Each car owner has the warmest feelings for his car. For many men, a car is something special that occupies its own special niche in life, and this cannot be compared with anything. In this article, we will try to tell you about everything related to car washing: how to wash a car at a car wash, how to wash it yourself and what is needed for this.
The content of the article: Any car owner who respects himself and loves his car always tries to keep his car in order, because it is not for nothing that they say that a car is a person's face. Indeed, if the car is always clean, then this indicates that its owner loves cleanliness and order, but if the car is constantly in a dirty state, then this does not say anything good about its owner.
When to wash your car
Many drivers, especially beginners, are interested in: when it is necessary to wash the car and how often it can be done. Experienced drivers are interested in this issue from the other side. If beginners are interested in this, because they do not know the answer to this question, then experienced drivers are more interested in this issue for safety reasons. Safety lies in the fact that when washing a car at a car wash, it is subjected to high water pressure, and very complex auto chemicals are used - which raises the question of how often you can wash a car so as not to spoil paintwork. Really, great pressure water and the pressure of which is supplied to the car do not affect the car body in the best way, and the car chemicals used for this, despite the fact that, although it effectively cleans the car body from dirt, nevertheless, it negatively affects the paintwork surface of the body.How often should you wash your car in the summer?
On the Internet, on many resources, quite often motorists talk about how to wash a car in the warm season. Of course, you will not find an unambiguous answer - everyone must decide for himself, but with the help of some facts and hypotheses given by us, you can make the right decision for yourself.
Personally, we believe that the car should be washed when you yourself consider it necessary. Well, you must admit, driving a dirty car just because, because of auto chemicals, the paint can theoretically fade or, on the contrary, fade - this is somehow not logical. Although a car is something special for many, it is not for life, according to statistics, every third Russian changes a car every 5 years, every second time in 10 years, those who keep their car for life are very few . Operating a car for more than 5 years, various damages will appear on its body and without exposure to auto chemicals: small dents from road stones, corrosion, scratches and much more. Based on this, auto chemicals and high water pressure are not so terrible, compared to natural damage to the body. Therefore, it makes no sense to wait until someone writes the phrase: “Wash me” on a dirty car body.
Some people wash their car every day, whether it's dirty or not. Someone washes the car as soon as dust appears on it or after the past rain, when dust stains appeared on it. Well, someone washes a car when it gets very dirty. In any case, proceed from your personal preferences, employment and weather conditions when deciding this issue.
How often should you wash your car in winter?
Another question that motorists often ask is how often you need to wash your car. This question is asked for two reasons: is it even advisable to wash the car in winter period and how badly it affects the car.
The answer to this question must also be given by each person for himself. As a rule, in winter, the car must be washed in accordance with the weather conditions: that is, washing the car in heavy snow or during its melting period does not make sense, since your car will become dirty again in a short period of time and all your efforts and money will go down the drain . It is not recommended to wash the car if the outside temperature is below -10 degrees, as washing the body can lead to negative consequences. In other cases, washing a car is even useful, since the reagents that are sprinkled on the road in major cities, have a very negative effect on the car body and therefore it is recommended to rinse it occasionally in winter.
Where is the best place to wash your car?
In principle, there are 2 types of car wash, which have 2 subspecies each. The first type of car wash is a car wash, the second is a self-wash. At a car wash, as a rule, the car wash is carried out by car washers, but there are also car washes that provide their own equipment (when the car owner can wash his car on his own). Self-washing can also be divided into 2 types: self-washing using your own special washing equipment and hand washing. It's difficult, but it's possible to figure it out.
Which of these types of sinks is the best? In any case, washing with special equipment is always better. As for where it is better to wash the car: at the car wash or at home, and whether it is worth entrusting this matter to the washer at the car wash or doing it yourself - you decide. A car owner who loves his car will always wash his car better than a professional washer, especially since car washers were not noticed with special diligence in car washing.
If they allow cash, and you are limited in time - then washing a car by a washer at a car wash is the most best option for you. If you are not limited in time, then self-washing a car at a car wash will give best result. For those who are very pedantic about their car, and strive to ensure that it is always clean and shiny - we recommend purchasing a Karcher household mini-sink, the main thing is that you have a place that has water supply and where you can actually wash the car .
How to properly wash your car
After we've covered when and where to wash your car, now let's talk directly about how to wash your car. Next, we will consider all the nuances of washing in all the options listed above.How to properly wash your car at a car wash
So, let's start with how to wash a car at a car wash: both with the help of a washer and on your own. The most important task in this situation is to find a good car wash, with conscientious workers. To do this, ask your friends about which car wash is the best in the city. Of course, each driver will have his own subjective opinion about the quality of the car wash, so you can only answer this survey correctly for yourself when you try several car washes and compare their performance.
