Experience at the DIY car wash, please help...

[at7815]

[long post warning]
Ok...so we all know it's love bug season!! I drove about 250 miles today and didn't use painter's tape b/c the weather forecast said it would rain and I was worried it'd be very hard to remove. Sure enough, it didn't rain the whole way!!!

So...I took the MINI to a DIY car wash; I had not been to one of these in ages. I was very uncomfortable using their water pressure system. So here are my worries, is it safe to wash the car at these places?? I brought a bucket and all, but it was pretty hard to use with the way the thing is set up. If I just use their system to wash and rinse and not use a wash mitt, is the probability of swirls lessened because there would be no chance of anything being stock on the mitt???

Thanks in advance... If any of you have had experience with these places, I'd love your input! Oh...I have no access to a hose :(

[gokartride]

Okay I am an expert at this!!! I've used nothing but these facilities for the past four years and recently moved so I'm proficient at two places....or so I think.

One place I use is a really ghetto old-school car wash that actually has a working faucet (free) that I use to fill my bucket. I only use the wand to wet down the car and then to rinse...two cycles at .50 each. Such a bargain!!! Most places don't have a working faucet though.

The new place near my house is working fine, too...it's a little nicer. First, I get shampoo in my bucket and then put money in the machine to start a rinse-only cycle using the wand only. I wet down the car really well and then, letting off the trigger of the wand put the wand in my bucket (if you have the trigger on the pressure is too great initially and suds will go everywhere...ask me how I know). When the bucket is about 1/3 of the way full, go ahead and pull the trigger to fill up the bucket. The high pressure water and your shampoo make the best suds ever. Anyway, once that cycle ends, go at your car w/ the mitt. When finished washing, put more money in the machine for another rinse cycle. It should be plenty long to rinse the car really well and also quasi-rinse out your mitt, bucket and other stuff that may have gotten sudsy. Once that cycle ends its off to dry!! That's how I do it anyway. Eash cycle costs $1.25 so that's $2.50 to wash the car.

[kenchan]

painter's tape is no problem in wet weather....actually it will be easier to
remove when wet... even falls off sometimes when too wet.

i dont like high pressure washers. primary reason is because it splashes
too much and at times even removes wax, pushes dirt farther into the
seals, etc.

i like to use the household tap with a garden hose. i only use the spray
mode during the initial wetdown. otherwise, i just let it flow gently.

[Mark C.]

I used to use the coin-op all the time when I lived in the city and I still do sometimes just for a quick soap and rinse. There is no trouble with the pressure as long as you don't hold the wand right up against the paint. If you are able to bucket wash, I'd use one cycle to soap the car and fill your bucket, then wash and use a second cycle for the rinse.

[gokartride]

Originally Posted by Mark C.

There is no trouble with the pressure as long as you don't hold the wand right up against the paint.

Good advise!!! I'd much rather wash at home w/ a hose...but this just is not an option for me. That being the case, the art is in manipulating available resources for optimal results, making a few compromises as possible.

[tigwantstoplay]

Originally Posted by gokartride

Good advise!!! The art is in manipulating available resources for optimal results..........

I'm the master at this.

"Honey, my MINI is dirty...would you be so kind as to go out and give her one of your super duper wash and wax jobs? I will sooo make it worth your while"

....works every time

[gokartride]

Originally Posted by tigwantstoplay

....works every time

Of that I have no doubt!!!

[at7815]

Thank you for the help

I will take the suggestions into account, and hopefully, after a couple of washes at this place, I will be a lot quicker and more comfortable with the process.