Washing your Prius: how do you do it?

Jack 06 · 11-05-2005, 01:20 AM

Do you avoid car washes? Do you get tired of hand-washing?

Has one of your brilliant kids ever cleaned your car with Comet? (mine did

)

aka007ii · 11-05-2005, 01:26 AM

I take her to a touch-free wash about once a week and nervusly watch the guy drying and get ready to yell if he starts violating her interior (happened twice already). I'm the only one I trust cleaning the inside. Those glossy plastic parts will stay glossy and new if they keep thier grubby towels off. I very lightly dust and that's it. Once it starts raining more, I will lighten up on the washings.

**Tideland Prius** · 11-05-2005, 01:41 AM

I wash it myself. This way I can inspect the paint at the same time for chips and dents. Gives me a good workout anyway.

tomdeimos · 11-05-2005, 03:57 AM

Bought a Karcher so I can wash car myself easily.

VaPrius · 11-05-2005, 06:56 AM

Going to give it its first bath this weekend. Myself.

IndyDoug · 11-05-2005, 08:16 AM

Once a week at my local express car wash. No complaints.

IsrAmeriPrius · 11-05-2005, 11:49 AM

Mine is hand washed at the auto detail shop across the street from the health club.

**efusco** · 11-05-2005, 12:13 PM

I think this is a length of ownership question for many of us. I still like to give my car some TLC and do a hand wash when it's convenient and when I want to apply Nu-Finish and just really get her shining. I did this a LOT when I first got it. Now past the 2 year mark I just take it to the car wash....I think I washed by hand twice in the past year.

galaxee · 11-05-2005, 12:29 PM

i still wash by hand weekly. i think one it cools off i might change my mind. it's been a while since the car got a good underflush but i can't justify $7 a week for a clean car when i could do it for essentially the cost of time and water. i like the exercise and getting outside too.

Charles Suitt · 11-05-2005, 06:04 PM

<_< I hand wash myself when needed, usually 2-4 weeks. I changed the antenna to a 2" stubby for automatic car wash purposes. I haven't noticed any degradation of radio reception since I live in a metropolitan area. I do keep the original antenna aboard for cross-country driving.

One handwashing advantage - I get a good look at the car to check for damages, and I take that time to check the tire pressures and correct with the 12v compressor and good analog gauge I keep aboard.

View Poll Results: How do you keep your Prius clean?
1. car wash only, frequently, on a pretty regular schedule	14	8.48%
2. car wash only, but let dirt build up some (eg, once/month)	22	13.33%
3. hand wash MYSELF, frequently (eg, once each 1-2 weeks)	65	39.39%
4. someone else hand-washes-family, school car washes, etc	4	2.42%
5. mixture of car washes and hand washing-but at least 1/mo	22	13.33%
6. wash infrequently, when it's really dirty-eg, 2-3 mo/more	33	20.00%
7. see post	5	3.03%
Voters: 165. You may not vote on this poll

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11-05-2005, 01:20 AM	#1
Jack 06 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Winters, CA: Prius capital of US. 30 miles W of Sacramento Posts: 2,567 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Do you avoid car washes? Do you get tired of hand-washing? Has one of your brilliant kids ever cleaned your car with Comet? (mine did )

11-05-2005, 01:26 AM	#2
aka007ii Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Santa Clarita, CA Posts: 482 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I take her to a touch-free wash about once a week and nervusly watch the guy drying and get ready to yell if he starts violating her interior (happened twice already). I'm the only one I trust cleaning the inside. Those glossy plastic parts will stay glossy and new if they keep thier grubby towels off. I very lightly dust and that's it. Once it starts raining more, I will lighten up on the washings.

11-05-2005, 01:41 AM	#3
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,633 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 229 Thanked 345 Times in 244 Posts Friends: 23	I wash it myself. This way I can inspect the paint at the same time for chips and dents. Gives me a good workout anyway.

11-05-2005, 03:57 AM	#4
tomdeimos Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Lexington, MA Posts: 995 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Bought a Karcher so I can wash car myself easily.

11-05-2005, 06:56 AM	#5
VaPrius Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 150 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Going to give it its first bath this weekend. Myself.

11-05-2005, 08:16 AM	#6
IndyDoug Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 120 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Once a week at my local express car wash. No complaints.

11-05-2005, 11:49 AM	#7
IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 4,338 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Mine is hand washed at the auto detail shop across the street from the health club.

11-05-2005, 12:13 PM	#8
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 17,240 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 49 Thanked 249 Times in 148 Posts Friends: 37	I think this is a length of ownership question for many of us. I still like to give my car some TLC and do a hand wash when it's convenient and when I want to apply Nu-Finish and just really get her shining. I did this a LOT when I first got it. Now past the 2 year mark I just take it to the car wash....I think I washed by hand twice in the past year.

11-05-2005, 12:29 PM	#9
galaxee resident lab rat Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: boilermaker territory Posts: 9,675 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 94 Times in 37 Posts Friends: 26	i still wash by hand weekly. i think one it cools off i might change my mind. it's been a while since the car got a good underflush but i can't justify $7 a week for a clean car when i could do it for essentially the cost of time and water. i like the exercise and getting outside too.

11-05-2005, 06:04 PM	#10
Charles Suitt Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 1,624 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #6 Touring Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	<_< I hand wash myself when needed, usually 2-4 weeks. I changed the antenna to a 2" stubby for automatic car wash purposes. I haven't noticed any degradation of radio reception since I live in a metropolitan area. I do keep the original antenna aboard for cross-country driving. One handwashing advantage - I get a good look at the car to check for damages, and I take that time to check the tire pressures and correct with the 12v compressor and good analog gauge I keep aboard.