Some Helpfull Info Please

SD N' E

SD N' E

I Dont Do Detail.
Ok, I’m not sure if this is the right place to be posting this thread. If it’s not, I’m sorry. And feel free to move it.

Anyway, I am starting a mobile Car Washing Business. I won’t do a detail, that’s a talent I don’t posses. Here’s my situation: I have a pressure washer, Generator, HUGE tank, Water pump (if needed), 30ft water hose, spray gun. I still need a Vacuum; Any Recommendations would be greatly appreciated. As well as I was thinking about getting a Compressor for faster drying and cleaning vents and Ect. Now I live in the 100+ degree heat and I just bought an EZ up 10x10. So that may help with the direct sunlight (another issue) well Like I said Im not planning on detailing, I need to do as many washes as I can per day. I plan on mostly doing just wash-n-vac.

Right now I start by spraying down the car with the washer, then soaping up the car with a bucket with a little more soap than recommended, (very quickly because it will dry out) then spaying it down right away. Then dry, I am using a chamois to dry. I’m having trouble with the windows though. This last weekend I used “Windex” I know, I know, but I was at my GF father’s house and I was using his home supplies. I use a damp towel to clean out door jams and wipe off the dust on the dash and console Ect. Then clean the wheels and dress the tires. DONE.

Now I don’t have any “set” brand that I use or anything like that yet, I have been looking at a lot of “Poorboys” stuff. Most of there stuff says it’s safe to use in the sun. But that’s about it.

Ok, here’s the Question (and where I need as much feedback as I can get).

Out of all the products out there, all the tools, all the equipment, EVERYTHING. What would be the fastest way to wash and dry a car? Remember, Very HOT outside temps and sometime direct sunlight.
 
ok... The QEW I am deff. going to look more into. Now are you refering to any particular brand? I for some reason am pulled into the Poorboys products. I'm not sur why but i do like what i see.

As far as the water goes.... well.. maybe when i'm actully making money! lol..

Thanks!!!
 
Things go pretty fast during the warm months. The increased drying speed sure helps. You may want to try using microfiber (MF) to dry and on glass. I haven't been willing to spend the dough on the more expensive towels but have been using the ones at Costco and Samsclub. The normal 16 x 16 towel run about 45 cents a piece. A few weeks ago I picked up a 10 pack (Costco) of the Waffle Weave towels. I've found myself going for them first lately when drying or doing glass and will be picking up more soon.
As for overall process and speed. I'm 37 years old now and been doing this for 16 years. I clean mostly the same cars (weekly biweekly) all the time. My speed on those vehicles is better than the occassionaly cleaned vehicle. Some vehicle are just plain easy. Time on the washes will always vary greatly. My process does vary. Largely out of boredom, after cleaning 30,000 or so cars, I like to mix it up some. The pattern I use the most is
Vacuum (I like the electrical out of the way first)
Inside glass, when I'm doing the glass I wipe the surface of the inside down as I go, big stuff is vacuumed up. The vacuum then glass gets flip flopped from time to time to break ings up.
Wheels, tires, wells
High pressure rinse
Wash
Rinse
Dry (outside glass gets done along the way, in winter I have to go over the glass at end sometimes but not much in the summer)
Wipe out the jams
Dress tires

The wash process is being worked on lately as I recently added a pressure washer back to my set up after 10 years. I still have a few things that I'm working out.
Time yourself and see where you are eating up the most time. Refine each area until you are happy with the results and the time.
 