Washing a car by a washer at a car wash
In order for you to wash your car at a car wash, you need to sign up there in advance, as good car washes there is always a queue. Arriving at the car wash, you will have to choose the type of car wash. Each sink has its own names: “light”, “express”, etc., so check in advance what each of these types of sinks includes. As a rule, car washes provide the following services:
- Washing the body with water;
- Washing the body with water, followed by its manual wiping;
- Body washing with car shampoo (foam);
- Body washing with car shampoo (foam) and its subsequent manual wiping;
- Washing the body with car shampoo (foam) and rubbing it with wax.
- Manual washing off of dirt from the surface of the car body with its subsequent wiping;
- Manual washing off of dirt, washing the car with car shampoo and wiping the body;
- Hand washing and body waxing.
In addition to these two main types of washing, you can also be offered additional services:
- Cleaning in the cabin;
- Tire blackening;
- Washing the engine compartment;
- Body polishing.
If you decide to perform a general car wash, then we recommend choosing: cleaning the car interior, washing the engine compartment, contactless washing with active foam, rubbing the body with wax and blackening the tires.
After you have chosen the type of car wash, the washer or administrator tells you which box to drive your car into. Having driven your car into boxing, turn off the engine, shift the gear lever to neutral position and put the car on hand brake. Remove the keys from the ignition and get out of the car, check if the doors are tightly closed. After that, the washer begins to wash the car. When your car is washed, you check the quality of the wash, pay and leave.
What exactly to pay attention to when you are washing a car at a car wash - we will tell below, where we will touch on the issue self-washing car, pointing out some of the nuances in this matter.
Washing your car at a car wash
Here we will mention a few nuances when washing your car yourself at a car wash. To get started, specify what is the payment for the so-called car wash rental, and how payment is made. Each car wash can have its own cost calculation. Someone sets the cost depending on the time, and someone, depending on the time and amount of water consumed - these nuances must be clarified in advance. As a rule, your time at the car wash will be limited, so check this question too. You will also need to pre-purchase all auto cosmetics for car washing.
How to properly wash your car
Now let's move on to the most interesting part of our article, about how to wash your car yourself. If you have bought a household mini car wash and prefer to wash your car yourself, then we will tell you how to do it.How to wash a car with a household mini-sink
The most popular mini car wash is the mini car wash from Karcher. Washing a car with Karcher is very convenient; these household washers can quite successfully replace car washing at a car wash. How to wash a car with Karcher?
How to quickly rinse your car
If you want to quickly wash your car, then for this you can simply wash off dirt and dust: from the body, arches and wheels - with a jet of water from a mini-wash. Whether to wipe the car after that or not - decide for yourself, based on weather conditions, the need and the availability of free time.
How to thoroughly wash your car
The beginning of a car wash begins with rinsing the body with water to knock off the main dirt from it, not forgetting about the arches, wheels and bottom. In order to thoroughly wash the car, we apply special chemical cleaning agents to individual parts of the car. First we apply a rubber cleaner, then a wheel cleaner. Then we apply a cleaner for plastic and plastic. If there are traces of insects or stains on the surface of the body, then apply an appropriate agent to them. Then we leave the car for 1-2 minutes so that the products give their effect and are slightly absorbed.
After that, we put on a special nozzle-capacity, into which we pour detergent for sinks high pressure, this nozzle dispenses water and detergent at the same time, turning it all into foam. A layer of foam is applied to the car with a ladder from the bottom up, after which a second layer is applied. After a couple of minutes, when the foam began to drain, we also wash it off from the bottom up with a ladder, after the foam is washed off, rinse the car very carefully with a ladder from top to bottom. Please note that on pressure washers, the water flow must be directed at the machine at an angle of 45 degrees.
Then we wipe the glass and the car body dry with a special cloth, after which you can apply wax to the car body and grind it. At the end, make sure that there are no smudges and stains. At the end of the wash, you can apply a special ink to the side of the tires, which will give the tires a new look.
How to wash your car by hand
To begin with, completely pour water over the machine from a bucket, or with a hose. After that, dilute the car shampoo in a bucket and apply it to the car. Then rinse the shampoo well and dry the car with a damp special cloth. After that, you can apply wax to the car body and rub it. If necessary, apply ink to the tires and rub it into the rubber.
How to wash your car in winter
Of course, many motorists are interested in how to properly wash a car in winter. Above, we gave several recommendations on this matter, with regard to specific recommendations, in winter the car must be washed exclusively with cold water, since hot water due to temperature changes can adversely affect the paintwork, as well as cause cracks on the windshield.
Before applying shampoo - the body must be thoroughly washed from the ice crust and snow, otherwise there will be no point in such a wash. After washing, the car must be thoroughly dried so that the remaining water does not turn into ice.
What is the best car wash
Means for demons contact washing
If you wash the car with a household mini-sink, then use a special detergent for pressure washers. These products should foam perfectly and have a list of properties that allow you to clean the surface of the car body from various kinds of contaminants as efficiently as possible, as well as protect the paintwork. For bodywork waxing, we recommend using wax with an intense water-repellent effect, which will also provide maximum shine. give preference better means firm Karcher.
