Question Of The Day: How Often Do You Hand Wash Your Own Vehicle?

I can't remember the last time I saw a neighbour outside his or her family home, cleaning the family car.
There’s good reason for this. DIY car washing is another motoring tradition that’s on its way out. Instead of giving their cars a little TLC on Sundays, many people are doing boot fairs and brunch in the morning, then shopping malls or sports stadiums in the afternoon.

Three in four women and one in three blokes have never washed their cars, according to OSV, the vehicle leasing people. And those who have, do so only occasionally.??Like DIY servicing, repairs and sound system installation, the home car washing ritual is, for the bulk of motorists, now toast.


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Agent009 - 5/4/2015 2:58:47 PM

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Weekly if I can. The cars are never passed through an automated wash facility.

The cars are detailed and waxed every 6 months or so.

monster - 5/4/2015 3:23:27 PM

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You have way too much time in your hands.

leej - 5/4/2015 3:40:22 PM

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I never go to an automated wash either...they absolutely ruin your car. I hand wash every 1-2 weeks, and I also do the clay bar and wax with an orbital buffer twice a year. I don't have to use my car for work, so it stays pretty clean in general.

gkearns56 - 5/4/2015 3:54:22 PM

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Totally agree!! I've never used an automated car wash AND I never let the dealership wash my cars either (after my service is completed). I try to wash my car every 7-10 days; wax at least 1 a month. I've found the best wax for my German cars called Pinnacle Wax. It can only be bought online. Folks who have a black exterior cars (I've had 3 and love em) need to know the secrets of washing a black car without getting all the swirl marks on the car too.

ATrain - 5/4/2015 8:03:18 PM

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Thanks for the tip, gkearns56

atc98092 - 5/4/2015 3:51:24 PM

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The wash I use is touchless, so I am not concerned with those nasty brushes ever touching my finish. I still have to hand wash occasionally, since the touchless washes, no matter how good they are, can't clean everything. In particular, I have to get my small brush out to get into all the crevices in the wheels. No one ever designs those wheels with cleaning in mind!

Agent001 - 5/4/2015 5:19:41 PM

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Never. I'm from California. The hand wash places in SoCal are better than the singles bars for meeting people.

001

ATrain - 5/4/2015 8:00:49 PM

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If she's involved, 5 or 6 times a day...

Otherwise, 2 to 4 cars get washed every week and every car gets polished, waxed and nano coated every 6 months.

HoustonMidtown - 5/5/2015 6:41:56 AM

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Whenever it is dirty....and there are a few sunny days ahead....

jeffgall - 5/5/2015 7:07:42 AM

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Always hand wash. Depends on time of year,how often it rains, and if there is rain in the forecast. I am fortunate to be able to garage all my cars at home, and have a garage at work, which helps. Right now, spring is turning my black car yellow/green with every drive, so I have to wash more often. In summer, I can go longer stretch. Winter is tough - not about to hand wash in 20 degree weather.

leej - 5/5/2015 8:41:42 AM

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Most automatic carwashes use re-cycled water, so even if it is 'touchless', that 'filtered' water is only as clean as the filters allow. Basically you are sandblasting your car. Of course, if you live in the rust belt, you don't have much choice because you have to get that salt of your car...I grew up in that area, and as an auto detail enthusiast, it was challenging!

leej - 5/5/2015 10:54:56 AM

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The worst thing for your car isn't water or rain...it's the sun. Even wax will not protect your car from the sun. The sun will actually melt the wax off your car and have it run down the sides and dry in the rocker panels...I've had that happen after a long hot day in a parking lot here in the south. I got hope and saw this white film all around the bottom of my car...sure enough, it was the dried wax residue that I had applied over the weekend.

gkearns56 - 5/5/2015 1:26:38 PM

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Those "touch-less" car washes aren't any better. Depending on the age of those touch-less car wash drive thru, they scratch the heck out of the car's rims. I've seen so many people's car rims scratched or gashed so badly, I'm wondering if we should bring back the ole "curb feelers" (anyone remember those).

Can we create a blog where some of our users can post their favorite waxes, sealants or auto detailing products. One of the BEST waxes for all vehicles and especially made for German cars is the "Pinnacle" wax products, which can only be purchased ONLINE. FYI - Just search for Pinnacle wax and a couple of websites out of Florida come up.

atc98092 - 5/5/2015 3:51:08 PM

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Well, the touch-less wash I am referring to means exactly that. Nothing touches the car, anywhere, including the wheels. There's no guide track to line you up. You pull in and stop. The wash arms move around the stationary car.

Do they recycle the water? Of course, as do the "normal" car washes. It's required. I'm not concerned that my finish is being "sand blasted" with recycled water. I believe the filters do their job as intended.