Do you wash/vacuum your own cars/ bike? Or do you send for washing?

A Dusty Car - Someone wrote the word 'sila basuh' on a dusty parked car
by the side of the road. 

'Sila Basuh' means : please wash!
@Iriene88 (5343)
Malaysia
October 4, 2009 11:03pm CST
I normally wash my own car at home. My husband will send his car to be washed by car washing centre. He prefer hand wash than the automated machine wash. How about you? I enjoyed sitting in the car while being wash by huge automated car washer! Those 'snow' wash is very interesting too. But my husband said using those machine wash might scratch the car surface. Do share your preference and views! Thanks and take care
3 people like this
17 responses
@meapas (2436)
• India
5 Oct 09
We go for hand wash daily. Once in a month we send it for automated machine wash. After a very long run also we send it for automated machine wash. In our area most people prefer hand wash because they are cheaper and they don't lose time. For this purpose a help is kept. He comes early in the morning and does it smilingly and beautifully.
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 09
Dear meapas, How much does it cost for the daily hand wash? In Malaysia, there are quite a number of Indian man on bicycle who does this hand wash at the car park. Some are operating at the petrol station with car washing service. They have powerful jet hose and snow wash facilities. Quite good business especially on Sundays. The machine wash (just outer car body wash) without vacuum can cost about RM7-8 per wash. How about your place? (USD1 = RN3.5) Thanks for sharing, have a great week!
1 person likes this
@meapas (2436)
• India
5 Oct 09
Here petrol pumps charge any where between $8 to $10 per wash. For hand wash boys charge monthly $10 to $20 depending on areas and vehicles. I normally don't have to pay anything as most of the boys are from my extended families. They never take money for such jobs from me. Somehow in the long run I make up for them. Have a nice time and hope to see you again.
2 people like this
@vingyan06 (2486)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 09
I don't like hand wash service at all! I used to have a hand wash man to wash my car, only outer part. But because of short of water supply, he did the job quite slow and the car wasn't clean enough. More ever my car is in white in color the stubborn stain could not remove easily. I prefer to send my car to the car wash center. This is where to help up to ash the car from out side to inside inclusive vacuum.
@lkbooi (16070)
• Malaysia
9 Oct 09
Hi Iriene, I seldom send my car to the washing centre. It’s really bored to sit there for 40 minutes or so to wait until the car got properly washed. For the sake of fastidium, I prefer to wash the car at home, unless I don't have spare time and I couldn't tolerate the dirty appearance of my car We have a fixed long rubber hose in the front yard. It’s quite easy and convenient just to shoot the water onto the car. I take out the rubber carpets from the car and wash them thoroughly with a brush after washing the car. I then get them air dried on the line. I usually do this once in a month only The car needs wax polishing if it looks really not bright or shine anymore Happy posting!
1 person likes this
@lkbooi (16070)
• Malaysia
12 Oct 09
Oh nope Iriene! It’s not my sirnam! I own a 1.6 CC wira. It’s maroon in color. I like car in metallic color. It still looks dazzling even if it’s not polished for quite a long time. Suit me more! Yeah, the type of lazy people Here near my place there is a hypermarket, Giant. I could see many people leave their cars at the washing center before stepping in to do their shopping. The center is beside the Shell petrol station just beside the entrance inside the compound of Giant. It’s quite convenient eh! After doing the shopping one could drive away the clean car by paying less than RM 10. No wasting of time totally Yeah, they as clever as your sis too You are most welcome. I feel really happy to chat with you here as well. Have a nice day!
1 person likes this
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
12 Oct 09
Hi, Wow, you can read my mind.... My sister done her washing at the Shell Car Wash Centre near Giant Hypermarket. However, inside the Giant Hypermarket also has one car service centre too. But she did not wash it there. Maybe, we are talking about the same Giant Hypermarket!
1 person likes this
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
9 Oct 09
Dear Ikbooi, (is your sirname Ooi?) What colour is your car, my dear? It is fun to wash our car in the evening, anti-stress and a way to exercise too. Oh yes, we need to wait at the car centre when sending our car for washing. My sister will go to the nearby mall to shop while waiting for her car! You are just like me, hahaha 'fastidium' Thanks for sharing, truly appreciate it! Have a great weekend!
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
5 Oct 09
HI dear! I do not get much time to wash my car or bike. Whenever I go for servicing, I tell the mechanic to wash my car/bike. The washing charges are included in 'serivicing'. Sometimes, when it looks too dirty to me, I wash my car with bucket and mug, instead of using a vaccum (in fact, I do not have a vaccum for washing in my home).
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
6 Oct 09
It is really good that you re-cycle your water for washing. It is an intelligent thinking on your part and you are saving water this way. Well done.
1 person likes this
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 09
Dear Deepak, How is your weekend? Great...!! My husband and my sister always get their car washed after car 'servicing' just like you. Yes, it is included into the total bill. When I handwash my clothes, I will pour the last rinsed water to just have a fast wash. Then used clean water for the last rinsing. I like to do it in the evening...great satisfaction! Thanks for sharing and have a great week!