Means for contact washing
For self-washing by hand, you will need: a car shampoo for hand washing and a special sponge for washing a car. If necessary, you can use car wax.
For both non-contact and contact car washes, you can use: tire ink, rim cleaner, stain and insect remover, plastic cleaner.
Most novice car enthusiasts are only interested in two questions related to car washing, this is when it is necessary to wash it and where to find the time for this. Whereas experienced drivers know that the issue of vehicle paint safety is more acute. It is it that is exposed to high water pressure and synthetic reagents of car chemicals during washing.
A jet of water directed under high pressure can not only wash off dust from the body, clean dirt from disks and arches, it can also damage the paintwork. Car shampoo also contributes to this. The chemistry included in its composition effectively washes away various pollution, but can also cause damage.
The frequency of washing the car in the warm season
It is difficult to find the correct answer to this question, but there are some facts and plausible hypotheses on the basis of which conclusions can be drawn.
It's safe to say that you need to wash your car as needed. The logic is very simple: there are very few people who drive the same car all their lives. More than half of car owners change vehicles every ten years, and only one third change every five years.
On a car that has been in operation for more than five years, under the influence of natural causes, dents, scratches, corrosion, tar and many other little things will appear. What is the point of thinking about the excess pressure of a car wash and the harm of car chemicals when the vehicle is far from new, and besides, it is covered in dirt.
There are several reasons as a reason to wash your car:
- Daily care, regardless of condition.
- Appearance of dust on the surface.
- Appeared stains, after precipitation.
- Multi-layer pollution after long-term operation.
Everyone is free to choose for himself what is the reason for him to wash his iron horse.
Need to wash your car in winter
The issue of car cleanliness winter time, very difficult. How useful or harmful it is for the car, each motorist decides for himself and is responsible for this.
Most of those who drive in winter wash their vehicles based on weather conditions. If it snows or thaws, there is no point in washing off the dirt. On the same day, it will recover and will have to be washed again.
If the temperature drops below ten degrees below zero, washing the car is even dangerous. Water, getting into locks and cracks, will definitely freeze. At the same time, the locks stop working, you have to warm it up. The sealing rubber on the doors will start freeze and quickly become unusable, and maybe burst.
Where to wash
Basically, car washing can be divided into two options:
- Car wash.
- Self wash.
A car wash comes in the form of a service when car wash specialists service your vehicle. The second option is when the driver uses the car wash equipment and washes on his own.
Self-washing also has two options, the first is when the car is washed using a rag, sponge or brush. The second - using a specialized home washing equipment.
Rags and sponges - last century, it harms the coating, scratches and sets aside stains. There is no point in convincing anyone that special equipment best for washing.
The simple question remains: where to wash? - at the car wash by a professional or in the same place on your own, or maybe buy washing equipment and wash it yourself in the garage, decide for yourself. It is only worth taking into account the small nuances that you may not remember about.
At car washes, there is a constant turnover of personnel, the professionalism of the washer is in doubt, in general, they have never been particularly diligent. They wash cars because they get paid to do it.
When there is little time, but it is necessary to wash, self-washing services on specialized equipment are perfect. Fast and convenient, but you have to pay for it.
But the best option to keep your car clean is to get a Karcher mini car wash. There are only a couple of requirements for this: water for washing and a place where to wash the car.
Now, consider the requirements of any of the options listed above.
Most important factor, in this option - conscientious workers and personal experience obtained at various car washes. If there is no or insufficient experience, we advise you to ask around the familiar car owners who constantly use such services. Ask the most the best car wash what they recommend and feel free to go and see for yourself.
At a car wash that enjoys a good reputation, it is necessary to sign up in advance in a queue. In this case, you should decide which specific services you are interested in. There are various names of services: "express" or "light", it does not matter, it matters what is included in these services. It can be a contactless or contact car wash, or it can include both of these services together.
An approximate list of services at all stations:
- Removing dirt with clean water.
- Removal of dirt with wiping the body by hand.
- Body cleaning with car shampoo (foam).
- Washing with foam followed by hand wiping.
- Washing with waxing.
Contact washing services include:
- Washing the body and subsequent wiping.
- Washing, shampooing and hand drying.
- Washing and waxing.
As a rule, it is customary to offer additional services at the stations:
- Salon cleaning.
- Tires painted black.
- Washing the engine and compartment.
- Body polishing.
The owner of the transport himself determines which services to use: depending on the cost, weather conditions or need, it can be a whole complex.
When they haven’t been to a car wash for a long time, they order the removal of dirt using foam, rubbing with wax and lining the tires with black. The car drives like new, shines and sparkles.
For those who do not like to bother with the beauty of their "cars", a simple contactless car wash is offered, quickly and cheaply.
