Anyone here use a pressure washer to clean your car? How well do they work and issues to be concerned about? Thinking about picking one up for winter.

 

i always use pressure washers when detailing cars, they are great for wheels, tires, fenderwells, door jambs, and getting off bird droppings. Be wary of paint chips touch ups and soft plastic painted parts like the wing.

 

yeah i use to use the pressure washer at my work all the time, it works really good for cleaning wheels, wheel wells, stuck on dirt(pre-clean). avoid paint thats chipping. basically use common sense.

 

thanks, never thought of chipped paint and the plastic parts.

 

If you do decide to get the pressure washer just be wary not to get the tip of the nozzle too close to the painted surfaces. In 96 i had a silver jetta and i made the mistake of putting it very close to the bumper to get off some bird ****..and it actually took off some of the clear coat! So be carefull, other than that go for it.

 

do indeed be careful with pressure washer, ive seen people take the paint right off of theyre bumper with it

 

is ther a particular adapter to use? like i assume its the same thing as when you go to the car wash and use one of them do it yourself stalls

 

No, I dont think the car washes have anywhere near the pressure of a normal pressure washer. I have used ours, its a bigger one. I stayed about 2-3 feet away from the car(I still used a sponge to wash it)...Worked well, but IMO not worth the prep and hassle that comes with it.

 

hand wash w/ a soft brush, works better than p.w.

 

Yep, like others have mentioned, pressures washers are great, but DO NOT get too close. Stay at least a couple feet back when using it on the paint. Wheels, wells & undercarriage are a different story.

On my final rinse before drying, I like to take the nozzle off my hose & just let a steady stream of water pour all over the car. This pretty much ensures that all dust, dirt, sand, pollen...whatever is flushed right off the paint.

 

BTW. Home Depot has these great MICRO FIBER gloves for washing. They cost less than 6 bucks and are great. Look around gardening section where the cleaner and the brooms are. As to pressure washers, will buy one this summer.