PhaRO said:
Things go pretty fast during the warm months. The increased drying speed sure helps. You may want to try using microfiber (MF) to dry and on glass. I haven't been willing to spend the dough on the more expensive towels but have been using the ones at Costco and Samsclub. The normal 16 x 16 towel run about 45 cents a piece. A few weeks ago I picked up a 10 pack (Costco) of the Waffle Weave towels. I've found myself going for them first lately when drying or doing glass and will be picking up more soon.
As for overall process and speed. I'm 37 years old now and been doing this for 16 years. I clean mostly the same cars (weekly biweekly) all the time. My speed on those vehicles is better than the occassionaly cleaned vehicle. Some vehicle are just plain easy. Time on the washes will always vary greatly. My process does vary. Largely out of boredom, after cleaning 30,000 or so cars, I like to mix it up some. The pattern I use the most is
Vacuum (I like the electrical out of the way first)
Inside glass, when I'm doing the glass I wipe the surface of the inside down as I go, big stuff is vacuumed up. The vacuum then glass gets flip flopped from time to time to break ings up.
Wheels, tires, wells
High pressure rinse
Wash
Rinse
Dry (outside glass gets done along the way, in winter I have to go over the glass at end sometimes but not much in the summer)
Wipe out the jams
Dress tires

The wash process is being worked on lately as I recently added a pressure washer back to my set up after 10 years. I still have a few things that I'm working out.
Time yourself and see where you are eating up the most time. Refine each area until you are happy with the results and the time.
Click to expand...

ok, so the Sams club Micro's will work fine? I was starting to wonder. I have a membership, I got it thinking i would be ok with the products they sell. but now that i have been on this site I was starting to double think.

PhaRO said:
QEW is Quick and Easy Wash by Protectall. Campingworld.com is were I order mine from.
Click to expand...
ok, so that brand is the Sh*t, ok I get it.

What about the sphyon injector my PW has. Can i make that help me in any way? What about a Foam gun? How will that work with just a tank? I do have a pump that i could use when useing a standard hose to the tank.

What do you think?

THANKS!!!
 
I have no problems with the MF towels at Samsclub or Costco. If you are wiling to spend several dollars a towel there are I'm sure better towels. I wouldn't know first hand as I've never used any others. Basic care, no bleach, no fabric softener, don't wash with other non MF towel, don't use high heat setting in dryer, alternatively you can line dry them. The foam gun I've never used, I have used the low pressure injector for wash soap on my pressure washer. Works fine for me. I don't mind paying more something if it works considerably better and I can justify the expense. I'm also limited by money, time and desire how many new things I will try.
 
Just my suggestion of something to help you out - get rid of the chamois and get a couple of MF drying towels. For budget effectiveness, Wal-Mart has some big towels, labeled as Microtex. They are light blue in color. I think they cost around $6 each. They work well on paint as well as on glass.
 
JaredPointer said:
Just my suggestion of something to help you out - get rid of the chamois and get a couple of MF drying towels. For budget effectiveness, Wal-Mart has some big towels, labeled as Microtex. They are light blue in color. I think they cost around $6 each. They work well on paint as well as on glass.
Click to expand...

Jared I thought about suggesting this, but if all he is doing is washes, he'll being doing a lot during a day. He'll need to purchase a lot of MF drying towels as they will take a while to dry themself after use.
 
SD N' E said:
What about the sphyon injector my PW has. Can i make that help me in any way? What about a Foam gun? How will that work with just a tank? I do have a pump that i could use when useing a standard hose to the tank.

What do you think?

THANKS!!!
Click to expand...


The siphon injector and foam gun could be used for added safety, but they won't be a replacement. It will just add time to your wash regimen which I don't think your looking for.
 
Maxima Lover said:
Jared I thought about suggesting this, but if all he is doing is washes, he'll being doing a lot during a day. He'll need to purchase a lot of MF drying towels as they will take a while to dry themself after use.
Click to expand...

Good point. I didn't even think of that. Unless you could get them in bulk quantity/prices, they'd run you a pretty penny.
 
PhaRO said:
I have no problems with the MF towels at Samsclub or Costco. If you are wiling to spend several dollars a towel there are I'm sure better towels. I wouldn't know first hand as I've never used any others. Basic care, no bleach, no fabric softener, don't wash with other non MF towel, don't use high heat setting in dryer, alternatively you can line dry them. The foam gun I've never used, I have used the low pressure injector for wash soap on my pressure washer. Works fine for me. I don't mind paying more something if it works considerably better and I can justify the expense. I'm also limited by money, time and desire how many new things I will try.
Click to expand...

Awesome! Ok, so like a 12+pack for glass and one for windows should be good for a days work?