@cupid74 (11388)
• Pakistan
5 Oct 09
Hi Dear well, i do have driver and he wash the car and clean from inside. but after 40-45 days i send car for washing and polishing as well, and after 4-5 months for complete cleaning from inside and outside We dont have Automated machine wash, so we are left with only manual option i am sure u r right that sitting in car while car wash might be Fun Take care and Enjoy
1 person likes this
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 09
Dear Cupid, Wow..you are so Blessed! You have personal driver to handle for you. I believe your car is in 'tip top' sparkling clean at all times. Btw, what is the colour of your car? Let me guess : Metallic Black? or Metallic shades of Gold? Hmmm, on second thought, it could be metallic silver or white.. It is 'exciting' once the car was fully covered with the snow bubbles. Can't explained it, you have to experienced it yourself with your love ones. Just like taking a ride in a 'theme park' Thanks for sharing, have a great time..
@cupid74 (11388)
• Pakistan
5 Oct 09
Ha ha ha Well here in Pakistan, you can afford that Anyway, i have white color Car, its Toyota Corolla 2000 Model. Now i am planning to change it. and u r right, in start it must not be less amesining than theme park. Take care
1 person likes this
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
5 Oct 09
I usually bring my car to a car wash. But I bring it to those that wash the car manually rather than drive into an automated car washer. Its usually people doing the washing and the great thing is that its better considering that they can clean the car in detail as compared to the machine that cannot see things. Obviously, the personal touch is much much better when it comes to cleaning cars.
1 person likes this
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
24 Nov 09
Thanks for the BR award. I was not expecting it. The car wash set up is same here in the Philippines. In fact it has reach to a point that almost all areas in our place have such kind of services. Well, that what usually happens here in our country, when business is good, a lot of people will imitate. It is certainly a great thing for the costumers since the charges becomes lower due to competition. Great topic you started...
1 person likes this
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 09
Dear jpso, Yes, manually hand wash is definitely more detailed and cleaner. You are right'personal touch' In Malaysia, many established petrol station have car washing service. They have powerful jet hose and snow wash facilities. Quite good business especially on Sundays. At times many cars queue for this service, we have to wait and read newspaper or just go shopping at a nearby hypermarket! Thanks for sharing and do keep in touch!
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
24 Nov 09
Dear jpso, Thanks for an interesting response. You truly deserve the Best Response. Hope to hear from you on my other topics too. Happy myLotting and do keep in touch
• Philippines
5 Oct 09
we prefer to hand wash the car, not only because it does not cost u anything to wash, it is also enjoyable to do it. we feel contented looking at the results of what we do. i only do it sometimes, though because we have a house helper who is so efficient in doing that job. we help him wash the car ... my son, actually.
1 person likes this
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 09
Dear moneymakingtoday, Hi, how are you? Glad to hear from you again Oh yes, I at times enjoying myself washing my car too - as you said : SATISFACTION!..a good exercise too :) Btw, I am abit confused here. Your son is the one who is a great helper and very efficient in washing the car OR there is someone else washing your car son?..hahaha..I am blur now! Thanks for sharing, truly enjoyed reading your response!
• Philippines
5 Oct 09
i'm sorry for the confusion. i wanted to say, we help the house helper wash the car ... (my son, actually, is the one who helps, not me!). sorry, really. thanks for asking, i am ok. i hope ur doing good, too. take care always.
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
9 Oct 09
I don't think the automatic car washes will scratch the surface of the car. I do think the cars don't get nearly as clean as when a car is hand washed. I bought a package last year to get 10 washes at a discounted price. Has been worth it. As soon as we get over this terribly rainy weather, I will have to get my car washed. it's really dirty. The car wash where I go vacuums the car, cleans the inside windows, runs the car though without anyone in the car and then finally wipes the car dry. Years ago I use to wash my car everyday. Didn't want a speck of dirt on it. Now that I am older and have a bad back, I don't bother to hand wash it any longer.
1 person likes this
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
9 Oct 09
Dear carolbee, You got a good value package there 10 wash with vacuum, interior and exterior cleaning! Yes, as time goes by, we have to be abit compromise! Last time I like to do everything by myself and ensure it is tip top clean. Now, I just can't afford that - time contraint, our body need to rest too We must take care of our health...thanks for sharing
• India
5 Oct 09
I normally wash my car. I do it either once in a month or once in 45 days, depending upon my mood as well as the dirt accumulated in the car. I do not care much for the automated car washing machines.
1 person likes this
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 09
Dear Ramesh, Glad to have you back here at my discussion It is good that you wash your car personally. A 'personal touch' is the best, moreover by doing this, you are getting some good exercise too I heard the automated car washer is not so clean but convenient and fast! Thanks for sharing, do keep in touch!
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
5 Oct 09
I do not own a car. When I was driving my company's van years ago, I wash the van myself instead of sending it for cash wash. Though finding it tough, I feel it was a good exercise for me. lol.
1 person likes this
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 09
You are a great employee who really take care of the van you are driving. True enough, washing car is a form of exercise too! I wash my car twice weekly after washing my clothes. I will pour the left over water from washing and then use clean water for final cleaning. I do enjoyed it!
