Car Wash Bays, Watch Your Paint!

ThoR_ · 30-05-2007, 12:16 AM

Hey guys.

Just wanted to warn you that dont know all though im sure alot of you with water restrictions do know. I was bored yesterday and my sisters car was filthy so i took it to one of the car washes and it was packed so i waited the bay i went into a 4WD covered in krap had been in. I picked up the brush and befor i go it onto the paint all this dirt and krap fell out onto the car i was like holy krap. So had to blast it off and blast out the brush. Another guy on here also gave me the same warning. Imagine a nice new car and pushing the brush onto the sand and into you nice new paint on your new XR6 or something. Disaster.

Just wanted to warn the felas!

Glenn.

Stevo · 30-05-2007, 12:40 AM

If i have to use a carwash i always give the brush a good clean before going near the car with it..
You dont wipe your car with a dirty rag anywhere else, same applies here!

51OAU · 30-05-2007, 12:43 AM

yea there should be a warning thing there saying, please give the brush a good soaking before use. or whatever. there is spose to be no muddy vehicles in there because its recycled water.

mustang70 · 30-05-2007, 12:54 AM

phew,least it was just your sisters car..

the_scotsman · 30-05-2007, 01:18 AM

The carwash place near us has a big sign telling customers to make sure they wash out the brush with the water jet first...it's common sense really...but I suppose it's something thats easy to overlook...

ThoR_ · 30-05-2007, 02:25 AM

Man guys rock up there with 4WD covered in mud to the point where you dont know what type of car it is and scrub the car so you can imagine whats in the brush!

I fidn the brushes suck anyway they dont get off stuff thats attached to your paint and dont even really get off bird krap...

AHAHAHAH HAHAHAHA FUNNIEST ONE! my mum had a tiny chip off the front bumper on her new Daewoo and i said i will take it and wash it for her at car lovers and the high presure hoes go under the paint where the chip is and tore a hole strip of paint off. I stood there and scratched my head and went....'hhhmmmm well that sucks' some guy at work fixed it for her for free anyway

**Charliewool** · 30-05-2007, 08:15 AM

Off topic slightly... But I remember years ago when one of the 1st drive thru car washes was opened in Raleigh Rd Maribyrnong. Some dipstick tied a heap of hex nuts to the bristles of the overhead rotary brush. Some poor souls Falcon looked like the bonnet & roof had been shot-peened to bare metal!

Oo_xrsx_oO · 30-05-2007, 08:55 AM

If you value your car you wouldn't even consider using the brush no matter how much you clean it beforehand. Spend a few extra $ and use the high pressure soap and rinse for a bit longer if you have to. If I clean at a car wash bay I just go over each panel thoroughly a few times with the high pressure and then dry it myself. Even better go early morning or later at night with your own bucket, soap and mitt.

LTDHO · 30-05-2007, 09:04 AM

Simple solution, don't use the brush.

**Polyal** · 30-05-2007, 09:20 AM

Or do what I do now and then. Go when no ones around and take a bucket. It ****es them off but whatever, I want to use my products, not there crappy $2 a barrel stuff.

Nashy86 · 30-05-2007, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

Or do what I do now and then. Go when no ones around and take a bucket. It ****es them off but whatever, I want to use my products, not there crappy $2 a barrel stuff.

I would have thought the attendants tell you to leave for doing that? Good idea tho, it beats only washing it when I'm back at the parents farm since they have their own water supply

Falcon_Phill · 30-05-2007, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThoR_

Hey guys.

Just wanted to warn you that dont know all though im sure alot of you with water restrictions do know. I was bored yesterday and my sisters car was filthy so i took it to one of the car washes and it was packed so i waited the bay i went into a 4WD covered in krap had been in. I picked up the brush and befor i go it onto the paint all this dirt and krap fell out onto the car i was like holy krap. So had to blast it off and blast out the brush. Another guy on here also gave me the same warning. Imagine a nice new car and pushing the brush onto the sand and into you nice new paint on your new XR6 or something. Disaster.

Just wanted to warn the felas!

Glenn.

Same thing happened with my XP.. never again.

prydey · 30-05-2007, 09:48 AM

better still, wash your car at home whenever you want.

whenever i used to go to the carwash i'd take all my own gear, whether it was in the middle of the day or not. nothing ever got said. these days, after putting in a rainwater tank i have all the water i need and enough pressure to gravity feed a pressure cleaner.

i only have a cheap gmc thing at the moment and was looking at a karcher yesterday and they suck and pump now. you can use a karcher with a bucket of water.

sure beats the gamble of going to the carwash. much more convenient too.

T3ts50 · 30-05-2007, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

Or do what I do now and then. Go when no ones around and take a bucket. It ****es them off but whatever, I want to use my products, not there crappy $2 a barrel stuff.

Im always a bit paranoid to do that for some reason. My girlfriedn takes a bucket and sponge and says she gets dirty looks from people.

