Washing car (on my own) in London

[mslnd]

Hello,

Is there some place in London where I can wash my car on my own (I really enjoy to do it )?

I need two options:
1. Wash it quickly using two buckets and microfibre mitt and preferably have some place to dry my card with microfibre dry towel - so it will probably take me 10-15 minutes. I'll bring my own bucket with soapy water. I was thinking about some gas station with jet wash where I normally pay for jet washing but not use it (so I just pay for time in jet washing bay). Do you know some gas stations that allow to do it? Or places other than gas station? It would be nice if this place have water, but if it doesn't then it's not a big deal - I can but wireless jet washer
2. Do proper detailing - pay e.g. for some self service washing bay (if anything like this exists) and do proper detailing that can take few hours, like cleaning, clay bar cleaning, hand waxing, protecting convertible root etc. Of course I can pay for using this place (but it would be nice if it will cost less than doing it by detailing studio)

The closer to Paddington the better, but especially for option 2 I can drive somewhere else

[mslnd]

No updates? Though that it's pretty simple question for Londoners who enjoys detailing, you must do it somewhere

[JJ55]

There was a thread running about this problem but in east London. There were not many places & most were a drive out of the city. West London I have no idea

For your second point I very much doubt anything like that exists in the city where you can use a wash bay for a few hours. There are barely any garages with jet washes anymore.

You can buy a large water holding tank on eBay that can be used with a pressure washer. I used one for a couple of years with mine washing the car in a car park until moving to a house with a tap.

[alabbasi]

I would suspect that your two options are either a jet wash in a petrol station or your front driveway if you have such a thing. I lived in London for the first 26 years of my life and have never seen a dedicated self service car wash. They're very common in the US.

[mslnd]

Yeah, I though about jet wash at gas station. I just though that maybe someone have recommendation like "this gas station on this streets allows to use own bucket as long as you pay for jet wash time"

Btw. JJ55, from curiosity: it ok to wash car in car park or on the street? I would expect security attention in case of car park or someone calling police/council in case of street, but maybe people don't care about it

[alabbasi]

mslnd said:

Yeah, I though about jet wash at gas station. I just though that maybe someone have recommendation like "this gas station on this streets allows to use own bucket as long as you pay for jet wash time"

Probably not as they're not making any money while you're using a bucket. I don't think that anyone would care if you show up at midnight but they might get irritated if you're doing it during the day while others are waiting for the wash.

[Petrolsmasher]

sorry to say, im into car detailing but i have a private driveway, if i had to park on the road i just wouldent bother as the hassle it will cause would not be worth it.

Also washing with a bucket and soap isent going to be much better than a car wash really, need to snowfoam and so on before the cloth should touch the paint.

[henrycrun]

Check for wet weather forecast.
Drive to car park & wash car in the rain.

[JJ55]

mslnd said:

Yeah, I though about jet wash at gas station. I just though that maybe someone have recommendation like "this gas station on this streets allows to use own bucket as long as you pay for jet wash time"

Btw. JJ55, from curiosity: it ok to wash car in car park or on the street? I would expect security attention in case of car park or someone calling police/council in case of street, but maybe people don't care about it

The car park I used was the private one with our flat so I had a space. But I have washed the car on quiet wide roads & industrial estates at the weekend. Had no problems & always cleaned up afterwards. Luckily have a house with some parking now.

[Jag_NE]

I’d get a pressure sprayer for a few quid and some properly diluted TFR. Then give it a couple of goes on a jet wash. Nice towel to dry it off.

[mslnd]

Jag_NE said:

I’d get a pressure sprayer for a few quid and some properly diluted TFR. Then give it a couple of goes on a jet wash. Nice towel to dry it off.

Do you think it's good idea to dry car after just TFR without hand wash?

Btw. in most detailing tutorials TFR/showfoam are optional steps, so seems like cleaning with proper wool mitt without using pre-wash should be ok (of course car should be rinsed before to remove loose dirt)

[Jag_NE]

mslnd said:

Jag_NE said:

I’d get a pressure sprayer for a few quid and some properly diluted TFR. Then give it a couple of goes on a jet wash. Nice towel to dry it off.

Do you think it's good idea to dry car after just TFR without hand wash?

Btw. in most detailing tutorials TFR/showfoam are optional steps, so seems like cleaning with proper wool mitt without using pre-wash should be ok (of course car should be rinsed before to remove loose dirt)

No, TFR needs to be rinsed off.

[mslnd]

Jag_NE said:

No, TFR needs to be rinsed off.

I've meant if it's good idea to dry car just after TFR + risne (while skipping 2BM cleaning), as from my understanding this drying can still cause scratches (as TFR won't clean it in detailed way, just surface dirt)


Btw. do you know if most jet washing places are ok with bringing own buckets and cleaning with mitt as long as I pay for time? Do you have recommendation of some particular jet washing places that are ok with it in North or West London (I live at Paddington, but can drive up to 30 minutes)?