When it comes to general cleaning or pre-sale preparation, always resort to multiple options. Touchless car wash and active foam - of course. Next comes: cleaning and dry cleaning of the interior, engine compartment, wax and tires.
After choosing a service, drive the car into the wash box. You should turn off the engine, put on the handbrake, and when leaving, close all doors tightly. Only after that the washer can start working.
You just have to wait for the completion of the work, check the quality of the work, pay for everything and leave happy.
Car wash services for personal use of equipment
There are a few things to keep in mind before using this service. You need to find out the cost of rent and what is included.
The fact is that the cost may depend on the time of use of the equipment or on the amount of water spent. The cost may include autocosmetics, and time, very often, is limited. You will have to prepare in advance before applying for such services.
How to wash your car well
The most interesting thing is to wash the car on your own and not at a rental car wash. Car owners prefer to do this with a household mini-wash.
In trade, various devices of various modifications are sold, but the most popular of them are mini-sinks from Karcher. The equipment was designed to to wash your car yourself, quickly and easily, at home.
It is always profitable to turn to branded equipment. In addition to the device itself, additional components and related products of the appropriate quality are offered.
Rinsing
If desired, the motorist can quickly rinse vehicle. Using the pressure of water, not only dirt and dust are removed from the body, the wheels are easily washed and the wheel arches are cleaned of deposits.
Looking at weather, you can decide for yourself whether to wipe the remaining water from the body or not. If there is little time, then it does not matter.
Thorough washing
Such an operation takes a good chunk of time. Of course, you should start with a regular rinse. At the same time, pay attention not only to external dust and dirt, but to go through the wheels and arches with pressure.
To really wash a car with high quality, you need to use several types of cleaning products. We recommend purchasing a tool for cleaning discs, rubber, plastic and plastic, as well as for car paintwork.
The agent is applied to the surface, according to the instructions and left. It needs some time to absorb and produce the desired effect. Then comes the main processing of the body.
For this, a special nozzle-capacity is used, into which a high-pressure washing agent is poured. This device, thanks to physics, turns the detergent into foam. Foam is applied from the bottom up, over the entire surface. One layer is not limited, but two layers are applied.
After standing for a few minutes, the foam begins to drain from the walls, this is a signal. Gradually, holding the jet of water at an angle of 45 °, wash off the foam. Having finished removing the foam, it is necessary to walk with water again over the entire surface, for residual rinsing.
Special rags with microfiber are sold for wiping the surface dry. Using these towels will be very helpful. Before applying wax or polish make sure that there are no smudges or streaks.
To give the tires a fresher look, a special ink is sold. A trifle, but nice.
How to wash in winter
About the need and features winter wash has already been said, but as for the specific recommendation, they did not touch it.
In winter, it is recommended to wash the car using only cold water. sharp drop temperature has a negative effect on paint and varnish. Microcracks appear on the coating, and condensate provokes the formation of metal corrosion. There are cases of cracks on the windshield.
Before shampooing, you should wash off all the snow and ice, otherwise there is no point in shampooing. When finished washing, you need to try to thoroughly wipe off all the moisture, in order to avoid the formation of a crust of people.
How to wash properly
Contactless car wash
When using a household mini-sink, it is necessary to use products recommended by the manufacturer. In this case, they will perfectly cope with the duties assigned to them, namely:
- cope with various contaminants;
- protect paintwork.
For waxing, you should choose a wax with the effect of intense water repellency, it will also give an excellent shine.
contact washing
To wash your car well on your own, you need to purchase a car shampoo with the possibility of manual washing. Apply it using a special sponge. The foam application time is enough so as not to waste it waiting for the action of the composition, you can immediately start rinsing off.
After that, you can safely wax the hood and the rest of the body, if necessary.
Do not forget that in order to facilitate the maintenance of the machine and improve it appearance, you can use specialized tools, such as:
- disc cleaner;
- means for removal of insects;
- plastic cleaner;
- tire ink.
How to wash a car by hand
Before you start washing the car, you need to wet it with water using a bucket or hose. This makes it possible to wash off light dust and wet old dirt to make it easier to wash.
Car shampoo is diluted in a bucket and applied to the body. If you let it sit for a while, the shampoo will work better. In a situation where the car has not been washed for a long time, or there is a lot of dirt, you will have to lather the car again.
After washing off the detergent, wipe the surface dry using a special cloth. Now it's time to polish the body and rub the rubber, if there is such a desire or need.
Now you know exactly how to wash your car without streaks.
It is quite possible to wash your car without streaks yourself. It is not necessary to spend money and time in order for the car to sparkle and be perfect. If you understand the technology of manual washing, in addition to purchase everything necessary for this process, then everything will go "without a hitch." Those who have already tried just rinsing the case and even using car shampoo as a result had a shine, but there were also whitish streaks. The difficulty is caused by dirt adhering to the body or under the wings of the wheels. Here you have to sweat, as small pebbles, grains of sand and twigs begin to scratch the enamel. Dirty slurry itself can damage the hood or doors. Use a brush? And where is the guarantee that it will not cause problems and will not be required after painting and repair? It is for this that you should know how to wash a car without harm to it, without streaks and without additional nerves.
