go.
*This procedure takes me around 45 minutes. It might take you less if your car is smaller.
Hope this helps you water restricted students!_Rayn
General Lee
New member
Just wondering, You guys don't ever run into people waiting behind you or the Car wash owner/employees telling you not to do it that way?
l33
New member
reyberg said:
Fill the bucket with water 1/2 way first, then add the soap. should solve you problem with the bubbles.
Thats why i go at night. You can't even go in one of the bays at 12-2:30 on a weekend.
I usually go during the early afternoon (12-3pm) when most people are at work. Ive never had anyone complain.
Point taken. The thing is for me the only place I have to do any sort of washing near my house is a busy city street so I dont mind making the trip to the carwash once a week. I will definitely read up on the QEW though.
L33 said:
Exactly! I haven't tried the QEW yet but I wonder the same thing. I guess I've kinda tried the QD thing but I kinda wonder about it too. Primarily I go to the manual car washes with my buckets and supplies and have a routine similar to what other have elaborated on in this thread.
If I knew more about QEW and QD techniques and how to judge if the car isn't "too dirty" maybe I'd be less apprehensive about them.