So with a hosepipe ban taking effect at Sutton & East Surrey water on Thursday, and I know other places too - what advice do people have for keeping the car respectable during the summer?

I rely on the hose for the pressure washer when snowfoaming and rinsing my wheels, as well as draining off the soap before I dry the car, so i think that'll be ruled out for me.

I am just replacing the hosepipe with a watering can or two. Also using Auto Finesse Citrus Power as a pre wash to get some of the grime off.

So pre wash
Rinse
Wash
Rinse
Dry.

Good advice Andy. Plenty of water from the watering can is all you can do to replace the hose.

It will of course rain non stop after the hose pipe ban...........

Tom will no doubt give us some hints with his 2 bucket wash system.

2 bucket method should be used always with or without a hosepipe so you don't have grit in your wash pad.

There is also a few waterless wash products around but not sure how much i would be confident in using something like that with heavy soiling. Its fine for light dust but not grit and road grime IMO.

Watering can is fine though. When our outside tap was broken i was using a watering can. Actually makes drying the car a whole lot easier as a lot of the water sheets off.

I'll be using the watering can/s for the time being

sod the hose pipe ban. lol....

Up to £1,000 fine apparently.

i think the only way you would get caught is if someone would grass you up?

Yeah pretty sure that is right jack. Bet there will be a reward or some sort for people who do grass people up though!

i'll just use nextdoors hose when there out lol....

jack_st wrote:

i think the only way you would get caught is if someone would grass you up?

That's right, and apparently they are encouraging people to snitch on their neighbours too!

Luckily the hose pipe ban does not effect me

I will do a right up on a wash method called ONR (Optimum No Rinse) this coming weekend on my mini to show you guys how to do it.

It basically involves using 2bm , pump sprayer with product in and very light pressure using cellose sponge I have got dodo juice supernatural waffle sponge, 2 drying towels and finish with QD spray.

Wheels can be a bit more of a pain but can always use a watering can

ONR - http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=optimum+no+rinse&osCsid=7d235d45bebb4ba107b44eb4ab9db26d&x=8&y=5

Sponge - http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/acatalog/Dodo_Juice_Supernatural_Wash_Sponge_1.html

My choose of QD - http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/acatalog/britemax_spray_shine_1.html

I remember the larst one thay had thay was using a helicopter to spot people using a house pipe. That was when I was realy young tho. As for cleaning the car think you can still use jet wash and the polish car wash but I don't ever wash my car. I only have washed it once and I have used Showroom shine ever since. It's a waterless cleaner and it realy works. You have seen how clean billy is. Lol you get it from Ideal world shopping chanel.i think it's realy good and will not use anything elase.

Terry wii no doubt us a watering can and then Showroom Shine just as Rich does infact he always has some in the boot, it's great for giving Alice the once over at Shown n stuff!

Here is a linky to the whole range:

Greased Lightning Products

I use my pressure washer still, just fill a 25 litre drum with water from the tap, run a pipe from the pressure washer into the drum et voila !
I also did a test a few years back and this way you use about 1/3 less water than using buckets and watering cans, and get a better clean.
Simples

Just been looking at the water saving tips on the BBC website:

"Use bathwater and washing-up water to wash the car"

I think I'd rather leave it dirty ...

I read that you are still allowed to use a pressure washer if you're running a car washing busniess or for cleaning your house walls and patio, or water your plants etc...

so...

Set up a car wash business!

or

ACCIDENTLY park your car infront of the house while you're jetwashing the walls and patio down.

or park your car in a flowerbed...

NeilAndHisMini wrote:

Just been looking at the water saving tips on the BBC website:

"Use bathwater and washing-up water to wash the car"

I think I'd rather leave it dirty ...

I saw that one Neil just now and nearly spat coffee out everywhere!

MrL wrote:

I use my pressure washer still, just fill a 25 litre drum with water from the tap, run a pipe from the pressure washer into the drum et voila !
I also did a test a few years back and this way you use about 1/3 less water than using buckets and watering cans, and get a better clean.
Simples

yes, i would have thought just blasting water where you want it, when you want it for short periods would save move water than just pouring it all over the car and having most of it just slosh away wasted!

good call.

MrL wrote:

I use my pressure washer still, just fill a 25 litre drum with water from the tap, run a pipe from the pressure washer into the drum et voila !
I also did a test a few years back and this way you use about 1/3 less water than using buckets and watering cans, and get a better clean.
Simples

Great tip! I shall give that a try.

PhilT wrote:

MrL wrote:

I use my pressure washer still, just fill a 25 litre drum with water from the tap, run a pipe from the pressure washer into the drum et voila !
I also did a test a few years back and this way you use about 1/3 less water than using buckets and watering cans, and get a better clean.
Simples

Great tip! I shall give that a try.

I have a 35gallon barrel wth a hose lock conector at the base so I can connect to my pressure washer... worth while giving it a go but worried about neighbours thinking I am usung mains water!

Neighbours are such a pain at times

Davyboy wrote:

Neighbours are such a pain at times

and he is a detective constable!!

well Terry has managed to Alice with the Bucket method and a bit of 'Showroom Shine' she looks as good as new.....THANKS TERRY