You can wash the car yourself, without contacting specialists
What is another positive aspect of this procedure, besides cost savings? There is no such nervousness that accompanies many motorists when contacting the special service. To carry out manual cleaning, the specialist must stay inside for a long time, but at the same time the owner stands aside. It is impossible to take everything that is there from the car. You will always forget something. There is still a drop of distrust towards all outsiders, even if the procedure is done regularly by the same person. Yes, and then self-washing always better: you can thoroughly wash all the nooks and crannies that are often forgotten in salons.
What you need to wash and where to start
In order for the procedure to be effective, and most importantly, without any extra effort, you should immediately provide yourself and your beauty with everything you need. In addition, the chosen location plays an important role. It’s great if there is a small stavochek nearby, where the supply of water is inexhaustible, but you should stand away from it so that dirt, gasoline and other impurities do not merge back into the reservoir. Also best time for washing evening or cloudy day. If there is a lot of sun, then even in the evening it is better to stand in the shade. Why is this needed? So the motorist provides the car with protection from the dullness of the coating. The sun's rays simply burn the metal while washing and using special products.
What else should be:
| What should be in the arsenal | What is used for |
| Shampoo and glass cleaner | The shampoo gently cleanses impurities, but if you take common remedy for hair, then a whitish coating will appear in any case. Specialized tool prevents it and makes it possible to provide temporary protection for metal, but not for glass. Therefore, they separately purchase liquid for glass and mirror surfaces. |
| buckets | IN this case It's better to have not one, but two. After all, it is impossible to completely wash the car with one bucket. And in the process, it is better to immediately wash off the soapy water with clean |
| Wet wipes | Ensure cleanliness in the salon. They have a soft base, do not contain alcohol and will never leave streaks on the plastic surface. |
| sponge | To wash all surfaces in the cabin and from above, it is better to use a washcloth with large pores. |
| rag | The ideal approach is cotton fabric, but soft. Old things are ideal for this, as they are soft after repeated washings, and also absorb moisture well. Much easier to clean up dirt |
If there are no water bodies nearby, then you will need a hose with running water or you will have to go to the apartment repeatedly to change the water in buckets. Having provided himself with everything necessary, anyone will wash an ideal iron horse.
Correctly start processing with preparation:
- check the availability of all means and devices;
- we arrange everything that we need for washing;
- we put the car in the shade;
- we give the opportunity to cool the paint and the motor (if possible);
- pull out all the mats, as they also need to be washed.
The preparation has passed. It is followed by the main part - the complete washing out of all elements. You shouldn't be afraid. If we take 10 rules as a basis and apply them step by step, then there will be no problems with the purity of the iron friend. Just take your time and keep everything you need close at hand.
First, spray the machine with water from a hose
- Surface washing
Such a procedure as soaking will help to achieve maximum success. If you have a hose, you can spray the car with water. It's worth starting from the roof. If there is none nearby, then buckets are always at hand. full waters. It is better to use warm. It will help to soak the sticking faster. There are two options: becoming a lamb all higher body or with a sponge squeeze onto the roof, and then onto the hood and all other parts. Do not rub, namely squeeze. So the paint is not damaged by dirt.
- Shampoo
It is worth diluting the product strictly according to the instructions that each bottle is equipped with. Still, the concentration is high, and adding a little more soapy liquid can damage the paint surface. As already mentioned: use only specially formulated car shampoo. No powders. They imperceptibly scratch the delicate structure of the paint.
- Sponge
My strictly from the roof, using a sponge. It lathers beautifully and gently cleanses. We descend slowly, leaving no soapy places. Rinse the washcloth each time before dipping in soapy water. This washes away dirt and dust without getting into the solution. By ensuring the purity of the water with shampoo, you can not be afraid of contamination of other places.
Start washing your car from top to bottom
- Door
We open the doors wide open and gently wipe the side parts, but at the same time we do not cling to the plastic trim of the cabin. Only now, when the entire surface is lathered and treated with liquid, you can start rinsing.
- Wash off
Rinsing takes place according to the same technology as soaping: from top to bottom. Just don't use rags or washcloths. Do it either with a hose and high pressure, or pour a few buckets of water. The doors and sides are rinsed last.
Need to know! Fenders are washed with a brush or a strong jet. The brush should not be iron, but at the same time increased rigidity.
- wheels
Once the metal body is washed, we move on to the wheels. They are washed thoroughly to wash off all car shampoo and dirt.
- Rags and drying
Use old rags to dry the entire surface. It is desirable to have not one, but several such rags. As soon as the rag becomes wet, wring it out well. Do not forget that the doorways are also wet and must be dried.
- Rugs
We still have soapy water. It can be used to clean rugs. But first they are doused with clean water, and then soaped. Washing technique repeats technological process washing the car. Don't forget to dry with a rag.
