Mobile hand wash?
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From: linker Fahrbahn
Mobile hand wash?
Just got a referral from a local performance car shop for a guy that comes to your location and hand washes the vehicle. I have never used such a service.
Thoughts? Risk of ruining/scratching/swirling the paint? Does anyone use a mobile wash guy? Thanks for comments.
Dealers typically have the typical robotic brush-type wash systems, correct?
Thoughts? Risk of ruining/scratching/swirling the paint? Does anyone use a mobile wash guy? Thanks for comments.
Dealers typically have the typical robotic brush-type wash systems, correct?
Last edited by chassis; Dec 16, 2022 at 12:05 PM.
Drifting
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From: Canada
Just got a referral from a local performance car shop for a guy that comes to your location and hand washes the vehicle. I have never used such a service.
Thoughts? Risk of ruining/scratching/swirling the paint? Does anyone use a mobile wash guy? Thanks for comments.
Dealers typically have the typical robotic brush-type wash systems, correct?
Thoughts? Risk of ruining/scratching/swirling the paint? Does anyone use a mobile wash guy? Thanks for comments.
Dealers typically have the typical robotic brush-type wash systems, correct?
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I have thought about using one in the winter. My pipes freeze and I can't wash them. I do agree with the statement above, no one will take as good of care of your own car as you do. Go on and see if they have an instagram. See what time of cars they're doing. If they're doing all Porsches, Bentleys, Audi's etc you know that's a safer bet. Look at the homes in the photos as well, are they big? Nice? You can tell a lot by their customers and who their target market is. If they're washing Hondas and a Chevys in the hood, don't do it.
They also shouldn't be using your water, they need to come with their own....
But yes most dealers have an automatic wash or valets that are making $12 an hour straight out of HS and just want to drive a Porsche...
They also shouldn't be using your water, they need to come with their own....
But yes most dealers have an automatic wash or valets that are making $12 an hour straight out of HS and just want to drive a Porsche...
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My Dealer has a touchless system and will usually wash my car if I want to get a ticket from my SA…not available at times. I live several miles away so would need to do the wipe down in the cold freezing temps. Too much bother!
My personal experience and opinion…..
I always go to a wand wash first in summer or winter to remove grit, sand and as a pre wash. I might use Sonax on the wheels to loosen brake dust first. In winter I take a bucket of soap with me and hand wash followed by a rinse and wipe down at home in my garage. If my car isn’t bad I follow the wand wash with a touchless wash and wipe down at home.
I have a water drain and garage heater but the condensation on windows and rust potential on other things makes a full wash in the garage/shop less than desirable.
Any long term use of a brush type car wash will leave swirl marks on the paint and any black trim pieces. The swirl on the clear coat can be removed to some extent but it’s a lot of work and can’t be done forever.
My personal experience and opinion…..
I always go to a wand wash first in summer or winter to remove grit, sand and as a pre wash. I might use Sonax on the wheels to loosen brake dust first. In winter I take a bucket of soap with me and hand wash followed by a rinse and wipe down at home in my garage. If my car isn’t bad I follow the wand wash with a touchless wash and wipe down at home.
I have a water drain and garage heater but the condensation on windows and rust potential on other things makes a full wash in the garage/shop less than desirable.
Any long term use of a brush type car wash will leave swirl marks on the paint and any black trim pieces. The swirl on the clear coat can be removed to some extent but it’s a lot of work and can’t be done forever.
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I always go to a wand wash first in summer or winter to remove grit, sand and as a pre wash. I might use Sonax on the wheels to loosen brake dust first. In winter I take a bucket of soap with me and hand wash followed by a rinse and wipe down at home in my garage. If my car isn’t bad I follow the wand wash with a touchless wash and wipe down at home.
You should look into a mobile detailer.
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I know that I am SUPER OCD about my paint, every little thing bothers me about the paint if it's not perfect. However by hiring a mobile detailer, you get to yell at someone if it's not 100% perfect. Because if I wanted 98% perfect I would have just done it myself....
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From: Auburn, AL
I use one. Took my several tries to find a quality one. The verbiage on their website/marketing usually speaks volumes.
If the words "buff" or "wax" are used, immediately no. If words like "paint correction" and "sealant" / "ceramic coatings" are used, yes.
Ask if they use a two or three bucket method or a foam cannon. If they stumble on that question, run.
If the words "buff" or "wax" are used, immediately no. If words like "paint correction" and "sealant" / "ceramic coatings" are used, yes.
