Help on group car washes

Bill1234

Bill1234

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Ok guys, sports group and teen center car washes, you have seen them and probably skipped them. I have one currently at my teen center and was wondering what would be best. Right now lets just say if there were 10 commandments to car care it would be downright sins.

Over diluted car wash
sponges and mitts dropped
dirty water
improper wash methods.
rims are hot when washed
This is bad(beach towels being used to dry)

The good new is that the person who runs the place knows that I know how to detail vehicles
They told me I should tell the committee what to get.

thought this

Multiple wash buckets with grit guard inserts
More mothers brushes
Proper towels maybe in bulk maybe not
proper wash mitts
bulk car wash
Foam gun(hard choice as it is expensive)

Any idea would be appreciated on a list
 
As for drying towels, I'd recommend them to get actual drying towels.
 
The problem with fundraisers is any money spent means less raised. See how much of the list can be donated, borrowed, or rented. (unless this is a regular event).


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The best thing you can give the kids is a few lessons on proper wash practices.
 
The people who use charity car washes most likely already have paint that is swirled and most likely don't care about having flawless paint. You're not gonna see any show cars lining up to be washed at a charity event. Just use common sense. Also the longer each vehicle takes to wash the less money you make.
 
A few more bits of info, It is a yearly event meaning that it is once a year. We do also have a good income of money, but we just are not doing it right
 
Bill1234 said:
Ok guys, sports group and teen center car washes, you have seen them and probably skipped them. I have one currently at my teen center and was wondering what would be best. Right now lets just say if there were 10 commandments to car care it would be downright sins.

Over diluted car wash
sponges and mitts dropped
dirty water
improper wash methods.
rims are hot when washed
This is bad(beach towels being used to dry)

The good new is that the person who runs the place knows that I know how to detail vehicles
They told me I should tell the committee what to get.

thought this

Multiple wash buckets with grit guard inserts
More mothers brushes
Proper towels maybe in bulk maybe not
proper wash mitts
bulk car wash
Foam gun(hard choice as it is expensive)

Any idea would be appreciated on a list
Click to expand...

I wouldn't worry about over diluted car wash, most people stopping to get a wash probably have no protection on their car.

Definitely get lots of chenille wash mitts, I would use only one bucket per wash with a grit guard though. A quality wheel and tire cleaner in bulk as well as brushes to clean the tire and face of wheel. Of course drying towels as well.
 
Let's be realistic. People who get their car washed at fund raising car washes aren't really there for the car wash, but are there to donate.
 
Make sure you have boys in baseball uniforms and hot chicks...that brings in the money.
 
Watch the movie Bad Teacher for tips ;-)


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So your implying that you have the same standing outside your place Im the MANIm the MANIm the MANIm the MANThink of them like the bananas...... I dont think we will be doing that, but I do think the kids will be working hard
 
I may be out in left field, but I'm throwing this out there to see the responses.

What about a sponsor (Meguiars, Mothers ...). You put their banner up and they donate (or deeply discount) some product. Wash the car, have a couple people blow most of the water off (one each side).One person spraying wax from a Solo Hand sprayer (Finest mist of hand sprayers I have used), while two or three follow with the final dry.

What do you think? A little over the top?
 
I think you're fighting a losing battle. There are way too many variables that are out of your control at these types of car washes...

Let's start with the experience level of the participants - probably zilch or close to it. Then look at the facilities - probably in the direct sunlight unless it's a cloudy day. The wash media - clean for the first car of the day and that's it. Even then it's probably dish soap and old donated bath towels and the like they're using. You could go on and on.

And finally, anyone who has a nice, well-maintained car, isn't patronizing these events anyways other than maybe donating to the cause. They're surely not having their car washed. Your ten commandments are irrelevant to the cars being washed at these events because: 1) they're either not that nice of cars; or 2) the owners don't really care about minor (in their eyes) wash-inflicted paint damage; and those two categories probably capture >90% of the general population.

Remember, we who truly take care of our stuff to the levels discussed on this forum are a very small group in the grand scheme of things.
 
Bill1234 said:
A few more bits of info, It is a yearly event meaning that it is once a year. We do also have a good income of money, but we just are not doing it right
Click to expand...
what do expect from kids,do you really think they care.and the people who let kids marr there finish,they don't care as well.I think your fighting a up hill battle on this,keep it simple get the money.
 
I have worked these car washes before and the people that show up at the events don't care how you wash their car. The one I went to there was a line of cars the whole time and it never stopped the whole day. Here is what I recommend.

----- Plenty of Home Depot buckets --- no Grit Guards (it doesn't matter)
----- plenty of sponges--- don't use wash mitts. The sponges rinse out better after being dropped on the ground
------PH balanced car soap so you can wash the whole car without rinsing and let the soap dry on the paint in the sun before rinsing without a problem
------Plenty of diluted Simple Green (one ounce per 32oz bottle 1:32) to wash the wheels and tires
------- Wheel brushes
------ a few spray bottles for Simple green and Bug Cleaner --- Use Simple green on most bugs but it helps to have bug cleaner for the really dirty bumpers
------ Car mop for washing the roof of taller vehicles
------ Absorber chamois for drying all the cars (you will need two chamois)
------ It doesn't hurt to have some highly diluted Armor All to dress the tires. You just need enough to make the tires look black, not shiny

The main objective is to wash and dry these cars as fast as possible and make as much money as possible to help out your cause.

I would have two people washing (one on each side of the car) and one person (a third person) just on wheels tires and bumpers (bugs)

You also want another team of two people in a different section from the wash area that dries the cars and dresses tires

Keep the washing team and car drying team separate.
 
Kids work isn't as bad as some have alluded to here. It's about proper oversight and adequate training, specialization and putting the right person in the right spot. Highlight on specialization to make the other factors achievable in a short term situation like yours

If you come across with a good plan and proper attitude /expectations they can preform to levels that will give your carwash a good reputation.
 
Use the mafia fundraising method... "we won't wash your car with these abrasive towels if you donate $20." Saves a lot of time and your costs go way down.
 
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