Water restricted washing?

C

CharlesW

The Rainmaker
How many of the members in the critical water shortage areas have gone to waterless of low water usage products to clean vehicles?
Is there any leeway granted to those that wash vehicles for their livelihood?

For those of you having to try this process for the first time, what are some of your thoughts?

Once you overcome the natural concern of not having the vehicle drenched from a hose, it's not too bad, is it?

Charles
 
I wash small fleet of personal vehicles every friday and small truck fleet monthly,but until yesterday my business was not effected by restrictions(exempted under level 2).However,with yesterdays decision by the state of Ga. to raise water restrictions to level 4 from level 2 I don't know what will happen.I sent an email to our states governors office this morning trying to see how deeply this may hit our checking account.
The last 24hrs have been very unsettling.
 
here in calgary we are not aloud to put saop down the drains, its very simila to having a pipe ban, since we cant wash out cars like normal.

I have come to relly on onr, it takes some getting used to, and some practive to get it right but once ytou do its great.

For those on a water ban I would recomend lookin into onr.
 
It's on the news and in the paper here that we will be getting cut off as well. No outside usage (watering, washing, etc.) from what I can tell. Good thing I have a small reserve or PB's S&W as well as QEW on hand. :)
 
JaredPointer said:
It's on the news and in the paper here that we will be getting cut off as well. No outside usage (watering, washing, etc.) from what I can tell. Good thing I have a small reserve or PB's S&W as well as QEW on hand. :)
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It seems like I read about someone using bottled water with their rinseless wash. Seems like that would meet the restrictions. I would make sure to keep the jug and the sales receipt in case someone checks you. :)
Since about 90% of my washing is either Spray & Wipe or DP 4 in 1, it wouldn't be a big problem.

Charles
 
CalgaryDetail said:
here in calgary we are not aloud to put saop down the drains, its very simila to having a pipe ban, since we cant wash out cars like normal.
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Actually, I think the federal Clean Water Act prohibits this in the U.S.
I don't think it is enforced in most areas, but I do think some cities are very strict about it.
Some form of water containment or recovery is needed in those areas.
Some of the pros have probably been working with this for a few years.

Charles
 
I am in the process of offering the optimum rinse less wash "going green" to my menu for an up charge of $10-$20 we are still in stage 3, if I'm not mistaken stage 4 affects businesses.
 
Charles

We have been asked to cut back on water, here in Sonoma County...I still use the water for my detail customers, but for my own cars its S&W mostly unless I want to clean the BD from the rims, then that's the only place I use the water
 
southerndetail said:
I am in the process of offering the optimum rinse less wash "going green" to my menu for an up charge of $10-$20 we are still in stage 3, if I'm not mistaken stage 4 affects businesses.
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The up charge is great if you can get it, but do you think using a rinseless or waterless wash will actually cost you more?
Being a hobby detailer, I have never really compared any of the different wash costs. Doing 2 or 3 a week, it has never been a big deal. Doing several a day might cause me to look at it differently. :D

Charles
 
I don't think the S&W is a cost effective solution for a fleet of 2 1/2 ton box trucks,but for my car washing account it would work.Well at least for 4 of the 5.One of them is 2500 chevy 4x4 used on a plantation.
 
southerndetail said:
Not only more time consuming but more expensive, if I am forced to buy bottled water.
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It might not take much more if any time once you get used to it.
The bottled water is something I didn't take into account.
I happen to use 2 gallons of water per wash. One for the wash water, one for rinsing the washing tool. Many people are able to use just one bucket which would be just one gallon of bottled water.
It is obviously going to be a challenge for the professional.

Charles
 
Squirtgun said:
I don't think the S&W is a cost effective solution for a fleet of 2 1/2 ton box trucks,but for my car washing account it would work.Well at least for 4 of the 5.One of them is 2500 chevy 4x4 used on a plantation.
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It would take a lot of S&W, but two things about it.
1. You should be able to get a better price from Poorboy in large quantities.
2. While it would take more S&W for the larger and dirtier vehicles, you are probably charging more for those larger and dirtier vehicles.
It has to be pretty hard to beat a pressure washer for large truck washing.
Like I said, a real challenge for the professional.

Charles
 
Squirtgun said:
I don't think the S&W is a cost effective solution for a fleet of 2 1/2 ton box trucks,but for my car washing account it would work.Well at least for 4 of the 5.One of them is 2500 chevy 4x4 used on a plantation.
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actually S&W can be extremely cost effective if used correctly. We worked it out to be about .50-$1.00 per car when bought in bulk and even cheaper when bought by shops and Professionals like yourself.
As for the trucks, I would put it in a portable back pack sprayer and have a good size stock of towels, whether microfiber or not.
 
