Do you wash your own car?

I don't think you should be washing yourself in public like that.

In Los Angeles, I routinely used the car wash a couple of blocks from me, and there was a cohort of guys out there to do a quick further cleaning.
When I lived there, there weren't many of the do it yourself places, in my area anyway.
In northern California, in my area, there were only do it yourself places, which I went to occasionally in the lesser rainy seasons of the year.
In Albuquerque, I've had the car cleaned/detailed once. I rarely wash my car now. Once in a while I do the job in the driveway myself.

Yeah, poor phrasing.

2 out of 3 times I take my care through this automatic wash. For 5 bucks it does a good job on the exterior. It's not connected to a gas station, and it doesn't use brushes.
I always make it the first stop when I'm out running errands, since even though there's a drying blower as you drive out, water is still collected around the fenders and such, and driving drys it off.

Today I'm going to stop at a full service wash. There're always flyers that come in the mail for a half off basic wash.
So, for $6.50 for the wash, and a $3.00 tip, I get the exterior and interior done vacuumed and cleaned.

I never bother spending extra for the top coat or spray on wax. Todays cars really don't need it.

So Set, you didn't answer my question.

Wash my car? My goodness - what a concept! It rains a lot and pretty hard here in Sarasota. So when I see the storm clouds looking pretty ominous (at least 3x per week lately), I park the car over the storm grate and soap up the car with some liquid soap and let mother nature takes it's course.

Sure don't want to spoil it.

Oh, i never bathe in public . . . unless you count going in the lake with the little dogs . . .

I pay $4 at the do it yourself car wash during the winter, which is most of the year here. I wash it myself during the nice months, and vacuum when it needs it. I never wax my car, either... waste of time and money. It sits on the windshield forever (I once went through an automatic one where you didn't have a choice - you got the wax regardless). Nasty.

I've never taken it to be cleaned by anyone else.

I keep it pretty clean and tidy on the inside - I hate a dirty, messy car. Which is why I never drive Alex's I bought him a car detail coupon because he'll never clean it himself. Of course, he also hasn't used the coupon

I have washed my car a total of 4 times since I bought it in 03.


though.. to be fair.. about 3 weeks ago i gutted the whole thing, removing carpets, seats and console and cleaned the inside from top to bottom.

I used to use the self service wash. The price didn't exactly go up, but the time per dollar fell off a cliff. I was spending almost as much time chucking in quarters as I was washing. No mas.

Lately, I've been taking it to the drive thru Octopus. Cost slightly more, gives a much better job, and I don't get wet. That's a big consideration in the winter. No extras like wax or tire treatment. Price varies depending on how busy they are. Now, the last time I was there, they had also speeded up the line. 'Bout got a whiplash when it started dragging the car inside. I may have to reconsider this.

On tips; if it's cold and the prep guys at the beginning are helpful, there's a couple of bucks for the jar at the end. If they're grouchy and impatient, well, I can find some other use for the money.

By the way, neither process removes pine sap. I've learned to spot clean with windex before taking it in.

You really shouldn't be going in the lake, where are your manners.

he only goes in the off-leash

things are different there

If you mean, they're all going in the lake, remind me never to swim there.

they claim Blue Flag Beach status



but you have to wonder ...

Wash my own in the driveway with a bucket, sponge and chamois. Use the shop vac for the interior and some Armor All for the vinyl. My wife is about 50/50 between the driveway and the drive through automatic.

As bad, or worse, is that stuff on the cottonwood seeds.

We got cottonwoods too, but my parking place is sheltered by a pine tree.

Yes but weekly

It would be a hell of a fight to get me to wash someone else's... I dont even wash mine . Nor do I take it to a car wash... the dirt is holding it together .

I let my car go for about a year an then get it detailed. It forces me to keep it really clean cause detailing lets you know what a pig you really are.

My car takes a shower from time to time.