Instead of spending 40 quid a month getting the car cleaned, I reckon I should stop being lazy and do it myself...

I reckon a pressure washer would make it more enjoyable therefore can anyone recommend one please.. nothing too fancy and about the £100 mark will do.

I have heard good things about Karcher, but they seem to be a small fortune..

 

i got a cheap karcher, £44 from b&q and for cleaning the car it is great, but may be a little underpowered on the stubborn bits

 

I needed a new nozzle for my karcher, it was £40, i ended up getting another jetwash, also a karcher but it came with the adjustable nozzle that i needed, a high power nozzle, patio cleaning adaptor etc.... it was £100, i'm using the old jetwash still as its a higher power, when that dies i have a spare!

 

was this instore? The only Karcher one they list on there website is 1500 quid lol

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/na...=1236001500307

 

where from mate..? just want something to clean the car with really... the hose doesnt cut it

 

it was from B&Q a couple of months ago.

 

Loads of Karcher choice in Argos or DIY places like B&Q etc, get something more than adequate for just washing the car with for a ton. You don't need/want enormous pressure for washing a car, so a £100 will be more than up to the job.

 

They just dont clean properly though, ok for getting loose stuff off. Mine is a 140bar as well so not a cheapy. Ok for giving a prewash.

 

http://www.autobritedirect.co.uk/

 

I got one from B&Q a few years ago when i worked in B&Q and got 20% discount on it. One thing i found out tho is B&Q apparently get karcher to number the models differently.

I found this out cause i went to my local karcher dealer as i burst the hose and had to get a new one and he couldnt find the model i had and he rang karcher and they said its exact same as this model just numbered different for B&Q. Its good pressure out of it.

My friend has that big one that is heated which is a really good power washer but its quite expensive just to wash your car once a week with. Good for if your cleaning oily engines and gearbox's mind you

If you go to the karcher website you can find one you like and click buy online and it shows you all the shops like argos etc that sell it and you can either purchase online or then go into argos etc

 

My Karcher's the nuts - used it this weekend as it happens. I paid about £120 for that, but that was ten years ago at least and it was money well spent. Great little piece of kit.

 

I've got a really cheap one, got it from Focus diy about 8 years ago, I think it is a Champion. It pissed all its oil out a couple of years ago, but still works perfectly, I use it once a week and it has better pressure than a friend's karcher!

 

cheers lads... got a Karcher being delivered Wednesday.

I noticed you can get a foam gun.. any good? The more enjoyable I can make it cleaning the car, the more tempted I will be to actually do it.

Lastly, when the sun is out, I notice light screatches and the black paint looks like its been dulled by the sun slightly. Whats the best way to bring it back to life please..

 

What colour is the car ?

 

here is a clue mate

Black is such a pain in the arse!!

 

I'm gonna guess at black.

And I'll also guess at using polish.

 

for me

I'd get it done properly by a bodyshop, as if you fuck that up it'll look shite. Get the car mopped mate, it'll be done properly and look alot better. Mopping doesn't cost a fortune either

 

Westy I've found that by using foam(see below) with my pressure washer its cut down on the amount of time spent with a mit(see below) the cars then cleaner when a cloth/mit is used which equals less swirls.
In effect your pre-washing your car I've found that often the prewash is sufficient to have the car looking clean, so often I don't need to bother with a bucket and cloth(see the drying cloth they are well worth it too imo)
Its not cheap initially but the following products do work and well, HTH

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washin.../prod_371.html

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washin.../prod_370.html

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washin.../prod_282.html

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/microf...2/prod_84.html

ON the swirling on a black car, I had the same on the paintwork on the RS Turbo(which is black) I used Sonus Clay(green) & clay lube and it made a huge difference.
Clay
http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/detail...2/prod_37.html

Lube
http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/detail...t/prod_42.html

Its then a case of waxing and polishing to bring back the shine.

 

Perfect... many thanks for the links.

S1 - I totally agree with you about the mop, but to be honest whats the worse I can do I dont have a machine, so surely by hand I cant do too much damage.. he says

Andy - thanks mate. Not too clued up on all the cleaning stuff, so any products that make it simpler and less effort is good. Initial outlay will be a few quid but should last

Thanks.

 

Famous last words my friend !!!! Pay someone to do it properly