Not every driver wants to pay huge amounts of money every month for car wash services. Of course, if you live in a huge high-rise building and have a parking space of several square meters, there is no special choice. But if you have a garage or cottage, you can easily get rid of car washing fees. It is enough to purchase a mini-wash, for example, Kärcher, and learn how to use it correctly.
In order to properly wash your car with Karcher, you need not only to obtain information on the operating features of your particular device, but also to purchase the necessary automotive chemicals. It is highly desirable that these products are recommended by the washer manufacturer.
Announce the entire list, please!
Let’s immediately say that there are 2 options for washing a car with a “Kärcher” (by “Kärcher” we mean all high-pressure devices, or simply mini-washers, regardless of the brand and country of origin): rinsing (when the washer is used like a regular hose, with adjusted for higher pressure) and the actual “real” contactless car wash.
If you are too lazy to fool around with the second option (or don’t have enough time), remember the basic rules: the gun of the device must be moved horizontally, from left to right and back, and it is better to keep the nozzle itself close to the car - no further than 10 centimeters from the body, otherwise you will not benefit from high pressure you will feel it. A much better result can be achieved if you use a “full height” sink as it should be. We will tell you how it should be done below.
Let's sum it up
If you are the proud owner of a pressure washer, be sure to use the correct instructions to get good results. Regularly improperly washing your car will cause not very pleasant consequences. Over time, the body becomes dull and a matte effect appears. This is possible not only when using low-quality shampoos for washing, but also when performing the process of washing off dirt incorrectly.
Listen only to sound advice, and if a controversial situation arises, it is better to consult with specialists at an expensive car wash. This will help you save time and maintain the quality of your car's paintwork. Can you add any useful advice from your own Karcher car washing experience?
What kind of divorce?
The main problem that owners of mini washes complain about is dirty stains remaining on the car body after washing. They are most noticeable on black cars that are popular among our citizens - I know this first-hand, because I myself drive a car of this exact “color.” What's the matter?
Where do these “muddy stains” come from? That's right, we need to learn materiel! Most often, chemistry is to blame - the fact is that ordinary car shampoos are not suitable for contactless washing - there are special products for it. If we talk about the products of the same Karcher, these are means for contactless washing RM 555, RM 527 and similar. They are supplied both in standard 5-liter canisters (according to the principle of “bought and forgotten about the problem for a year”) and in liter bottles for the plug'n'clean system, when it is enough to remove one bottle and insert another.
Prevention of contamination of carpets and rugs
It is recommended to remove snow from carpets once a year.
If you take timely care of the condition of the carpet, vacuum its surface daily, immediately remove stains and do not allow them to penetrate deep into the base, you can delay cleaning with mini-equipment indefinitely. Proper care will help prevent wear and tear on the carpet and tracks:
- do not clean products against lint;
- do not lay them on a wet floor;
- do not clean with hot water;
- Do not place heavy furniture with legs on the surface.
In winter, it is useful to beat out carpets using snow (the cold destroys germs), place rubber pads under the legs of heavy furniture, and periodically change the position of the carpet - this will avoid the appearance of abrasions in high-traffic areas. Experts advise carrying out deep intermediate cleaning once a year. The BRS 43/500 C model is most suitable for these purposes.
The price of Karcher for high-pressure carpet washing starts from 35,000 rubles. You can use the sink not only when cleaning carpets. It is suitable for washing cars, garden paths, building facades.
We will continue to act!
But it’s not enough to just buy the right mini-washer and liquid - you need to understand the whole (albeit simple!) technology. As a rule, this takes a couple of car washes, then the necessary actions are performed almost automatically. However, let's continue... So, you have a sink, and a special shampoo too. But how to apply it correctly? There aren't many options:
- Nozzle for contactless washing (also known as “foamer”, “foaming agent” or “foam nozzle”);
- Spray;
- A tank/hose for car chemicals in the car wash itself (to be honest, I don’t recommend this option, because the output is, at best, soapy water).