Since I am a hobbiest I have never worked out a cost for S&W. What I can say is that many times I have been forced to use S&W if I wanted a clean truck. Many times, when I was in Alaska, I just did not have access to water. So I went to using S&W with a lot of towels. And I do mean a lot of towels. If one takes the time to do it correctly you can get an awfully clean truck with minimal marring. Time was not really an issue with me. Unless you take into consideration the time it takes to wash and dry the towels. At least that is the way it is for me.
 
cwcad said:
Since I am a hobbiest I have never worked out a cost for S&W. What I can say is that many times I have been forced to use S&W if I wanted a clean truck. Many times, when I was in Alaska, I just did not have access to water. So I went to using S&W with a lot of towels. And I do mean a lot of towels. If one takes the time to do it correctly you can get an awfully clean truck with minimal marring. Time was not really an issue with me. Unless you take into consideration the time it takes to wash and dry the towels. At least that is the way it is for me.
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I have tackled some pretty nasty cars in the winter with S&W and have found that like you keep turning the towels, and being careful, the car comes out as good as a bucket wash....I do have reservations about using S&W mainly on the wheels and rims..I just feel that water pressure with soap and brushes can not be replaced there...As for those that are mobile I can see where it can be a god sent in areas where they cannot access water or run off is an issue.
 
Beemerboy said:
I do have reservations about using S&W mainly on the wheels and rims..I just feel that water pressure with soap and brushes can not be replaced there...
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While I don't disagree with your logic, you should try the S&W on wheels and tires some time.
I use a Meguiar's Versa Angle Body Brush, (Any body brush would probably work), with S&W for the wheels and the OXO body brush with BnB for the tires. Works pretty darn good. The S&W could be used in place of the BnB on the tires, but I like the look of the BnB. I spray a wheel and wheel well with the S&W, let it soak while I spray the tire with BnB. (You could spray both with the S&W.) Clean the wheel with the Meg's brush, clean the tire with the OXO brush, wipe down the wheel, tire, and wheel well with an old terry towel. Repeat for each wheel.
When I want to clean the inside/back of the wheels I use a scrubber that I bought at Wal*Mart in the housewares section of the grocery department. It is a plastic sponge about 3" in diameter on a handle about 10" long. I think it might be for glasses and cups. :confused: The sponge part is very similar to the bug scrubber and becomes soft when it is wet. It will let me get to about 80% to 90% of the back side of the wheel. Anything I can't reach can't be seen.
I think you might be surprised at how good it works.

Charles
 
Charles...I hear ya...the thing is with us in CA we don't have the winter weather that you have..so I can always get water on the car...if that wasn't the case I would have already used it on the wells and figured out a method like you have...LOL

S&W is the only waterless wash that I have used...I have read about others that you use that I have wanted to try...maybe this winter when I don't want to get the bucket out

Thanks
 
Beemerboy said:
Charles...I hear ya...the thing is with us in CA we don't have the winter weather that you have..so I can always get water on the car...if that wasn't the case I would have already used it on the wells and figured out a method like you have...LOL
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You don't know what you are missing. :D

Beemerboy said:
S&W is the only waterless wash that I have used...I have read about others that you use that I have wanted to try...maybe this winter when I don't want to get the bucket out

Thanks
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S&W is not the only waterless wash I have tried, but it is the only one I use. It works so much better than any of the others I ever tried that I have never looked any further.
I have used both QEW and DP 4 in 1 rinseless or low water washes with good results. I'm presently using the 4 in 1 and have been happy with it.
While the 4 in 1 doesn't leave a lot of water mess, S&W doesn't leave any water mess. :)

Charles
 
CharlesW said:
You don't know what you are missing. :D

S&W is not the only waterless wash I have tried, but it is the only one I use. It works so much better than any of the others I ever tried that I have never looked any further.
I have used both QEW and DP 4 in 1 rinseless or low water washes with good results. I'm presently using the 4 in 1 and have been happy with it.
While the 4 in 1 doesn't leave a lot of water mess, S&W doesn't leave any water mess. :)

Charles
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Thanks I know that S&W is a great product..the others I would only try giving the chance, but I don't see any of them around here...Since I am a 5 gal S&W guy I'm set for the winter
 
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