LukeBme

Hello all, this is my first thread!

I've lived in SOMA SF for almost 2 years now. As I live in a condo my car sits in a garage with no water source. Thus, I have to take it somewhere. I've been taking my 4S to Keatley detailing for their hand washes. For the most part it's been just fine.

Before I lived in the city, I would hand wash my own cars religiously in my driveway. It's something I truly enjoyed doing and would love to get back to it. I know there are coin-op places in the city but I was hoping someone had any suggestions for a nice place that's not so busy and in a decent area. A power source for an orbital buffer would be a bonus! It doesn't have to be in the city either. I'd be willing to venture out a few miles.

Any suggestions?

-Luke

V2Rocket

VW has a very large office/facility in Belmont..maybe they'll let you do it there

Did you think of hand-washing, at the coin-op place?
Use their hose for water but bring your own bucket/soap/rags?

LukeBme

That sure would be nice but I doubt they would be too keen on the idea. One of the downsides of city living sadly.

Spyerx

Ive' hand washed my cars on the peninsula at a self service place off el Camino in mountain view. I use their hose, soap, sprayer, use my own mitt... Just turn the foam on and let it drip on the car, rinse the mitt with the pressure washer. Kinda pain, but it keeps that nasty brush off the car.

The detailing is easy. Get a small generator and find an open parking lot :-)

LukeBme

I never thought to use their soap. I always figured I would bring my own as I wasn't sure of the quality. I guess all I really would need is a mitt, wheel brush and some towels.

The generator for the buffer is a bit more difficult. As I live in a small condo with little storage, I'm kinda limited with what i can get. Best case scenario would be if the coin op had an outlet I could tap into.

KungPao

Luke, I live in SOMA too and have the same dilemma. Any luck so far? I am right with you and have been using the coin op on Harrison. Drop me a line to connect

geemman

There are some pretty shady car washes south of Market that I would not feel safe washing my Porsche at. (as I like to take my time and don't want to keep looking over my shoulder)


I use a waterless car wash for my car even though I have a garage in SF where I can wash with a hose, but I just love the waterless car wash and wax. No water need. You can park anywhere and wash your car. (Example you can park your car at the Marina on a nice day by the bay and wash your car)


I wash mine every 2 weeks and I just love the waterless car wash products.


I use Griots Car Wash and also their car wax. You need to use microfiber cloths that I just dispose of after each wash.


Hope this helps as I too, live in SF.

mikex25

When I lived in the city all of the self service car washes were a dump. The best place that I found was South San Francisco, you will have to drive a bit but it's the nicest one in SF.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/clear-water...-san-francisco

shake1

This is where I go, but I live close to here. I'd recommend going in off hours so no one cares that you use your own bucket and mitt.

I've started using ONR rinseless wash. It does a great job of keeping my car clean in between more deep washes at the clear water coin operated place.

MBLocal

Joined just to post this, but thought I'd chime in. I used to go to the self service car wash off Geary, just past Presidio, as well as the one in SOMA. I brought my own bucket and wash mitt, but to avoid pissing off other customers, I'd rinse my car using the wash bay, then pull around out of the way (there's room to park just to the right of where you pull in, where you don't block any vacuums) and bucket wash my car (I'd bring a couple gallon jugs of water to fill up my bucket so I could avoid using the sprayer, which gets soap everywhere). When you're done washing, just rinse it off in the wash bay again. Never had anyone give me grief, since I wasn't taking up a wash bay when I was bucket washing, plus technically I was paying twice. Met a number of other owners of nice cars who were doing the same thing. This was the easiest way I found of washing my car to my standards while living in the city.

samurai_k

Before I had my own driveway to wash my cars, I used to do bucket washes here. If you go early its not that busy...

Coin-Operated Car Wash
1620 S Delaware St, San Mateo, CA 94402

https://goo.gl/maps/ePKBysoPw1o

Need4S

How about recommendations for a full service hand or touchless car wash in the South Bay or SF?

vg247

irnnr

2010panny4S

I've usually used the coin-op in South San Francisco near Tanforan Mall, I've also used the one on San Mateo. I try to take it on times where it will be less busy where can take my time cleaning the car and using the air blower to dry the car.