The 3 gallon, No Hose, Home Carwash

spearfish25 · 05-14-2009, 06:38 PM

For years now I've lived in condo buildings where I didn't have access to a hose and couldn't hand wash my car at home. With the purchase of my new Z, I decided I needed a solution to the problem as I don't like to pay for car washes nor trust that a hand car wash uses clean water in their buckets. Further, in Chicago winters I needed a way to rinse off the road salt without going through a whole carwash each time.

I came up with this:
Went to Home Depot and bought a 2 gallon hand-pump sprayer used for lawn and yard weed eradication ($18). I tested it today and, I'll be damned, it works pretty well. It took about 1/3 of the sprayer's volume to rinse the car. Then I had another 1 gallon bucket filled with soapy water for the wash. The remaining 2/3 of the sprayer volume was just enough to rinse the rest of the car and do the rims. In the winter, I'd probably use another 2 gallons (full sprayer) to rinse the undercarriage.

Just an FYI post for all you guys in the same 'hose-less' situation where you're looking for a way to handwash the car.

LiquidZ · 05-16-2009, 06:14 PM

This is awesome.

I don't have access to a hose either since I live in an apartment. This is actually a really good idea. Thank you so much for the idea!

Rep. added.

ChrisSlicks · 05-16-2009, 11:01 PM

That's very ingenious, poor mans hand powered pressure washer.

I just bought a 3000 psi pressure washer today which I used to clean my vinyl siding that was starting to turn green. It kicks ***! I plan to wash the cars with it as well, on the lowest possible pressure setting of course.

spearfish25 · 05-16-2009, 11:06 PM

Thanks guys. It just dawned on me one day...I've been making lots of trips to Home Depot lately and saw the sprayers sitting there. I've gotten in trouble with my apartment building management enough times for washing my car with their hose that I was bound to find a better solution.

IMWEZL · 05-19-2009, 03:26 AM

Good idea.

I would add another bucket to use as a rinse for your sponge or wash mitt. You'll be amazed how much dirt will get trapped in the rinse bucket.

tooohip · 05-28-2009, 08:32 AM

Thank you for this post. I'm in the same situation and wasn't sure how I was going to clean this beauty. Got the sprayer last night on my way home from Home Depot and when/if it decides to stop raining here, I'll give it a whirl!

Thanks again!

nogoodname · 05-28-2009, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

That's very ingenious, poor mans hand powered pressure washer.

I just bought a 3000 psi pressure washer today which I used to clean my vinyl siding that was starting to turn green. It kicks ***! I plan to wash the cars with it as well, on the lowest possible pressure setting of course.

I had green stuff on my driveway walls. It took it off pretty easily.

I thought apartments had some hoses for ppl to wash their cars. The apartments/condos have it near my place. What do ur neighbours do??

spearfish25 · 05-28-2009, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nogoodname007

What do ur neighbours do??

Drive down the street and shell out $12-20 for a carwash. Most of the Chicago apartments don't allow use of their hoses in my experience.

nogoodname · 05-28-2009, 03:01 PM

that sucks...but ur plan is pretty good.

over here, we have no water meters.....most cities do...we pay one fee and use as much water we want...so maybe that's why...

xiven · 06-04-2009, 10:55 AM

thats strange that you guys don't have a car wash area at your apt complex. its very common here in atlanta for apt complexes to have them. mine even has a pressure washer and vacuum at it but the vacuum isn't free.

molamann · 06-04-2009, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xiven

thats strange that you guys don't have a car wash area at your apt complex. its very common here in atlanta for apt complexes to have them. mine even has a pressure washer and vacuum at it but the vacuum isn't free.

Lol growing up in Los Angeles, there was absolutely no amenities in my apartments that I grew up in. Maybe a pool and that was it. However, apartments were in a whole different league when I got to Oklahoma because the last apartment I lived before moving in to my friends house included:

Car washing station
Pool + jacuzzi
On-site management office
movie rentals
doorside trash pick-up
fitness center
and probably more that I can't recall or unaware of.

A 3 bd/2ba was only $900.

xiven · 06-04-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by molamann

Lol growing up in Los Angeles, there was absolutely no amenities in my apartments that I grew up in. Maybe a pool and that was it. However, apartments were in a whole different league when I got to Oklahoma because the last apartment I lived before moving in to my friends house included:

Car washing station
Pool + jacuzzi
On-site management office
movie rentals
doorside trash pick-up
fitness center
and probably more that I can't recall or unaware of.

