Best way to wash car in college?
Thread Starter
Registered!!
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Rep Power: 0 
Best way to wash car in college?
I am a freshman in college and I am living in the dorms the first year so i have nowhere to wash my car. I go home once a month so i can do it only that often by hand. There are a few "hand" washes in the area. I have visited them and they first use water pressure to get the dirt off, then they rup a mit with soap over it, then rinse it, and then give it a somewhat of a dry. I can dry my own car and clean the windows in the parking lot afterwards, so this is what i have been doing. Should i keep going to the "hand" wash every 2 weeks or would a coin op car wash be better...with my own buckets, soap, and towels of course. I am just worried about the water pressure. The other alternative would simply be to wait every month for when i am home to hand wash it. I live in CA by the way so there is only rain, no snow. Thanks for all the help in advance.
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,402
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City
Rep Power: 276 
They will dry out the paint and any wax that you have on the surface. They use the cheapest soap that you can get and they get it in bulk. You can buy a bottle of Meguiars NXT soap, thats what I use but you can get what you prefer, for probably 12 bucks and it will wash your car 15-20 times. Just make sure you get a notable brand like Meguiars, Mothers, even Turtle Wax brand is better than what you get at a car wash.
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 811 
i goto the coin-op if i'm feeling lazy and bring a cotton towel. i just spray the car with water, wipe off the dirt and spray it again. squeegee dry. but if i feel like it i just fill a few buckets with water and do the same outside in my parking lot. just get a wash mit squeeze water on the car and wipe. then rinse off a section at a time with the buckets of water. squeegee dry and use a mircofiber towel to get excess water off.
Originally Posted by DDragon7
How bad are coin wash soaps?
This is only an alternative if you can not hand wash!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In the NE the ability to hand wash ceases after october.
Spring is comming!!
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 811 that soap strips wax off. after i used it the paint wouldn't bead water anymore. i had to rewax the car and lesson learned. they are very harsh soaps.
Originally Posted by gearbox
that soap strips wax off. after i used it the paint wouldn't bead water anymore. i had to rewax the car and lesson learned. they are very harsh soaps.
what hurts more?
A dirty car with salt/dirt/moist sludge on it.
B clean car cleaned by "harsh"soap.
ain't it great to argue (disagree) about things!
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 811 well there is no wax left so the paint would not bead water in this case. anyway... like i said the car gets just as clean without soap. i almost always use water and a cloth and it comes out great.
Originally Posted by gearbox
well there is no wax left so the paint would not bead water in this case. anyway... like i said the car gets just as clean without soap. i almost always use water and a cloth and it comes out great.
. Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 811 i do all the time just water, who needs shampoo these days? haha jk. ya i know its better to wash with soap but i would only use the special car wash mixes at the store.
I would rather have a slightly dirty car than a car with no wax on it.
I never really wash my car by hand during the winter, I just run it through the mobil car wash. The soap must be pretty decent because water still beads after more than just a couple of runs through it. The soap is also colored yellow, blue, and green which is pretty sweet LOL
I never really wash my car by hand during the winter, I just run it through the mobil car wash. The soap must be pretty decent because water still beads after more than just a couple of runs through it. The soap is also colored yellow, blue, and green which is pretty sweet LOL
Originally Posted by jackburton
I would rather have a slightly dirty car than a car with no wax on it.
I never really wash my car by hand during the winter, I just run it through the mobil car wash. The soap must be pretty decent because water still beads after more than just a couple of runs through it. The soap is also colored yellow, blue, and green which is pretty sweet LOL
I never really wash my car by hand during the winter, I just run it through the mobil car wash. The soap must be pretty decent because water still beads after more than just a couple of runs through it. The soap is also colored yellow, blue, and green which is pretty sweet LOL
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,402
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City
Rep Power: 276
Originally Posted by pon55
paint doesnt bead water,wax does!
what hurts more?
A dirty car with salt/dirt/moist sludge on it.
B clean car cleaned by "harsh"soap.
ain't it great to argue (disagree) about things!
what hurts more?
A dirty car with salt/dirt/moist sludge on it.
B clean car cleaned by "harsh"soap.
ain't it great to argue (disagree) about things! 
Registered!!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Sugar Land, Texas
Rep Power: 0
Originally Posted by rescuer87
I am a freshman in college and I am living in the dorms the first year so i have nowhere to wash my car. I go home once a month so i can do it only that often by hand. There are a few "hand" washes in the area. I have visited them and they first use water pressure to get the dirt off, then they rup a mit with soap over it, then rinse it, and then give it a somewhat of a dry. I can dry my own car and clean the windows in the parking lot afterwards, so this is what i have been doing. Should i keep going to the "hand" wash every 2 weeks or would a coin op car wash be better...with my own buckets, soap, and towels of course. I am just worried about the water pressure. The other alternative would simply be to wait every month for when i am home to hand wash it. I live in CA by the way so there is only rain, no snow. Thanks for all the help in advance.
Thread
Thread Starter
Honda Civic Forum
Replies
Last Post
Jonas Powell
6th Generation Civic 1996 - 2000
1
Apr 16, 2015 11:47 AM