T3ts50 · 30-05-2007, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prydey

better still, wash your car at home whenever you want.

whenever i used to go to the carwash i'd take all my own gear, whether it was in the middle of the day or not. nothing ever got said. these days, after putting in a rainwater tank i have all the water i need and enough pressure to gravity feed a pressure cleaner.

i only have a cheap gmc thing at the moment and was looking at a karcher yesterday and they suck and pump now. you can use a karcher with a bucket of water.

sure beats the gamble of going to the carwash. much more convenient too.

I Live in Melbourne so we cant wash our cars at home

Unco · 30-05-2007, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prydey

after putting in a rainwater tank i have all the water i need and enough pressure to gravity feed a pressure cleaner.

i guess that would work... if only it RAINED!!!

bdennis · 30-05-2007, 09:55 AM

I also take a bucket, my own product, a piece of sheep skin. I wet the car down with the high pressure hose, then wash it like I would normaly at home.. Then rinse off with the high pressure. I only use their water and thats it. I would NEVER use the broom on any car I own..

prydey · 30-05-2007, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T3ts50

I Live in Melbourne so we cant wash our cars at home

did you read my whole post. you can if it's using water from your tank!!

doesn't take much rain to fill either. mine is 2500L and filled with first bit of rain we had.

the_scotsman · 30-05-2007, 10:11 AM

I usually wash at home but if I can't be bothered I'll use the high pressure stations...but take my own sponge...does a much better job and I know it ain't full of crud...

TZENU · 30-05-2007, 10:36 AM

I always take my own sponge and car wash gel...
I think i better invest in a water tank before the government decides to start taxing us for them

castek · 30-05-2007, 10:54 AM

i put in $1. rinse the car, fill my bucket, soap up the car. then when that runs out i wash it down (non-monitored car wash, and when no one is around). once thats done, another $1 and rinse soap off, clean wheels etc and i'm done. drive over to a vacuum bay, chamois it dry and give it a deoderise and bobs your uncle.

**Polyal** · 30-05-2007, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyEB1

I would have thought the attendants tell you to leave for doing that? Good idea tho, it beats only washing it when I'm back at the parents farm since they have their own water supply

HAHAH Funny story

For the Geelong people, the one out near the corner of Anakie Rd/Ballarat Rd, I did the bucket thing during the day and the attendants said nothing about it. Did get a few dirty looks.

A couple of days later I go back for a quick rinse and low and behold, NO BUCKETS signs all over the place...LOL

But if you go earlish morning, or late at night then no one is there;)

joolz · 30-05-2007, 11:07 AM

I would never use a commercial car wash for that reason. Im in Melbourne and when it rains i catch a couple hundred ltrs of fresh rain water and store it. I wash my car at home on the back lawn with my Karcher using all up 30-40 ltrs of water. The Victorian Gov claims an effecient commercial car was only uses 70lts per car. Is there a limit on the money you can put in? Do these commercial car washes use recycled water or mostly fresh (where do they store all this recycled water) U can be sure the Gov would be taxing the car washes heaps for the fresh water they supply us. Do as i do, catch the water and wash at home on the lawn....The rain would have ended up there anyways.

**Polyal** · 30-05-2007, 11:10 AM

Pretty sure its recycled...it smells a bit funky.

But some people like myself have no choice. Im renting and the house as no tank, as if Im going to buy a tank just for cleaning thr car.

Whitey-AMG · 30-05-2007, 11:23 AM

I take a bucket, my own sponge and car wash solution.

I wash the car late evening when the wash stations aren't that busy so I can take my time and I don't delay others.

If anyone gives me dirty looks, I promptly invite them into the bay so i can "wash" the dirt away from their gaze.................

prydey · 30-05-2007, 12:07 PM

can you still fill a bucket from the tap in melbourne?? i know you can't in brisbane (level 5).

if you can, for $99 you can get a karcher pressure cleaner that will suck from a bucket. found this out yesterday when at bunnings looking to upgrade my cheapo gmc unit. all karcher's had stickers on them saying works with a bucket.

Dazza XLT · 30-05-2007, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LTDHO

Simple solution, don't use the brush.

Agreed. I take my own carwash and sponge.

Cheers

needaXYGT · 30-05-2007, 12:41 PM

Quote:

yea there should be a warning thing there saying, please give the brush a good soaking before use. or whatever. there is spose to be no muddy vehicles in there because its recycled water.

the car wash i use is very good with this, but that doesnt make me use the brush. i take a bucket and soft rag.

ThoR_ · 30-05-2007, 12:42 PM

Hows this i went to SuperShit auto and got a presure cleaner called an eKo for 70bucks bit bigger than a footy. My mate also had one befor me and i used it to wash the dirtbikes when we use to come home as we also bought home half the forest. Thing works a treat, dont have a problem and he doesnt either. Its not super high presure but you dont wanna put ur hand infront of it thats for sure.

Daniel · 30-05-2007, 12:44 PM

I’m in se Melb, I take a bucket with some cleaning liquid in it and a couple of my cleaning cloths (don’t use a sponge) I try not to go when they are too busy, but I have yet to be told to take a hike or to use the brush. All the wash bays in my area have signs reading something along the lines of:

'if you intend to use a bucket or sponge while washing your car, please be courteous to others waiting to use the wash bay, please do not dry your vehicles within the bay, move aside so others may use the facilities'.

Seems fair to me.