Would a £50 Nilfisk pressure washer be any good ?

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

That sort of power usually has something on it to adjust it. Vic.

I tried the garage type diy pressure washer a couple of times but wasn't impressed. I suspect Neil tried to blast away the dirt. I don't think that some rubbing can be avoided. That's why I bought the brush. It puts out a wide fan when that is on and it looks like most of the water goes on the brush.

The local jet wash people do a lot of cars. They don't run the nozzle close to the car at any time other than wheels and tyres. I'd say something like 3ft away. They jet wash to remove the loose stuff. Use a pump up spray to put shampoo on. Go over the car then with hands and pads, they do a lot of it so use both hands. Then jet wash the shampoo off. Open the doors and wiper round the sills etc. They also use a wheel cleaner via a pump up spray. They will also leather the car for extra money but I usually drive a few miles. What ever it is they use it doesn't seem to leave streaks or spots.

The shampoo they use seem to be some sort of wash and maybe a light wax but they will wax for a fee as well.

Seems I am in for a trip to Halfords for a small bottle of their car wash and another of their wash and wax to try. Seems that the car wash is one of the best for self drying. (autoExpress) Can't find any info on the wash and wax.

My aim is max 5min setting up and a clean car 10mins later. Bit ambitious but I like a challenge.

I need a longer hose to do the front garden pattern imprinted concrete. It's true, that's what I told my wife. I'm not looking forwards to that. Never been done and it's been down for a long time.

John

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Edited By Ajohnw on 13/08/2016 20:38:09

[Ray LyonsParticipant @raylyons29267]

A lot of the older cars with solid blue and red paint suffer from fading, not something easily cured. I recently bought a Silverline 1800 washer, mainly to clean the paved areas around the house but I would not use it for car washing. I have a cheap low power job for that. My procedure for washing the car is to wet it all over with a spray from the garden hose and then using a large soft brush and a bucket of diluted traffic film remover, go all over the car. For the wheels, I use a mild degreaser. this is then followed by a jet wash. I could then use a wax/wash in the jetter but it is difficult to control so this is applied with the brush, then a final spray with the garden hose. Finally drying off with a leather. The whole process takes about an hour but that is a lot safer than having to pay out for a respray. I also know a chap who does the same thing for £4 and only takes about 5 minutes so when in a hurry I go there knowing he does a good job but you have to chose with care, paint casts a lot these days.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

I got a fairly new car at xmas and the carpets were like new. No I won't be washing it any time soon but I took out the drivers carpet and gave it a bash against a tree and although the dry mud comes out as dust the bits of dry grass seem to stick in the nap. Any suggestions? How did they do it in the showroom or were they actually a new set?

I think patio washing should be illegal as a waste of water. Have you never picked up a plant pot and noticed the clean ring under it. Just have one spare slab and move it around every few days. Another option is to let some grass etc grow over it for a few years then scrape it off.

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Buy some foam cleaner for the carpet Bazyle, it is a dry foam.

Re the power washers, my Karcher came with two wands,one for high pressure and the other was a low pressure one that had an oscillating ball with a hole in it for car washing. They indicate not to use the high pressure one on cars as it can permanently damage paintwork and lift emblems off the body. The high power jet does the patio stones lovely and clean but they soon discolour again.

One thought, if you store it over winter outside with water in it it will freeze and damage the pump casing, next door did that and had to buy a new one so make sure it's drained before storage.

Clive

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

I hired a wet and dry vacuum to tidy up the inside of a Shogun some years ago. The place I hired it from warned me about carpet shampoos and cleaner and said I should really use one intended for car interiors. He hadn't any in stock. He told me that the usual carpet cleaners have an oxidiser in them and they not only clean but also lighten the colours. He was 100% correct.

I had a cyclist run into the side of the X-type, bike and head. He was wearing those popular close fitting sun glasses that restrict peripheral vision and didn't see me straight in front of him. Feeling kind I took it to a small body repair shop that I have used before. Cost £220. Unlike the insurance owned repairers he doesn't just replace the panel and spray that leaving a mismatched panel colour. He blends it in which often involves spraying the entire side of the car and other parts very carefully. He just pulled the dents out. I don't think that is expensive really. I didn't have to pay anyway.

I'm a bit bemused concerning comments about the pressure and car paint work. To me it seems to be pretty obvious that the quoted pressure is in the nozzle and the the pressure of the jet that comes out is less than that 'cause the area is bigger and gets less and less as the nozzle is moved further away because the area gets larger and larger.

Having used them before I don't think that they will get a car perfectly clean all on their own. They might with the nozzle a few inches away. Some rubbing is needed hence buying a brush with it that is intended for car cleaning.

I've used it and the car looks a lot better but if I look closely it's covered in water spots so I will try a shampoo next. That should allow it to dry more evenly. If the pressure washer pumps it out too quickly I'll stick it on with a garden spray. Either way I will rub it in with the brush with the pressure washer off maybe with some squirts just using the water mains pressure. Then brush it off with the pressure washer on and then jet wash it. Later I might try a wash wax but suspect that will need leathering. Personally I only use a traffic film remover now and again but they are probably dead safe anyway. People probably get a dose of it when ever they pay for any sort of car wash.

John

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[wheeltapperParticipant @wheeltapper]

I wash mine when I can't see out of the windows.

Roy.

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

<<….the bits of dry grass seem to stick in the nap…>>

Domestic vacuum cleaner with a brush head then Duct Tape to remove those short white Dalmatian hairs that stick into any fabric…..

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Posted by pgk pgk on 14/08/2016 19:04:28:

<<….the bits of dry grass seem to stick in the nap…>>

Domestic vacuum cleaner with a brush head then Duct Tape to remove those short white Dalmatian hairs that stick into any fabric…..

That seems a good idea, thanks. now, can I be bothered? There were two big 'presents' from passing horses between me and the car this morning. Normally like to leave them a day or two before collecting for the compost heap but then some idiot goes and drives through them leaving a trial all over the road. So now have to be extra careful as it isn't going to rain for a few days.

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