- penultimate touch
What else is left to wash from the outside? Of course, glass. But for this there is a liquid that is used independently at home for mirrors. Saw and rub. Additionally wipe with a dry cloth.
- Salon
Self-service car washes that appeared in large numbers did not leave motorists indifferent: 50 rubles for a couple of minutes of working with a “pistol” seems to be profitable and curious. But it quickly became clear that “self-washing” is less effective than a classic wash, in which the gun is in the hands of a professional washer… Why? This is for two reasons.
Professional pressure washer – very powerful. It is much more powerful than any domestic, garage-dacha. And it's one thing when an instructed and at the very least trained washer-employee works for him, and another thing is for anyone who wants to, sometimes taking a gun for the first time. Careless handling of a water "knife" can cause serious injury, tear off the paint from the body, break the wipers, cut through the hood insulation. What if the kids take it to play? “Samomoyka” is open to everyone… All this may result in legal claims against the owners of the self-service car wash. Therefore, in high-pressure apparatuses on "self-washing" this very pressure is seriously limited.
Thus, they kill three birds with one stone - with a weak stream, the client cannot accidentally damage something in his body or in the car, the Karcher pump works in light mode with an increased resource, and the lousy washing abilities of such a gun force customers to buy extra, extra minutes of work. ..
The second reason Low quality washes in self-service areas - excessively economical concentration of detergent in automatic system. The first “self-washers” that appeared were generally washed with water under pressure, where shampoo was continuously mixed. This useless mode practically did not differ in “efficiency” from a jet of clean water from the same gun ... However, very soon, a full-fledged application of alkaline foam appeared in the mode selection programs, in which you can already fill the body with it, wait a minute until the shampoo works, and only then wash it off with clean water. This option turned out to be more effective, but still weak due to too low concentration of detergent.
Is "self-washing" profitable?
At the time of preparation of this material in the Moscow region, at car washes without particularly bright brand signs, the cost of washing a B-class passenger sedan was 200, less often 250 rubles. This is the price of contactless washing with concentrated shampoo and a powerful full-fledged high-pressure apparatus, followed by wiping the body dry. Moreover, this cost does not depend on the initial degree of contamination of the body, and in the end, after fifteen minutes of flipping through tattered magazines near the coffee machine, you have a clean and dry car.
If, however, a relatively dirty car is driven to a “self-wash” and for the same 200 rubles choose two cycles of 2 minutes each with chemistry and two cycles of 2 minutes of rinsing with clean water, then in the end after ten minutes of running around you will get not too clean and completely wet car, as well as damp shoes and trousers splashed with mud.
Yes, you can wash yourself at the very least. And the result will be clearly better than before washing. However, if the goal is a really clean body, then for a car of average pollution, and even more so - pretty dirty, “self-washing” is most often unprofitable! We don’t even talk about the surcharge for “application of wax” or other nonsense, dousing with “demineralized” water, which is designed to replace rubbing, leaving no traces of drying drops, and the like - this is pure money down the drain.
When is washing beneficial?
And in what cases is “self-washing” beneficial? And it is most beneficial only when paying for one two-minute fifty-ruble cycle. Not more! Yes, this option is not for washing dirty car clean. But this allows, without having your own high-pressure apparatus, to cheaply clean dust from a car that has stood for a long time, knock off fresh damp dirt after driving on primers, or remove snow from the body in winter. In these cases, "self-washing" is fully justified and makes sense.
And even better - stock up in advance a spray bottle in the trunk (universal two-liter garage-garden sprayers with a built-in pump are great) with washing chemicals diluted in the correct, and not liquid-pre-liquid, as suggested by "self-washing", concentration. By applying the composition in advance on the dry body of a lightly polluted car, you can wash yourself very well for a ridiculous 50 rubles ...
Conventionally, the “hundred-ruble option” can also be considered rational, when you pay for two washing cycles separately, fifty dollars, and not with one bill of 100 rubles. First, you knock down a tangible layer of dirt with water, then apply washing chemicals from your spray bottle, wait a couple of minutes and pay for another cycle - wash off the foam with dirt.
visual check
In haste, we put together a simple device for measuring the strength of a water jet from high-pressure washing guns. Structurally, it is a plywood "flag" on a rotating axis, which deviates at a certain angle from the pressure of the water jet. The spring of the household steelyard resists the movement of the “flag”, whose scale indicates the force of the water pressure.
The scale of the steelyard was originally marked with 10 kilograms, but in our case the units of measurement are conditional, not corresponding to kilograms - the standard spring of the steelyard was too strong, and we replaced it. This is not a problem, because we do not need to measure in kilograms, but rather “conventional units” are enough to simply visually assess the difference in the pressure of the Karcher jet in a traditional car wash and in a self-service car wash.
