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The best £5 I have spent for a while

(15 Posts)
gracesmum Thu 28-Mar-13 20:16:14

Today I did something for the first time (I know, you've all done it loads) - I took my car in for a "hand" car wash at a nearby petrol station. A team of about 10, I think Polish, chaps in orange waterproofs descended on the car armed with high-powered jets, hoses, soapy sponges, cloths, chamois leathers and I don't know what else and it took perhaps 10 minutes for the car to look as good as new. Gleaming hubs and wheels, perfect paintwork (and being black, that's not always easy) clean windows, door sills- all for a fiver!!
Has to be one of the best bargains out there!!

ninathenana Thu 28-Mar-13 20:23:28

There used to be a gang of Polish guys who operated in our local asda car park they charged £5 I was disappointed when they packed up.

Gally Thu 28-Mar-13 20:26:06

Gracesmum smile
I do that about once a month. My local car wash place charges £4 for a car and in my case, £5 for a 4 wd. 2 blokes work their socks off and do in 15 minutes what it would take me an hour to achieve - worth every penny!

Galen Thu 28-Mar-13 21:10:22

Wish we had one here! My car gets washed once a year at its annual service! Mind you at 2500 miles on two years?

Grannyknot Thu 28-Mar-13 21:17:14

gracesmum I love nothing better than spending some time with the Polish car valet guys! Broke my heart a bit though when I drove away one day and saw they were checking results for a pile of Lotto tickets - must be a syndicate I thought. But they're a happy bunch and I'm sure buying their Lotto tickets is part of that. I tip well wink

HUNTERF Thu 28-Mar-13 21:35:24

I was very annoyed when I parked my car in a supermarket car park to found the people were half way through washing my car in error.
I had washed it the day before.
I refused to pay and had to wash it again to get their soap off it.

Frank

gracesmum Thu 28-Mar-13 22:04:12

ha ha, Frank - maybe they didn't think it looked clean enough!grin

Deedaa Thu 28-Mar-13 22:08:36

I recently had a bulgarian wash my car for me. It has got fancy chrome wheels which were horribly dirty and corroded and when I came back the whole car was shining and the wheels looked stunning. And I'd only paid for the minimum wash. I think the chat we'd had about Bulgaria made the difference smile

glammanana Thu 28-Mar-13 22:28:29

I would give Polish guys the job of cleaning my car any day of the week,they always do a fantastic job and yes they do use a lot of soap but it all rinses off and what ever is in it gives my car the most fab shine.

j08 Thu 28-Mar-13 22:34:14

Frank aren't you supposed to leave your windscreen washers pulled out if you want your car washed? Why would they randomly clean a car "in error"?

HUNTERF Thu 28-Mar-13 22:46:50

The boss instructed them to clean the red Honda Jazz.
They got the wrong red Honda Jazz.

Frank

j08 Thu 28-Mar-13 22:52:17

Ah! Right.

glammanana Thu 28-Mar-13 22:56:52

Its a pity he never instructed them to clean the black Audi TT it could do with a clean after all this bad weather.

numberplease Thu 28-Mar-13 23:09:32

My husband takes ours to a garage staffed by E.Europeans, not sure what nationality, they do a fantastic job, but theire is £10, he`s always pleased with the results though.

Greatnan Thu 28-Mar-13 23:17:36

My car gets cleaned only once or twice a year, to wash off the salt fom the roads after the snow has gone. I take it to a car wash and for 2 euros I get to use the jet wash myself - it is great fun. There is also a vacuum cleaner for the inside - as I live on the second floor I can't use my own cleaner.
There is no point in my washing my car more often,as I drive up dirt roads most days.
When I worked in London, I used to dread stopping at lights when the 'screen washers' lunged at my car with their sponges. They would no take 'No' for an answer. I never paid them as I didn't want or need their services.