Maxima Lover said:
The siphon injector and foam gun could be used for added safety, but they won't be a replacement. It will just add time to your wash regimen which I don't think your looking for.
Click to expand...

Ok, I gottcha. So just stick with the QEW or just the basic spray, wash, spray, dry? I should be good with that?

JaredPointer<~~ Thanks for the Info bro!
 
I use 3-5 towels on average per wash. I carry about 60 regular MF, 10 Waffle Weave MF. When I can get over to Costco, I'll be getting more Waffle Weave and will carry less regular. I don't use all my towels in one day but carry enough so I never run out. Years ago when I was using terry towels, I carried a ton. One day my oil plug came out of my generator. The oil sprayed in to the exhaust and all over the place. It was a mess, I used every towel that day lol
 
Holly Crap! That would SUCK! dam... ok, So Waffle Waeve is better then Regular. I'll look for them When i buy.

Dam... That would suck! Sorry.

Thank you so much!
 
Waffle Weave is not necessarily better, but it is different. Different mf do different jobs. I have diff mf for drying (ww), glass & dressing, cleaning (cheapos), and paint work (expensive plush).
 
NOTE: All my equipment is second hand.

UPDATE:
Ok, Im having problem getting started... Im not getting good flow to my PW, (My tank is a 250gal with a 2.5" opening and i ran 1.5" to the rear where the PW is, with a standard garden hose reducer right at the end). My GEN (supposudlly fixed) is not supplying my PW with enough power to run the pump fast enough to create good presure (400psi, with an extension cord from the house i can get 700psi, with a garden hose from the ground and cord from the house it will produce about 900psi) Now im stuck about where to go now. I also had to replace all the wheel bearings on my trailer...

I'm about out of money and my GF is in Hawaii with here parents. So i havnt been working because I have been spending the days with my son. She comes home WED. and I wanted to have everything ready to go so that i could start washing ASAP. Now... I dont know what to do. Is my PW Junk? is my Line Wrong? GEN? i dont know.... I still need a Vacuum and all the supplies!

Pretty much i just wanted to vent but i would love some info if anyone has ever had these problem with setting up equiptment. And/Or some tips.

THANKS!!
 
Shorten the length of your hose from the water tank to the pump and the hose from your pump to your pressure washer. The shorter the hose, the better the flow of water.
 
UPDATE:

Ok, I Almost got it ready, I rotated the tank, shortened the length of the pipe to the pump (pressure washer), and then mounted everything. as well as replaced the exhaust pipe on the Gen. Upgraded the cord on the pump (Ga) as well and running it off the 30-amp 3-prong outlet off the GEN.

Ok, Now I start the GEN, Open the tank valve, hook up my hose and gun, then flip the switch on the pump, prime the pump, (it primes up to 1000 PSI [adjustable]) then i pull the trigger on the gun and BOOM a burst of water and then the PSI drops to 200-300PSI.

Now, if i plug the pump into an extension cord to the home, I can get up to 900PSI off the tank, (a big upgrade from before).

My pump has a 1.5HP, 110v, 13.6amp motor. According to http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/genwat.asp Where it says that a 1HP High Pressure washer needs 3600 watts of starting power, in theory, my pump would require 5400 starting watts. Well my GEN is Rated at 4000w. But its VERY old, Rebuilt, but still old. Now... Is it that my GEN just doesn't have what it takes to use that pump? Or, do i just have my math wrong and 4000w should be enough but somethings just not right with my GEN?

Lets say "it just wont work" should i buy an inexpensive electric PW and juts use the GEN that i have? or should i buy a VERY Expensive 5000+w GEN and use the pump i have?

Advice please!!!

THANKS!!!
 
Ok guys... I just got home from: Sears, Lowes, and Home Depot. and I found
046396860354_1.jpg
and
046396860347_1.jpg


HD Web site. Search: 2200

Except the 299.00 is on sale for 225.00 and the 269.00 is on sale for 199.99! Plus I found a Lowes coupon (Which HD will take) for 10% off!

What do you guys think? Should i go for it? Which one?
 
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