With this "device" we went to explore the nearby sinks. We hope readers will forgive us for the lack of photos. direct process- we felt sorry for the camera, because the spray flew in all directions quite plentifully ... One way or another, the uncomplicated device turned out to be quite efficient and clearly showed the difference between a “self-washing” and a traditional washing. The power of the gun at the self-service car wash turned out to be more than two times lower than at the conventional car wash! The first one squeezed out 4 “points” on the scale, the second - exactly 10. You probably can’t imagine a more obvious demonstration of the weakness and inefficiency of the “self-washing” ...
With the help of this device, we simply wanted to demonstrate visually, and not in words, the difference in the strength of the jet from pistols in a conventional car wash and in a “self-wash”. However, visiting several "self-washing" showed an even more curious thing: at different self-service car washes, the pressure can differ markedly from each other. At three different points, pressure of 3.5, 4 and 5 conditional "points" was noted. Actually, any of these values is not quite suitable for normal washing, but, nevertheless, the difference between the minimum and maximum is very significant ... So if you really use the services of such a service, then at least find one where the jet is more powerful.
Car washing is a regular procedure, which is carried out at least once a week in summer and once a month in winter. For each season, there are certain rules for washing the car. Precipitation comes off a clean body faster, which prevents corrosion.
Many motorists are wondering how often and how to wash their car at a self-service car wash. There are several features of cleaning machine parts in summer and winter. Both the frequency of the procedure and the technology differ.
In summer time
IN summer season car washing is done less often or more often, depending on the weather. In rainy periods, it is advisable to rinse the body every other day, so it is easier to keep the paintwork in its original form. It is better to go to a car wash every one and a half months to degrease surfaces and remove stubborn dirt.
In summer, do not clean your car too often. Once a week is enough. How after long trips, and in case of severe contamination of the body, an extraordinary wash is carried out. If the car is washed too often at home, the surface of the paintwork becomes matte, which is especially noticeable on black models.
In summer, in clear weather, when traveling around the city, you can wash body parts and suspension less often - once every two weeks.
In winter time
The rules for washing a car in winter are different from those of summer cleaning. In the warm season, the car dries quickly even in the parking lot. In winter, the water freezes, thawing only in the garage. Ice and snow can adversely affect the condition of the body - cause rust at welding points, on various fasteners, even on the same part at points with different machining surfaces.
Basic rules for cleaning a car from dirt in winter:
- If the car is stored in a heated garage, it should be washed no more than once every 2 weeks. It is better to wash the car once a month.
- It is not recommended to wash in the evening if the car is left without movement. In the cold, water can freeze on many elements - a cable that pulls the suction, door seals, etc. It is better to clean the car in the morning, before the trip.
- Do not wash on the street. At temperatures below -10 degrees, water quickly freezes without having time to drain, which leads to cracking of both glass, headlights, and the radiator. It is safer to wash your car on warm winter days.
- It is useless to clean the car before a snowfall. During such periods, the body gets dirty very quickly, so washing the car will be a waste of time.
To wash a car less often, it is treated liquid wax. The tool forms on the paintwork protective film, which reduces the impact of ultraviolet radiation, reagents, water and dirt on the body. This tool is used in the summer.
The main thing is to wash the car no more than once a week, make sure that the water does not freeze after washing, and clean it in a heated room.
What areas need to be washed?
Washing the car body is carried out taking into account several important points. It is necessary to knock off surface dirt from it with a high-pressure apparatus. If this is not done, fine sand particles will scratch the surface during mechanical washing. Windows should be washed carefully to prevent minor damage.
The best option is to clean the car both from above and below. Flushing requires the engine, suspension and bottom. Chemicals on the road can corrode paintwork and metal. Since you will have to remove the wheels to fully clean the suspension, it is better to perform the procedure at a special station. The interior is well cleaned before washing the exterior elements. Cleaning is carried out regularly and thoroughly.
How to properly wash your car
It is worth figuring out how to wash a car correctly by hand - in a non-contact way or mechanically, large or small sponges, car chemicals or household detergents.
Brushes are used only for wheels, as they easily damage body paintwork. Household cleaning liquids for mechanical and contactless car wash cars are not allowed. They contain alkalis and solvents that corrode varnish and paint.
Understanding how to wash a car is not difficult - just clean the car from top to bottom, starting from the roof. In the process of washing, they are sent to the wheels. Dry the car with microfiber. Do not use a waffle towel, after several such washes, the paintwork may become dull.
A simple and cheap way to clean a car without water is to use special chemical compounds in the form of aerosols. After applying them, it is enough to wipe the surface with a napkin.
Water temperature
Many motorists are wondering if it is possible to wash the car hot water in winter, because hands freeze in the cold, and cold water freezes faster. It is worth understanding the intricacies of processing paintwork, depending on the season.
Cold water is used to clean the body in summer. You should not start the procedure immediately after a trip or a long stay of a car under the sun. On a heated body, the liquid dries quickly, leaving streaks.