@david2005 (798)
• Canada
7 Oct 09
I take my car through the rubber ducky car wash
1 person likes this
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
7 Oct 09
Dear David, Rubber Ducky Car Wash? Is it a name of a car wash centre? This name is very interesting Do they manually hand wash with jet hose or are they automated machine wash? How often do you send your car to this great place for washing? Thanks for sharing, do keep in touch!
• India
5 Oct 09
i always get my car washed by the garage once in a month because according to me the garage workers wash it better than us because they know what all they have to wash and after all their professional itself is that so i prefer everyone to give their cars/vehicles to garage !
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
6 Oct 09
Dear Rahul, You really rocks, you are right that those car washer are professional in their job. They know what to do and what should be done.. I can really feel the difference especially the interior cleaning, it is greatly done by those professional Thanks and do keep in touch!
@shia88 (4571)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 09
HI Iriene, Washing car is not my duty. My husband is washing the car every weekend,Sunday. Since we only have 1 car at home,so we are sharing the car.Only when my husband is at home,then I can drive the car out myself. We seldom send the car to snowwash unless it is quite dirty and we don't have time to wash it. Or else my husband prefer to wash it himself. At least,once a year, the car will go for polishing. A car also need to be pampered and once a year should be more than enough.
1 person likes this
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
6 Oct 09
Dear Shia, Long long time ago, my husband do wash my car like once every two weeks. But as my car grows older, he hardly bother. I hope he do not treat me like that when I am old So, what I did was just rinse it with the left water from clothes washing. I will wipe the wind screen and mirrors. The final cleaning I will use clean water. For the interior, I at times used those 'restaurant parfume wet towel' to wipe my dash board, stirring wheel and door Thanks and have a great day :)
@JamesKYTan (1605)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 09
I send my car to the car wash centre. It costs only RM 8.00(USD 1= RM 3.50) for a wash and vacuum. While waiting the centre provides newspapers and magazines for you to pass the time. Some bigger washing centres television and DVDs are even provided for your comfort in air-con room.
1 person likes this
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 09
Dear James, It sounds like you are enjoying yourself while your car enjoying itself there too RM8.00 for wash and vacuum is reasonable priced. So, this means you go for those manual hand wash with superjet water hose and snow wash? Have you try those automated car washer where you pay first and just park your car there as the cleaning roller wash it?
• Malaysia
10 Oct 09
I did wash cars when I was younger. Then I had a fall and fractured one of my ribs. Since then, I have been sending my car to a petrol station to be washed. Not really clean though. Lately, it is getting expensive. They also stole my golf umbrella and when I checked back with them, they feign ignorance.........
1 person likes this
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
10 Oct 09
I heard from my friends too that those guys at wash car centre are not honest. It is advaisable to remove the coins, 'touch & go' card or any valuable before sending your car to this washing centre. They are not liable if anything lost. Oh yes, we must extra careful when we wash our car because the car shampoo will make the floor slippery. Thanks and take care :)
• United Kingdom
5 Oct 09
Well, I'm a keen cyclist, I suppose that comes under your keyword bike! My bike does tend to pick up dust and dirt quite easily and so I give it a wash myself and it doesn't take that long either, normally about forty-five minutes. There's a certain amount of pleasure and pride to be had by doing this. I cannot relate to what it's like sitting in a motorised car wash although I have vague memories of experiening this in the past. Anyway, my bike if fine for the moment so it's not due another wash for some weeks. Andrew
1 person likes this
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 09
Dear Andrew, Great to know that you are a keen cyclist. It is a great hobby and healthy exercise. My nephew and his wife loves cycling. Both of them bought the mountain bikes to cycle every evening. Their dogs will chase after them. Oh yes, I felt that way too! The 'pleasure and satisfaction' to wash our favourite bike / car and it is like some sort of 'bonding'! Thanks for sharing, truly enjoy reading it :) Happy myLotting and do keep in touch!
• Philippines
5 Oct 09
when my son is free, he does the car washing by himself. I just give him a hand sometimes. My hubby is out of the country most of the time. Sometimes, too, we just take the car to the car wash shops.
1 person likes this
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 09
Hi, You are a great mum. Always there with a helping hand! Keep it up My husband is driving the company car. So, he will send his car every week for hand wash. I love to wash my car with the left over water after washing my clothes. I will use clean water for the final rinse. I do send my car to car wash centre 4 months once.. Thanks for sharing and do keep in touch!
@komkri (17)
• United Arab Emirates
5 Oct 09
I have some allergy with the dust. So I don't do this task of cleaning car. I simply handed over this task to the cleaner who cleans the car daily with water and some other liquid. I pay him monthly. This also saves me time. And also daily cleaning makes the car dust-free.
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 09
Dear Komkri, Welcome to myLot. Glad to hear from you It is wise for you to get your car clean inside and outside daily. This will keep you car clean and dust free at all time! This is vital as you are allergy to dust. I am allergy to dust too, I will sneeze when it is dusty :) Good practice, keep it up Thanks for sharing and hope to hear from you on my other topics too!