Preparing for work
Regardless of what exactly needs to be cleaned or washed with the steam generator, to prepare it for operation you need to perform the following steps:
Unscrew the safety plug and fill the container with water.- Tighten the cap and attach the necessary attachments to the steam gun. If necessary, extension tubes can be used.
- Plug the device into the outlet, two lamps should light up - orange and green.
- After heating the water to the required temperature, the orange lamp should go off. You can use the device when only the green lamp is on.
To reduce heating time, it is allowed to fill with warm water.
Foam Tricks
In order for the “foam party” to be a success, you need to take into account a few small rules: firstly, most car shampoos are concentrates, i.e. they must be diluted in the proportions indicated on the package), and secondly, the detergent must be applied TO A DRY, DIRTY CAR! I mean, there is NO NEED to wet the car first!
Why? The reason is simple: foam simply drains from a wet car without having time to “deal” with the dirt. Yes, yes, in this case your money just drains onto the floor! In addition, intuition tells you to apply shampoo from top to bottom, from the roof to the thresholds.
And this is also completely wrong! You need to do exactly the opposite. The fact is that with this application (from the bottom up), the dirt mixes with auto chemicals and creates a kind of “barrier” that does not allow the detergent to drain from the car.
How to choose a high pressure washer for your car. Accessories
What additional accessories do I need to purchase for my high pressure washer? Many sinks are already equipped with all the necessary accessories. These can be replaceable nozzles or the entire barrel with nozzle, brushes and containers for detergent. Also, if the kit does not include the necessary accessories, you can purchase them separately. They help you perform certain specific tasks faster and easier.
Car wash brush. It is an attachment to a spray gun and helps remove thin road film, as well as stubborn dirt on the body and wheels.
Additional nozzles or lances (barrel with nozzle). You can purchase an additional barrel with a nozzle that allows you to change the spray direction for washing the bottom and arches. There are also attachments that allow you to effectively wash other surfaces in addition to your car. For example, the Dirtblaster nozzle sprays water with a stream of small diameter, while rotating at high speed to increase the surface of impact.
- There are a wide range of specialty chemicals that can be used with a pressure washer to improve cleaning performance. Pressure washers use one or two ways to add detergent. Basic budget sinks usually have a detergent bottle (foam nozzle) that can be attached to the gun. The venturi effect is used to force the product out of the bottle as the water passes through the gun. Other models have an integrated reservoir. You can read more about applying foam to a car in the article “how to wash with a high pressure washer.”
- Hose with filter for connecting to a tank filled with water. Allows you to use rainwater from a barrel.
- In addition to the sink, you can purchase a good extension cord that can withstand the load of a working sink. When using an extension cord, the cable must be completely unwound.
Everything is in order
Where to start? It's a good idea to start from the doors and rear fenders, working your way around the car. Then comes the turn of the roof and only at the very end - the hood. If you have a question why this and not otherwise, let us explain: the fact is that the hood (and the entire engine area), as a rule, is hotter than the rest of the car, and your goal is to prevent the shampoo from drying quickly without corroding the coating of the car dirt.
And there will be fewer divorces. One more thing - it’s better not to wash the car in the bright sun - this way the chemical dries faster. If you really want to wash your “iron horse” during the day, it’s better to do it in the shade, where it’s cooler.
How to dry properly after washing
After washing, wait 10-15 minutes for the water to drain. This is important when the product is lying on an inclined surface or on a pallet. We recommend hanging clothes vertically for further drying. The remaining water should drain completely. Typically, the carpet dries from 3-4 hours to 2 days.
Facts: Textiles must be dried thoroughly. Mold can form inside damp fibers.
Let both sides of the fabric dry. Turn the clothes inside out. Do not leave the product in direct sunlight. Colors may fade due to sun exposure.
Do not use the device until it is completely dry. It is not recommended to step on the carpet until it is completely dry. This may break and crush the stack.
Let's wash away!
