Pressure washers are great for car washing, and generally safe for paint with the right pressure, distance, technique and nozzle. Preparation, unless you already have a garage installed detailing set up, does take a some minutes of assembly and disassembly.
Time being our most valuable asset in life, I took one step back and a few steps forward (with tips from a couple of people on this forum) in the car washing process
My first short cut to save time (and a tangling cord) was a battery operated pressure washer. I picked up a Ryobi battery powered pressure washer (simply because I already have the 40 V batteries for my blower and two weed wakers), as a measure of time efficiency.
I use a stubby attachment and quick connect hardware which makes the process fast and easy and removes the electrical cord from the process. The cons of this set up is that the battery
on the Ryobi 40 V drains fast: about 1/2 battery for one wash - soap x2 and rinse x 2.
Someday, like 6 gun I will create a professional detailing wall (which is the ideal approach and every car guy’s “dream set up.”)
The NEW time saving approach I now take for the weekly wash when the rig has NOT seen off road use and little to no street use, is “Soft-Washing,” (washing with house water pressure.)
Now this doesn’t seem like anything “NEW”… we’ve all been washing cars with a hose, bucket and sponge since we were kids earning pocket money.
The only revolutionary difference is the use of a genius inexpensive hose attachment from harbor freight - plus the necessary quick connect / disconnects - also from Harbor Freight.
The small reservoir is filled with 1 oz of soap + water, and the handle allows you to dial in both pressure and mix rate.
For $12 it’s a no brainer. The disconnects I think were an additional $8. Add a $8 mitt and $30 set of large 1200+ drying towels (thx to PHX-GX’s input), $13 Mothers ceramic soap and you have a nice cheap quick go to for weekly mindful car- washing to remove dust and pollen. Less pressure, less time and a very adequate clean.
I’m now adding a quick spritz with the portable “quick connect” DI tank tank, followed by a blower to reduce the need for wiping from what I learned from 6gun on this forum.
I keep an extra nozzle on disconnect for a little more robust wash. But have to say - I’m more apt to do a quick 15 min wash and dry with this cheap set up vs 30+ min breaking out the pressure washer and foam cannon, - (which is still the go to for “serious cleaning”.)
Time being our most valuable asset in life, I took one step back and a few steps forward (with tips from a couple of people on this forum) in the car washing process
My first short cut to save time (and a tangling cord) was a battery operated pressure washer. I picked up a Ryobi battery powered pressure washer (simply because I already have the 40 V batteries for my blower and two weed wakers), as a measure of time efficiency.
I use a stubby attachment and quick connect hardware which makes the process fast and easy and removes the electrical cord from the process. The cons of this set up is that the battery
on the Ryobi 40 V drains fast: about 1/2 battery for one wash - soap x2 and rinse x 2. Someday, like 6 gun I will create a professional detailing wall (which is the ideal approach and every car guy’s “dream set up.”)
The NEW time saving approach I now take for the weekly wash when the rig has NOT seen off road use and little to no street use, is “Soft-Washing,” (washing with house water pressure.)
Now this doesn’t seem like anything “NEW”… we’ve all been washing cars with a hose, bucket and sponge since we were kids earning pocket money.
The only revolutionary difference is the use of a genius inexpensive hose attachment from harbor freight - plus the necessary quick connect / disconnects - also from Harbor Freight.
The small reservoir is filled with 1 oz of soap + water, and the handle allows you to dial in both pressure and mix rate.
For $12 it’s a no brainer. The disconnects I think were an additional $8. Add a $8 mitt and $30 set of large 1200+ drying towels (thx to PHX-GX’s input), $13 Mothers ceramic soap and you have a nice cheap quick go to for weekly mindful car- washing to remove dust and pollen. Less pressure, less time and a very adequate clean.
I’m now adding a quick spritz with the portable “quick connect” DI tank tank, followed by a blower to reduce the need for wiping from what I learned from 6gun on this forum.
I keep an extra nozzle on disconnect for a little more robust wash. But have to say - I’m more apt to do a quick 15 min wash and dry with this cheap set up vs 30+ min breaking out the pressure washer and foam cannon, - (which is still the go to for “serious cleaning”.)
