Splurge on car wash?

[msomnipotent]

We are not allowed to wash anything in the front of our homes in our subdivision and there is no way to get a car in our back yard. We have $2 car washes around here, but they use recycled water that isn't filtered well (sounds like Rennigade's does that, too!). So I usually get a simple soap and spray wash when I fill up my car, which is around $6. I don't bother to wash it too often, except in the winter. The towns out here just LOVE road salt, and then all the slush makes the car disgusting. Even if I could wash my car in my driveway, there is no way I'm doing it in 20 degree, or worse, weather.

I could find a person to detail my car for $15, I would probably do it at least once a month! It is usually $75 or more around here. Even the college kids want $50. For that, I will do it myself.

[~bs]

^

That's crazy. Around here, for around $20-25, you can get a pretty good hand wash. $15 for a machine wash. For ~$50, you can get a really good exterior detail.

[Mjenn]

Yeah our garage is not connected to our townhouse, and there is no water supply connected to our garage so washing the car is not that easy. Yes there is a local garage we could use to wash our car, but working full time, two small kids, and a dog that sheds regularly using the car, I don't consider paying about 50$ every 3 months to get my car detailed a 'splurge' I consider it a sanity check.

This is also why we don't have a yard, but we have a house that fronts on a courtyard that is maintained through our HOA, and also why we have cleaners deep clean the house every few weeks and take DH's shirts to the cleaners because none of us has the time or the desire to spend the free time we have, ironing.

All of these cost money. The alternative is that they cost time. I'm all about savings, but also saving time. And if I pay more to spend more quality time with my family and also get to keep a job where I earn well and enjoy it, and i have the luxury to have such fantastic choices, I'm good. And if others think that's the lazy choice, I'm good with that too.

ETA: It is that often because of kids, dogs, and the time I spend driving to muddy farms to take care of horses.

[PeggyHefferon]

I love the results of having the car washed professionally but almost never do it.

Last year, my wife went out of town for a couple of weeks to help care for a relative. While she was gone I treated her and had her car detailed. I think it was about $15 and it really is worth it. With pollen season upon us, I've been thinking I really need to do it again. Having them clean the whole interior - vacuum, clean the windows, wipe down the dash the console, clean the door jambs - and wash and wax the outside is great. I really should splurge and have it done to both cars a few times a year.

I did a double take to make sure this was a current thread and not one started MANY years ago. I think you are just using different terminology than what is the norm in my area. And I would imagine most areas.

$15 for a hand wash sounds about right, but in my area that would not be referred to as professionally detailed. That is a service that is in the neighborhood of $100 and up.

[disneysteve]

I did a double take to make sure this was a current thread and not one started MANY years ago. I think you are just using different terminology than what is the norm in my area. And I would imagine most areas.

$15 for a hand wash sounds about right, but in my area that would not be referred to as professionally detailed. That is a service that is in the neighborhood of $100 and up.

I think "detail" comes in all different levels. To me, a "car wash" means just that - washing the outside of the car. Typically, that means running it through the automatic tunnel and perhaps hand drying when it comes out.

What I was referring to is more involved. They start by wetting down the car, scrubbing the wheels and bumpers, vacuuming the whole inside, wiping down all of the interior surfaces (dash, console, door panels, etc.), cleaning the insides of all of the windows, doing the wash/wax and hand dry, then doing ArmorAll stuff on the tires, cleaning all of the door jambs, etc. By the time they're done, the car is sparkling inside and out. I mean they aren't shampooing the carpets or dusting the AC vents with Q-tips but they're doing a darn good cleaning job, especially considering the price.

[scfr]

I DO splurge on car washes, 4-5 times a year. I spend either $10 or $25 (including a generous tip), depending on whether I'm doing the interior myself or letting the car wash folks take care of that.

[msomnipotent]

I think "detail" comes in all different levels. To me, a "car wash" means just that - washing the outside of the car. Typically, that means running it through the automatic tunnel and perhaps hand drying when it comes out.

What I was referring to is more involved. They start by wetting down the car, scrubbing the wheels and bumpers, vacuuming the whole inside, wiping down all of the interior surfaces (dash, console, door panels, etc.), cleaning the insides of all of the windows, doing the wash/wax and hand dry, then doing ArmorAll stuff on the tires, cleaning all of the door jambs, etc. By the time they're done, the car is sparkling inside and out. I mean they aren't shampooing the carpets or dusting the AC vents with Q-tips but they're doing a darn good cleaning job, especially considering the price.

is all I have to say, but I will elaborate...

Car washes here advertise "only $25" for hand drying. Just drying the car by hand. That doesn't include tip. Or the wash. You might get a wash/wax at the automatic car wash for $15 if you fill up your tank with overpriced gas and get "the discount". Obviously, it is not the same as the wash and wax you speak of.

[alexander grey]

I use to wash it myself but life got busier a couple years ago (kiddo) and since then I just get a $25 wash and that's it! It's pricey for what it really is, but time is money!

[snafu]

My car is my second most expensive item and I want it to retain as much value as practical. Since our city goes over the top with winter salt/sand/gravel mixes, I try to have it washed after being out in newly spread 'finish destroying' materials. If possible, I line it up with oil change or required mileage care as the dealership does excellent, power car wash and as 'part of the service'.

Condo boards here do not allow vehicles to be washed in driveways. I try to keep track of teens who do spring/summer car wash events to raise money for charitable projects or band trips vaguely in my normal route or nearby church parking lot. Failing that, many of the gas stations/poor job automatic tunnels do $2. - $5. car wash promotions with a fill up. They have big, open spaces to clean rugs, leathers, dash, yank off seat covers, vacuum, spray fabric ceilings etc.

At least once a month in summer, DH takes vehicles to DIY wash and does under the hood detailing.. He's learned a lot from the car jockey's that are over-the-top car pampers