most dry washing kits that i know of are just that though, meaning
a spray and towel.

 

What are you all's take on the do-it-yourself coin operated recycled water car wand wash places? Any problems?

 

well, the do-it-yourself coin operated recycled water car wand wash places any problems is better than doing nothing, i suppose.

 

Maybe I'm over thinking this; living in the Sacramento CA area and dealing with the government does this to you. I suppose California just could ban home car washing for some period of time. This sure makes the Nomad Pressure Washer attractive. I'm not one that would go to the store and buy water to wash the mini so was thinking about another source. How about that first 10 seconds before each shower when the spigot is on full to start the hot water following? I measured this morning; just under 1 gallon. Take two showers a day and you could collect close to 10 gallons during the week. Small bucket in the shower room, move to a small clean (new) 5 gallon bucket in the garage on your way out the door each morning. Support NAM via OctaneGuy's washer, keep nosy neighbors of your back...yea, maybe over thinking.

 

When it comes to conserving water, I don't think you can over do it. Heck, I remember a product that pulled water from the air to use as drinking water. It was very expensive and used a lot of electricity though, but it was a novel idea, lol.

The water in the store was a suggestion if you want to have spot free water while washing--i.e. no water spots while washing under the sun.

I bet you could go to the gas station and pick up some free water the next time you fill up, lol.

Richard

 

^^^sounds about as efficient as ethanol!

 

I've never been tossed from a DIY wash bay for bringing my own stuff in. I glibly ignore the "no bucket washes" sign, pull my bucket out of my boot that has my mitt, Mystique, Hydro, Clarity, and assorted MFs inside, and get to work.

Now granted, I've only ever done it while traveling, so it's not like I'm a repeat offender or anything where someone could see me coming and deny me service...but most of those washbay places are not monitored or staffed, so I just don't worry about it. I roll up, do my wash, and go on my merry way

 

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...ar+wash+kit.do

that product is what i need i think for my "problem":

i need help getting rid of a sticky stuff that keeps falling down on my MINI all over. it looks like a glue. it seems to me that it is a nectar from a tree coz i see insects usually look like ants stick into it. it is all over my window, front, roof, side doors. pls what product to use to get rid of it. thanks. water won't take it off i have 3 spots still stuck in my windshield, no matter how many times i try to get rid of it by washing the windshield with auto liquid wiper. it looks hardened like a glue. il appreciate the cleaning tips.

is there a store i can buy it or is it an internet only product? has anyone tried? im scared of scratching my MINI. speaking of scratching. does my coworker mean good when he tried to "help" me by scratching that sticky stuff out using his fingernails(!). i swear i wanna punch him in the face.. i think he scratched that part....

 

I suggest you post this as a separate post to get some professional advice from Richard, Heather or others. What you describe sounds like the car is subjected to heavy amount of tree sap. The stuff is very tough on paint because it slowly turns to amber, a crystalline substance, as the liquid evaporates. The best solution of which I am aware is to try to keep it off a well waxed car in the first place and remove any sap that does fall immediately with detailer and a product like Goo Gone. The sap will eat into the clearcoat and the paint if you leave it alone for too long. If this happens you will need to take additional steps to restore the finish depending on the severity of the damage.

 

I've been looking into this just in case. Optimum No Rinse is highly regarded. I don't have any personal experience with it yet, though.

http://www.autopia.org/forum/detaili...-how-safe.html

 

Come to Kansas City and get some of our water. We've got too much.

 

Same here in St.Louis, and by the looks of things large parts of Iowa are flowing here also.

Mark

 

Interesting solution. Anyone tried this?

 

I live in an apartment, and have been going to the local DIY wash for a couple years now. The first place I went had a no-buckets rule, but the 2nd place I went to has no such signage. I go early in the morning when it isn't busy just to be considerate.

I bring:

• 3-gallon bucket
• Sheepskin mitt
• Old chenille mitt
• Meguiar's NXT wash
• Hydro
• 2 gallons of water
• 1 waffleweave MF towel
• 1 old bath towel

1. Put sheepskin in bucket, add car wash, pour in one gallon of water.

2. Put $3 in the machine for 5 minutes of water, spend the first minute+ filling the bucket (you can get lots of pressure, but not much volume so it takes a while), then rinse the car on low-pressure until time is up.

3. Wash all the paint and glass with the sheepskin mitt.

4. Switch to the chenille mitt for plastic trim and wheels.

5. Put $3 more in the machine and rinse for about 3 minutes.

6. Grab the other gallon of water to rinse off as much beaded water as possible, refilling the jug as much as I can before the timer runs out.

7. Pull into the drying area with Hydro and a waffle weave, plus an old bath towel for windows, trim and wheels.

8. Drive home, dry any drips if my waffleweave isn't saturated, otherwise get out Slick and a MF buffing towel to clean up.

It all takes about an hour.

 

that is some thorough instructions for wash bay washing sessions.

 

Tryin' to help out any DIY newbies!

Seriously, the biggest tips are to bring water to pre-fill the bucket because otherwise you'll use up most of your time filling it with the pressure washer at a gallon per minute, and to use the 2nd gallon to rinse off beaded water so you don't go through lots of towels trying to dry it all later (thanks to Octane Guy for that tip).

 

I have been using ONR for the last nine months on my black 911, and on my new Mini for the last couple of months. It works very well and has not left any scratches that I can detect. I mix two capfuls in two gallons of water, and then I have a small spray bottle with a little higher solution which I use to pre-soak the dirty areas. I don't like to let the car get too dirty, so I wash it a couple of times a week and it takes me about five minutes to do the whole car. Even without water restrictions I would have a hard time going back to a regular wash. It is great stuff.

 

Growing up in CA, this is my third major drought I've seen. Rationing is usually enforced by the water rates going up if you use more than your allotment. I found using a bucket and a sponge keeps the water use down to a few gallons. My process is to do a wet-down, then a soapy water sponge-down, a rinse, then dry.

My dad uses a water-less wash for his 280SL, because he refuses to allow water to touch the car, which is a pretty good strategy for an older car. I'll get what he uses and post here.