A 3 bd/2ba was only $900.

Yeah mine pretty much has all of that except for the trash pick-up and a 3bd for $900. I think the 3bd go for $1300 here.

spearfish25 · 06-04-2009, 12:29 PM

The beauty of geographics. I live in Chicago, we pay $525 a month in assessments alone. The mortgage on our 2 bed/2bath is $1900. No car wash station.

xiven · 06-04-2009, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

The beauty of geographics. I live in Chicago, we pay $525 a month in assessments alone. The mortgage on our 2 bed/2bath is $1900. No car wash station.

is that for a condo or a house?

ecb12 · 06-04-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

The beauty of geographics. I live in Chicago, we pay $525 a month in assessments alone. The mortgage on our 2 bed/2bath is $1900. No car wash station.

Don't forget the property taxes!! Chicago has crazy taxes.

05-14-2009, 06:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	The 3 gallon, No Hose, Home Carwash For years now I've lived in condo buildings where I didn't have access to a hose and couldn't hand wash my car at home. With the purchase of my new Z, I decided I needed a solution to the problem as I don't like to pay for car washes nor trust that a hand car wash uses clean water in their buckets. Further, in Chicago winters I needed a way to rinse off the road salt without going through a whole carwash each time. I came up with this: Went to Home Depot and bought a 2 gallon hand-pump sprayer used for lawn and yard weed eradication ($18). I tested it today and, I'll be damned, it works pretty well. It took about 1/3 of the sprayer's volume to rinse the car. Then I had another 1 gallon bucket filled with soapy water for the wash. The remaining 2/3 of the sprayer volume was just enough to rinse the rest of the car and do the rims. In the winter, I'd probably use another 2 gallons (full sprayer) to rinse the undercarriage. Just an FYI post for all you guys in the same 'hose-less' situation where you're looking for a way to handwash the car.

05-16-2009, 06:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
LiquidZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,940 Drives: Mag. Black 2009 370Z Rep Power: 704	This is awesome. I don't have access to a hose either since I live in an apartment. This is actually a really good idea. Thank you so much for the idea! Rep. added. __________________

05-28-2009, 08:32 AM	#6 (permalink)
tooohip A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Columbia, MD Posts: 1,626 Drives: 09 370z CY To/Sp Rep Power: 270	Thank you for this post. I'm in the same situation and wasn't sure how I was going to clean this beauty. Got the sprayer last night on my way home from Home Depot and when/if it decides to stop raining here, I'll give it a whirl! Thanks again! __________________ Lance KW Variant 3 Coilovers \| Stillen Sways \| Stillen Gen III Intake \| AAM HFC \| AAM True Dual CBE \| AAM Comp Oil Cooler \| Hawk HPS Pads \| Volk TE-37 \| Hoser Keg Tap

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05-16-2009, 11:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	That's very ingenious, poor mans hand powered pressure washer. I just bought a 3000 psi pressure washer today which I used to clean my vinyl siding that was starting to turn green. It kicks ***! I plan to wash the cars with it as well, on the lowest possible pressure setting of course.

05-16-2009, 11:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Thanks guys. It just dawned on me one day...I've been making lots of trips to Home Depot lately and saw the sprayers sitting there. I've gotten in trouble with my apartment building management enough times for washing my car with their hose that I was bound to find a better solution.

05-19-2009, 03:26 AM	#5 (permalink)
IMWEZL Track Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: HNL Posts: 603 Drives: 370Z/MKVII GTI Rep Power: 17	Good idea. I would add another bucket to use as a rinse for your sponge or wash mitt. You'll be amazed how much dirt will get trapped in the rinse bucket.

05-28-2009, 03:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
nogoodname Lifetime Premium Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 22,357 Drives: E46 M3 Rep Power: 1764	that sucks...but ur plan is pretty good. over here, we have no water meters.....most cities do...we pay one fee and use as much water we want...so maybe that's why...

06-04-2009, 10:55 AM	#10 (permalink)
xiven A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Atlanta Age: 43 Posts: 4,128 Drives: Cookie Monster Rep Power: 294	thats strange that you guys don't have a car wash area at your apt complex. its very common here in atlanta for apt complexes to have them. mine even has a pressure washer and vacuum at it but the vacuum isn't free.

06-04-2009, 12:29 PM	#13 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	The beauty of geographics. I live in Chicago, we pay $525 a month in assessments alone. The mortgage on our 2 bed/2bath is $1900. No car wash station.