I'm always looking to find out way to wash a car more quickly. Including getting supplies out and back, I think I can do it all in 30 minutes, inluding wheels and drying off the car with a leaf blower and then a quick spray wax as I dry the last bit of water. Want to hear from folks that are faster, how do you do it?
How fast can you wash an "average" size car?
- Thread starter yakky
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Oz_TCH
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- Jul 22, 2012
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To me time stand still when I do anything on my car, be it wash or wax, etc. Its therapeutic, like sex almost, not really concerned of the time.
But if I was doing someone else's car and wanted to do it as quickly as possible, I think 30-45 mins. I would pre-spray lower half of car with ONR, if lot of white salt on side of car I may use Salt Away for Pre Spray. Then foam with portable foamer, scrub, wipe, rinse. Use drying aid towel dry. Yeah 30-45 mins, I would think.
But if I was doing someone else's car and wanted to do it as quickly as possible, I think 30-45 mins. I would pre-spray lower half of car with ONR, if lot of white salt on side of car I may use Salt Away for Pre Spray. Then foam with portable foamer, scrub, wipe, rinse. Use drying aid towel dry. Yeah 30-45 mins, I would think.
Eldorado2k
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- Nov 9, 2015
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How fast can you wash an "average" size car?
The nosey neighbors prevent those of us without a garage to reach this level of enjoyment.
The nosey neighbors prevent those of us without a garage to reach this level of enjoyment.
PaulMys
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- Jan 14, 2014
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The nosey neighbors prevent those of us without a garage to reach this kind of enjoyment.
:laughing::laughing::laughing:
Bruno Soares
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- Mar 30, 2017
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Start to finish: 2 hours
PaulMys
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Excellent point, Bob.
I should have mentioned this in my post.
If given to be "Willy-Nilly" about it, I'm sure I could "wash" in about 20 minutes.
ClearVue18
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- Jan 27, 2018
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Wash only 15 mins and wash and vac 35 mins
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- Thread starter
- #10
Good point Bob, the safe wash was implied, but I should have made that clear.
For me, a lot of the speed hangs on washing in the early morning or late, late evening as I find with the sun being down I can wash a whole lot more area with a lot less rinsing. I usually do roof and windows in one pass, then passenger side and trunk in another, then hood and drivers side. Wheels are probably my biggest time sink. If I'm washing mid day in the summer, my times go way up.
mc2hill
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- Feb 19, 2009
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I mostly do Rineseless washes and clean the body & wheels in 20 minutes. And after 18 months of ownership there are no swirls. 2 buckets, only a Grit Guard in the rinse bucket, high quality Microfiber wash mitt, 370 GSM towels to damp wipe, Detail Spray to extra shine and GG 16x16 PFM towels to dry.
Coach Steve
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- Jun 12, 2013
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This question has been asked numerous times over the years and there are always those who say they can thoroughly wash and dry a car, start to finish, in less than 30 mins. - some even stating they can do it in 15 mins. I have to call B.S on this! They're either doing a half-assed job or they're leaving parts unwashed, which actually falls under the first option.
To properly do all 4 wheels/tires - including the barrels, remove all the bugs and splatter on the front end - including the grille work, removing the tar, gum, etc., that's been slung up onto the lower portion of the car, wash inside the gas door, wash the mirrors, and then the main body of the car, there's no way this can be done in less than 30 mins.
I'm shocked when I pull it off in less than an hour!
I challenge anyone who says they can do a proper, complete wash and dry in less than 30 mins. to prove it by making a video and posting it.
To properly do all 4 wheels/tires - including the barrels, remove all the bugs and splatter on the front end - including the grille work, removing the tar, gum, etc., that's been slung up onto the lower portion of the car, wash inside the gas door, wash the mirrors, and then the main body of the car, there's no way this can be done in less than 30 mins.
I'm shocked when I pull it off in less than an hour!
I challenge anyone who says they can do a proper, complete wash and dry in less than 30 mins. to prove it by making a video and posting it.
Bruno Soares
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- Mar 30, 2017
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That's why I said 2 hours. 30 minutes is how long it takes me to do wheels alone I think. Probably half hour to set up and later to put things away / clean up brushes and buckets. The washing the car part is the fastest. Drying also takes a while as I first use a blow dryer and then go around the whole car with quick detailer and a towel. Then windows and tires. Usually between 1.5 and 2 hours, mostly closer to the 2 hour mark.
rangerbay
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- Jun 5, 2017
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I think you're right on the actual true time involved, Bruno.
That's not including the beer runs. There's another half hour right there!
- Thread starter
- #16
A big factor is how dirty the car is. With a good spray wax I can go two weeks and not have anything really "stick" to the paint. Sure a drive through bug country might increase that time signigicantly but my routine washes, not an issue.
