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Haven't been able to wash the cars myself for a month or two now due to watering restrictions.. What's ironic is that if I were to take the car to a self-wash or somesuch, I'd end up using a LOT more water than if I were just to do it in the driveway... :confused:
Here's the City of Richardson's water restriction page:
http://www.cor.net/news/waterconservation.htmw
Yup... same deal in Frisco.
You'll have to remember that those carwashes usually recycle the wash water after each use. If you do the "No Spot Rinse" that's usually where the fresh water comes into play. However, it's usually just nasty water over and over again...
Good to know it's been recycled.. I've been weighing my options to which is worse..
-let the dirt sit on the car longer
-get up reaaal early and wash it
-take it somewhere and damage the clear with some nasty brushes
You could always pay a little more and go to one of those hand wash joints...
I've been using a do it yourself place but just use the high pressure wash and spot free rinse. Better than nothing.
I go to the quater washer with my mitt. I use the foam brush to drip the soap onto the car, but not touch the brush to the car. Then I use my clean mitt to wipe the car and rinse. It usually takes only two cycles if you hurry.
I'm just glad that my dealership uses a touchless car wash, and I can go as often as I like. Free. ::Bleh:: I've gotta wait a couple more months before I can hand wash/wax it anyways ::Censor::
Why is that?Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam Payrot
New paint on the right half of the car.Quote:
Originally Posted by Treibenschnell
Interesting the different restrictions... the McKinney one states that you can not wash a vehicle "with a hose". I called the city and asked if that ment that I could wash it as long as I didn't use the hose (i.e. only used buckets) and they said yes.
The Richardson one states:
You just need to work a deal with one of your neighbors... you wash your car there and he washes it at your place and then the "on owner's premises" doesn't come in to play.Quote:
The washing or rinsing of buildings, vehicles, boats, trailers, other mobile vehicles and equipment on owner’s premises is prohibited.
Yea, that's a good idea.. or in the street. I'd take it to a hand wash place, but with the zaino regimen, I'm sort of OCD about it these days..
As any lawyer would say, "Defend the perspective..."Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave04
Murphy has a similar restriction - I can wash the car with a bucket, but not with a hose, even if I use a low-flow nozzle. Whoever wrote the restriction has obviously never hand-washed a car. :roll:Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave04
I washed the Miata with a 2-gallon bucket the other night. Usually, I would rinse the car with a sprayer nozzle, fill the 2-gallon bucket with suds, wash the car, then rinse it with the nozzle. Even if you figure an entire bucket's worth of water to rinse both times (unlikely), you still end up with a total of 3 buckets used that way, or about 6 gallons of water.
I used 7 bucketfuls of water to properly wash and rinse the Miata, following the letter of the law. Great water conservation measure! :roll: Rinsing the car properly with a bucket is just wasteful, imho. It's a lot easier using a hose, and more efficient as well.
I guess I should just be thankful I can still hand wash my car, even if I have to use more than twice the water I normally would have.
In Woodbine, we have been ask to wash our cars only once a week, and not between 6pm and 10pm. Our water comes from deep wells. Our problem is distribution, not supply. We have been ask to stop all outside water use between 6pm and 10pm. The pumps were working overtime to refill the towers.
I don't think lewisville is under restriction. I just washed my car regardless though.
You're right... Lewisville is not.Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brg
Well for what it's worth a properly functioning full service car wash will only use 3 gal of fresh water per car. Yes the water is recycled, but it is filtered and only used in the pre-wash and first rinse cycle. The final rinse is all fresh R.O. water.
While brushless car washes may sound good they use chemicals that are harder on the cars paint surface than any properly maintained cloth wash system. Now if you are still dead set against using either some car wash companies will perform a hand wash for no additional charge if you show up at non-peak times.
In Irving we are only allowed to wash our cars on lawn watering days. But according to our restrictions we can hand water our lawns at any time. So park the Miata in the yard and wash it. At this point you are really just watering the yard aren't you? ;)
Sounds like Justin is drinking the good old Company Kool-Aid. ::Clown::Quote:
Originally Posted by Flyin96M
Since my folks are in Richardson, I can't wash my car when I stop by for a visit. So, I use a product called Quick & Easy Wash to wash the car under the carport at my apartment. I can wash the car with 2 gallons of water (one wash bucket, one to rinse the mitt) in about 20 minutes. If you can stand the heat you can wash the car in the garage and noone will ever know! ;)
There's also Optimum No Rinse, which I haven't tried yet.
I guess I should have said that they use a soaker and power washer to get all the dirt off.... They don't run it through a machine, it's still a "hand" wash place, they just don't use their hands ::Clown::Quote:
Originally Posted by Flyin96M
You guys could ask AJ... I used to carry ~$300 worth of cleaning products for my car. That's slowly dwindling down as I am soon going to replace all of my stuff with a new product. Hopefully sometime in October I'll have it all and will post some pics after a good detail ::Humpy:: From what I've seen of the results, this stuff really works and lasts a lot longer than some of the other big brands.
Back on topic... I haven't actually washed my car myself since I bought it (it gets the free wash about every other week). The next apartment over from us does have a self-wash station that I'll probably use. It sucks not having a house to wash your car at :rolleyes:
farphle Optimum is a very good brand, that might be worth a try. The stuff that I hope to get soon is made by them ;)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam Payrot
wtf?
I try to buy professional products... I have swirl removers, light/med/heavy scratch removers. Paint cleaners, scrubbers, etc etc. Metal polishers, degreasers and stuff of that nature. Plus all the stuff for interiors (carpet shampoo, leather shampoo/conditioner, vinyl cleaner)... The list really goes on. I have like 2 boxes worth of stuff right now, most of the bottles are nearly used up.Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brg
It adds up quick.
And FWIW, the longest I spent detailing my car was split between 2 days, ~12-14 hours of work. That's getting down to using q-tips for all the nooks and crannies. And that was on a Miata. I haven't really detailed a larger car similarly, yet. I'm just glad that I'm starting on a new car with no paint problems (well, other than being repainted already).
screw that. I can't deal with stress like that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam Payrot
I don't mind when I don't have anything to do. Back then, I had a lot of free time. Not so much any more.Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brg
Adam, I'm with you.
It's a blast when you have the time and the products!!
In fact I probably have about $200 worth of cleaning supplies in my garage right now.
P.S. We need to go for another drive soon after I get my car in working order.