Ask if they use a two or three bucket method or a foam cannon. If they stumble on that question, run.
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You're scratching/swirling your car. Any HAND wash is reusing the same dirty wash mitts that they just used on the car in front of you. You can't just soap a dirty car, you have to wash the dirt off it before hand or you're once again washing the dirt against the paint.
You should look into a mobile detailer.
You should look into a mobile detailer.
I take two warm water soapy wash buckets, mitt and wash and rinse like I do with a hose just using the wand in place of the hose to rinse the car or periodically clean the glove. No mobile detailer for me…I might wash several times a week in winter. Or I might wait a few days if storms are back to back or roads are still dirty slush from sanding crews. With a detailer you need to make an appointment days in advance? I pick the time based on the road conditions, weather forecast, wind and temperature. We each have different circumstances but I prefer maintaining my own car.
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From: The Woodlands, TX.
You're scratching/swirling your car. Any HAND wash is reusing the same dirty wash mitts that they just used on the car in front of you. You can't just soap a dirty car, you have to wash the dirt off it before hand or you're once again washing the dirt against the paint.
You should look into a mobile detailer.
You should look into a mobile detailer.
I use one. Took my several tries to find a quality one. The verbiage on their website/marketing usually speaks volumes.
If the words "buff" or "wax" are used, immediately no. If words like "paint correction" and "sealant" / "ceramic coatings" are used, yes.
Ask if they use a two or three bucket method or a foam cannon. If they stumble on that question, run.
If the words "buff" or "wax" are used, immediately no. If words like "paint correction" and "sealant" / "ceramic coatings" are used, yes.
Ask if they use a two or three bucket method or a foam cannon. If they stumble on that question, run.
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No swirl marks on my car. I haven’t seen a wand wash in the West that wants you to hand wash in the bay much less furnish you with a glove.
I take two warm water soapy wash buckets, mitt and wash and rinse like I do with a hose just using the wand in place of the hose to rinse the car or periodically clean the glove. No mobile detailer for me…I might wash several times a week in winter. Or I might wait a few days if storms are back to back or roads are still dirty slush from sanding crews. With a detailer you need to make an appointment days in advance? I pick the time based on the road conditions, weather forecast, wind and temperature. We each have different circumstances but I prefer maintaining my own car.
I take two warm water soapy wash buckets, mitt and wash and rinse like I do with a hose just using the wand in place of the hose to rinse the car or periodically clean the glove. No mobile detailer for me…I might wash several times a week in winter. Or I might wait a few days if storms are back to back or roads are still dirty slush from sanding crews. With a detailer you need to make an appointment days in advance? I pick the time based on the road conditions, weather forecast, wind and temperature. We each have different circumstances but I prefer maintaining my own car.
I prefer maintaining my own as well. Just not when they're black cars/trucks. I think you can call up a mobile detailer and tell them when you want them to come, even if it's the same day. I mean that's their job right? Cater to us?
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You can safely do one bucket. I’m about to switch to this method.
That is a good question, although the one bucket method is becoming more popular. You’re still not re-using towels, just using multiple towels ILO one pad that you rinse. Load up the wash bucket with about 10 microfibers and take one, wash a panel or two (however much you can do while rotating the towel and keeping clean sides). Then just throw the dirty towel in a bucket. I would pose that this is safer than even a two bucket method. And easier!
That is a good question, although the one bucket method is becoming more popular. You’re still not re-using towels, just using multiple towels ILO one pad that you rinse. Load up the wash bucket with about 10 microfibers and take one, wash a panel or two (however much you can do while rotating the towel and keeping clean sides). Then just throw the dirty towel in a bucket. I would pose that this is safer than even a two bucket method. And easier!
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From: linker Fahrbahn
One bucket means never use a cloth for more than one dip, correct? No dirty glove. In fact, no glove at all.
Put 10 cloths in the bucket, add soap and water, then wash the car in 10 area increments, 1 cloth per area increment. Throw used cloth in a bucket to be washed in the laundry.
Put 10 cloths in the bucket, add soap and water, then wash the car in 10 area increments, 1 cloth per area increment. Throw used cloth in a bucket to be washed in the laundry.
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From: Auburn, AL
I've only used one bucket for about 5 years, but I'm using ONR (Optimum No Rinse - Rinseless Wash Solution) with The Rag Company's Ultimate Black Sponge for the paint.
For traditional mitt, soap, and water; two buckets is necessary.
For traditional mitt, soap, and water; two buckets is necessary.