Eldorado2k
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Coatingsarecrack
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I think it differs if your doing for business or pleasure. Washing wheels with mitt and tool to get corners can be done in 1-2 mins. Most when doing wash and vac for customers don’t get into the barrels but that takes another min per wheel if needed to get in and out. I spend 10-15 mins per corner as I clean face with boars hair detail brush (scared bigger ones will scream have matte finish). Wheel woolie barrels and calipers then use a Merlin type mixture with to dry. Also use dedicated wheel cleaner that needs to dwell. Most customers when getting care just washed and wax are not expecting this kind of level of service. When doing it for hobby time is not money. I could do a car to a decent level of retail clean if I did it for money in 30-45 mins. My car as this is a hobby can take 2-5 hours depending on what rabbit hole I fell down today.
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yakky
i think we need to set up a live video with the clock running. in 30 minutes I could probably wash & dry my truck(short bed standard cab ram). but dragging out all the equipment & putting everything back has got to kill the clock. I didn't time myself today but first I did the wheels & tires. then when when I rinsed them off I also rinsed the truck off. then back in to change the soapy water to do the sheet metal. also I used a pressure washer & a foam cannon. I'm sure you're referring to a hose, wash bucket and a towel in a half hour. I'll give it a try in warmer weather but don't see it happening. I mean if it were a competition maybe. If i were pressed for time i may rush, but most the time i like to enjoy what I'm doing. oh and don't forget I had to go back in the garage & look for my McKee's 37 turbo dryer. I'm subscribed so I'll time myself next time, let you know.
hmardown
i think we need to set up a live video with the clock running. in 30 minutes I could probably wash & dry my truck(short bed standard cab ram). but dragging out all the equipment & putting everything back has got to kill the clock. I didn't time myself today but first I did the wheels & tires. then when when I rinsed them off I also rinsed the truck off. then back in to change the soapy water to do the sheet metal. also I used a pressure washer & a foam cannon. I'm sure you're referring to a hose, wash bucket and a towel in a half hour. I'll give it a try in warmer weather but don't see it happening. I mean if it were a competition maybe. If i were pressed for time i may rush, but most the time i like to enjoy what I'm doing. oh and don't forget I had to go back in the garage & look for my McKee's 37 turbo dryer. I'm subscribed so I'll time myself next time, let you know.
hmardown
Calendyr
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- Jun 9, 2013
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That really depends on what you do during the wash.
For me, if I do a detailled cleaning of the wheels and a 2 bucket wash, usually between 90 to 120 minutes including the drying time and dressing of the trims and tires.
If I do a quick maintenance wash which is only a quick spraying of wheel cleaners with pressure washing of the wheels and do a rinseless wash, about 45 to 60 minutes with drying and dressing.
A quick breakdown of steps and times:
Setting up (filling buckets, plugging the pressure washer, filling foam cannon, etc) : 15 minutes
Pressure washer pre-wash: 10 minutes
Quick wheel cleaning: 5 minutes
Detailled wheel cleaning: 40 minutes
Foam bath and detailled cleaning of the badges and all nook and crannies: 15 minutes
Pressure rinse off: 5 minutes
Wash : 15 minutes
Rinse off (if doing 2 bucket wash): 5 minutes
Blow drying of mirrors and nook and crannies: 10 minutes
Towel drying of the car and application of spray wax : 15 minutes
Dressing trims and tires: 10 minutes
Those are the maximum times, usually takes me a little less than that for each step unless there is a problem to be resolved.
I did not include and decontamination steps, those can make the work much longer depending what is needed.
For me, if I do a detailled cleaning of the wheels and a 2 bucket wash, usually between 90 to 120 minutes including the drying time and dressing of the trims and tires.
If I do a quick maintenance wash which is only a quick spraying of wheel cleaners with pressure washing of the wheels and do a rinseless wash, about 45 to 60 minutes with drying and dressing.
A quick breakdown of steps and times:
Setting up (filling buckets, plugging the pressure washer, filling foam cannon, etc) : 15 minutes
Pressure washer pre-wash: 10 minutes
Quick wheel cleaning: 5 minutes
Detailled wheel cleaning: 40 minutes
Foam bath and detailled cleaning of the badges and all nook and crannies: 15 minutes
Pressure rinse off: 5 minutes
Wash : 15 minutes
Rinse off (if doing 2 bucket wash): 5 minutes
Blow drying of mirrors and nook and crannies: 10 minutes
Towel drying of the car and application of spray wax : 15 minutes
Dressing trims and tires: 10 minutes
Those are the maximum times, usually takes me a little less than that for each step unless there is a problem to be resolved.
I did not include and decontamination steps, those can make the work much longer depending what is needed.