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Washing in the rain

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Mendel Leisk, Aug 28, 2015.

  1. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I'd been putting off washing the car back in June/July, then the Greater Vancouver water restrictions came in: no washing the car in the driveway. So it's been getting increasingly grubby.

    Finally got some rain, and it supposed to continue for a few days. So I thought I'd give it a try: rolled the car out, let it get good and wet, then went out with bucket and sponge, no spray hose. It's still sitting there, in the "rinse cycle".
     
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  2. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

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    If you finally got rain, maybe there is hope for us. Clever solution, hope the rinse cycle lasts long enough.
     
  3. Kermit262

    Kermit262 Member

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    I've always wanted to do this! I love the rain and play in it all the time with my daughter and grand daughter. Will have to do it sometime soon.
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah we're supposed to get something like 120 mm in next 3~4 days.

    There was a lull so I went out with terry cloth rags and wiped it down. Rain started up again, second rinse. :)
     
  5. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

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    That's a new technology called "soil erosion." It works well on a car's horizontal surfaces, not so well on vertical or downward-facing areas. For those, I use a one-quart spray bottle.

    EDIT: Intended word "vertical" replaced unintended second "horizontal" (which made no sense).
     
    #5 CR94, Aug 28, 2015
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2015
  6. E46Prius

    E46Prius Active Member

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    What's rain? o_O
     
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  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    If we get enough of this rain, they might just lift this DIY car wash ban.

    image.jpg
     
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  8. DumbMike

    DumbMike Active Member

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    Rumor has it that once January comes around, better get the hip boots out because California will be getting more than our share. More than enough to restore all of the water above and below ground. And snow.

    [Please let my source be accurate.]

    Mike
     
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  9. 348

    348 Junior Member

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    It would take a 1/2 dozen good Winters to get California out of its current drought,
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    can you wash it over the 'lawn'?
     
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  11. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

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    I do, but I think some day soon the water Nazi's will bust me even tho I'm keeping below my monthly water allotment.
     
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  12. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    Drought must be so bad, the dog is even drinking rain water! :D:D
     
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i've never appreciated, that during water restrictions, they tell you how you can use the water, instead of a maximum usage.
     
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah I'd welcome metered water.
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    oh, here we go again.:p
     
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Oh, Alzheimer's I guess. I raised this spectre before?
     
  17. AzWxGuy

    AzWxGuy Weather Guy

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    I would recommend a good battening down of any hatches if you live along the southern tier of the southwestern continental United States. Basically from southern Cali to west Texas and as far north as southern UT/CO. The threat period begins about November and runs through probably February. My spidey senses are tingling on this one.

    I use the shear force of falling rain drops plus highway speed to blast dirt and bugs off the car. I still have to give it a good wash every month or so. It would be nice to wash the car in the rain, but our storms are usually accompanied by much flash and boom.
     
  18. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    My only comment is in the past I have owned Black vehicles. And people would warn me how hard they were to keep clean. BUT..I also live in the Pacific Northwest, where it rains a lot.

    My feeling always was that as long as I kept the vehicle with a good coating of wax, the rain often kept it clean. So the penalty of owning a black colored vehicle was really minimized for most of the year.

    Yes, rain can keep your vehicle cleaner.
     
  19. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Whoa: high winds now, power out all over town, roads a mess.
     
  20. 348

    348 Junior Member

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    Fall has arrived today in Bend Oregon.