If you’ve ever washed your car with a bucket of water and an old sponge, you know it doesn’t exactly achieve that showroom-ready shine.
Likewise, you’ve probably heard how you should never take your car through a supermarket car wash. Automatic machine washing can damage parts and leave nasty streaks and scratches all over your beloved car’s paintwork. Not good.
So how can you achieve that sparkling shine without having your car professionally detailed? Should you use a garden hose or a pressure washer? We’ll answer all of those questions in this article!
Using a hose to wash your car
Here’s the deal: a hose will get the job done when cleaning your car. There are some powerful hoses out there that can blast away the dirt and provide a clean surface to begin cleaning your car with shampoo.
Hoses are cheap, easy to use and you probably already have one in your garden shed. You don’t need to invest in special equipment when washing your car if you don’t want to. Hoses also provide a lower water pressure than most jet washers, meaning there is no danger of damaging your paintwork or trims.
However, hoses can take a long time to remove caked-on dirt and heavy grime from your car. The lower water pressure means that a hose might not be able to remove those heavy stains from your paintwork. Also, hoses will take longer to fully clean your car.
In summary, hoses are great for the casual car washer or vintage car owner. If you only wash your car every other month, it may not make sense to invest in a dedicated pressure washer. Likewise, if you own a vintage car with delicate paintwork, you might not want to risk the damage that a jet washer could cause.
Using a pressure washer (or jet washer) to wash your car
If you’re a professional car detailer or car enthusiast, it might be a good idea to invest in a pressure washer unit for your car.
If you’re lucky enough to own a pressure washer, they can cut your car-washing time down significantly because of how efficient they are at removing dirt from your paintwork. It’s also handy for cleaning those hard-to-reach areas like wheel arches and the undercarriage of your vehicle. The high-pressure water helps to strip away even the most stubborn of buildup that regular hoses just can’t shift.
You have probably seen those satisfying snow-foam car washing videos on Instagram or YouTube. By adding a special attachment to your pressure washer, you can spray out car shampoo in a thick flurry of foam. This makes cleaning your car a breeze – and also looks super satisfying.
Pressure washers (or jet washers) are becoming more and more affordable as homeowners purchase them for other tasks, like cleaning driveways and patios. However, pressure washers have been known to strip and damage the paintwork on certain cars. It’s important to make sure that the pressure settings on your unit aren’t set too high.
Can a jet washer damage my car?
Using a jet washer properly should not damage any car. It’s important to always keep the nozzle moving and configure the pressure settings depending on the car that you are cleaning. You should also keep the nozzle at a suitable distance away from the paintwork to avoid stripping it.
If your car has recently been resprayed or the paintwork has been treated, you should avoid using a pressure washer for a while. Delicate paint can be damaged by high-pressure water!
In summary, you should be absolutely fine when using a pressure washer unit. Most modern cars have robust paint and protective layers to prevent damage from occuring. Just be sure to follow instructions and use it properly!
If you’re ever in doubt about using a pressure washer, try consulting a professional. Be careful about the information you find on forums or Reddit – it might be incorrect or simply unsuited to the car that you’re working with.
Which one should I use: hose or pressure washer?
So how do you choose whether to use a hose or a pressure washer?
If you’re a car cleaning expert or you have some really stubborn dirt on your car that won’t come off with soap or a hose, we would recommend going for the pressure washer (just make sure to read up on how to pressure wash safely first).
If you’re a casual car cleaner, or you’re worried about damaging delicate paintwork, a garden hose is just fine. Modern hoses are equipped with decent water pressure and a variety of spray patterns to help get the job done.
Final thoughts
Let’s face it – most cars just need a bit of soap and some elbow grease to get back to looking their best.
Whether you use a hose or a pressure washer to wash your car, it will take some time and effort to get a good result.
Either way – well done for actually washing your car. You’re doing a great job!
How often do you wash your car? Let us know below!