As in summer, in winter, cars are not used for washing hot water. If the car warms up gradually in the sun, then with a sharp effect of heat, the surface of the paintwork is subjected to increased stress. To avoid the need to heat the water, it is worth washing in a warm box. In winter, cold water is used, and not warm, as in summer.
Wash technology
Knowing the features of the chosen chemistry helps to figure out how to wash the car yourself. When using “active foam”, the washer allows it to flow over the body using the AED. Such chemistry cleans while flowing over the surface.
The car should be washed horizontally. It is not recommended to perform rotational movements - they do not allow high-quality cleaning of the paintwork without streaks.
Before washing the car, check and clean areas such as drain holes in doors, fenders, and sills. If this is not done, moisture will accumulate in various cavities, which will cause corrosion.
Car wash technology:
- The washer moves in a circle. After he walks around the car once, the foam will remain on the roof of the car. On the side surfaces it will be much less.
- The driver then walks around the car a second time to wash away any remaining foam and rinse the roof.
- Open the car and wash the thresholds and lower edge of the doors with a small jet of water. With careful actions, water will not get into the cabin, and the thresholds will be cleared of sand.
- Manual car wash is carried out taking into account the “2 buckets” rule. One of them is poured clean water, in the second - car shampoo for manual cleaning. Carry out washing with a large-pore sponge (not foam rubber). Foam rubber cannot absorb small particles such as sand or small debris.
During mechanical washing, direct movements are performed without pressure so that the remaining particles do not scratch the paintwork. The basic rule is to rinse the sponge after cleaning each element. Only then can the shampoo solution be applied to the surface of the body parts.
Bumpers, sills and discs are washed with a separate sponge. For hard-to-reach places (moldings, gas tank hatch, badges and grilles), a brush is prepared. After mechanical cleaning, the machine is rinsed from the HP. Washing car discs is carried out with a brush and a soft sponge. Special wheel wax is used to protect the elements.
It matters how to wash the car in winter and summer. In the warm season, non-contact is applied to a dry surface (except when the car is very dirty). With this technique, surface active substances (surfactants) react faster with a layer of dirt.
In winter, when the car is covered with snow, reagents and salt, the main dirt is first washed off from the AED, and then non-contact is applied. When using only the non-contact method, all contamination cannot be eliminated, but if only manual washing is used, serious damage can be done to the paintwork. It is better to use the non-contact method first, and then the mechanical one.
At the end of the wash, the body is wiped dry. Since the remaining drops of water act like lenses through which the sun burns out the paintwork pointwise. In winter, remove the remaining moisture from rubber seals and from castle larvae.
After the car is washed, the cleaned surfaces are treated with a degreaser. The composition removes asphalt deposits, bituminous drops, greases and oils, fats and crumb rubber. Surfaces are degreased before painting and polishing.
Interior cleaning is carried out before washing the body. So, the dust from the seats will not fall on the cleaned surfaces. After the wash is completed, a special protective compound is applied to the car's paintwork.
How to wash a car
It is strictly forbidden to use household cleaners for washing cars. Do not use laundry soap or detergents for cleaning dishes, tiles, glass. To wash the car, choose a special detergent - car shampoo. It effectively removes dirt and does not damage the paintwork. Dry cleaning shampoo is chosen when washing a car without using water. The EcoDux tool is especially popular.
Hard-to-remove soot accumulates inside the wheels, which cannot be cleaned off with a simple car shampoo. For this procedure, special chemical compounds from the auto cosmetics department. These are substances that contain active elements to eliminate oil stains, rust and soot. Among them, "Cleanol Wheel" and "DISCO" are popular.
Tires and wheels are cleaned with a separate cloth, as these parts become contaminated with sand, dust, metal particles from brake pads. Dirt is removed with a soft, non-abrasive cloth. A vacuum cleaner helps to collect uncleaned residues from the discs.
note
It is worth figuring out how to properly flush different elements of a car, paying attention important little things. For high-quality washing the body is mentally divided into several sections. First, the wings are washed, then the car doors, repeating the procedure on the other side. While the next section is lathered, the previous one dries. All hard-to-reach places clean thoroughly with your hands.
When using a car wash to wash the car, care should be taken to create a large amount of foam. When washing off the foam, motorists usually do not use special nozzles, so you can reduce the water pressure and save the protective film.
If the machine has been polished, it is washed in a non-contact way and wiped with a 3M post-polishing cloth. Foam is not used, since the dirt is washed off easily. new car wash according to the standard algorithm - dousing with water, applying shampoo, dousing, treating with liquid wax, wiping dry.
Wax the car should be treated to prevent the accumulation of moisture and to facilitate the cleaning of surfaces from contamination in the future. Can apply to car ceramic coating, which will enhance the gloss of the factory paint.
As you can see, self-service car washes with simple equipment provide an opportunity to wash your car with high quality without serious costs. Following the technology, you will clean the car from any pollution.