It would seem that it’s so difficult to wash all this stuff off the car? But no, here, too, “not everything is so simple”: you also need to wash off chemicals from the car from the bottom up, so that the detergent stays in contact with the surface longer. And in this case, it becomes much more difficult to miss some place on the body. After this, the car needs to be “rinsed” with clean water and wiped thoroughly with a cloth (dry so that there are no streaks left) or a piece of artificial suede - it doesn’t matter, the main thing is to dry it.
First acquaintance with a mini-wash
A compact device that directs a stream of water under high pressure allows you to contactlessly clean the surface of vehicles, sidewalk paths, fencing structures and other objects. A mini-wash is an invention of the late 20th century, it was to everyone’s taste and was highly appreciated by car enthusiasts for its quality and performance.
Professional equipment produced under the Karcher brand from German manufacturers has given rise to a new jargon in the driving field. Now any high-pressure devices are called Karcher by car owners.
The mini washer includes a pump, several nozzles (see package) and a hose. The service life of the device depends on the quality of the parts: the stronger each of them, the more efficiently the equipment will work. In addition, the kit includes a cord for connecting to the mains, and some models are equipped with an automatic cord rewind button, containers for detergents and other bells and whistles.
Properly washing a car means not only being able to hold the device in your hands, but also providing it with a professional chemical liquid.
What are the advantages of contactless dust removal from the machine:
- time is saved hundreds of times,
- no need for a supply of sponges, brushes, napkins,
- dirt is removed from all surfaces, including hard-to-reach ones (underbody, body, under the hood, fender liner),
- minimal likelihood of scratches, which often occur after using brushes.
In order for the result to meet your expectations, you must first learn how to use the sink. How to wash a car using special equipment? More on this below.
The end is the crown of the matter!
If you follow all these simple rules, the final result should be no worse than professional car washes “for money” - the main thing is to do everything carefully and in the right sequence and not save too much on auto chemicals - if you use cheap chemicals, no one can vouch for the safety of the paint and rubber seals.
PS Didn't you understand something? Do you still have questions about how to properly wash a Karcher car? Want to share tricks or tips? Write in the comments!
Advantages of a contactless car washing method
When using this modern device, materials and compositions that negatively affect the properties of varnish and paint and contribute to corrosion are not used. The car surface remains bright and shiny. The touchless wash takes about 15 minutes.
Thanks to the new technique, it is possible to remove dirt both from the surface of the body and from hard-to-reach places :
- bottoms;
- engine compartment area;
- spaces under the seats;
- wings;
- wheel rims.
Another plus is the affordable price .
A touchless car wash can thoroughly clean your entire car.
Other Applications
The steam cleaner can also perform other functions:
- Surface treatment of upholstery and decorative trim in the car interior.
- Processing car discs.
- Removing old wallpaper.
- Cleaning washable wallpaper.
- Cleaning suede shoes and accessories.
- Cleaning and disinfection of soft toys.
- Washing windows, mirrors - in winter, glass must first be treated with a jet of steam at a distance of 5 cm. Then clean the glass from accumulated dust and dirt using a hand nozzle with a cover, and subsequently treat it with a nozzle with a rubber tie, moving it from top to bottom in overlapping stripes, constantly releasing steam at maximum power;
- Cleaning mattresses.
Find out also how to wash a carpet using Karcher.
Despite the wide range of capabilities of a steam cleaner, not all surfaces can be cleaned with a steam jet.
It is not recommended to use it to clean natural leather, plastic, or the following fabrics:
- linen,
- wool,
- velours.
When cleaning surfaces coated with enamel, wax or paint, as well as wood, you need to moisten a cloth with steam and use it to clean the products.
Important! Do not direct the steam jet directly onto artificial surfaces. They may dissolve or become stained.
How to properly wash a car at home - Digital Plus equipment store
There are several ways to wash your car yourself. We will tell you about the most effective of them in this article. Of course, you love your car, which means you wash your car correctly. To keep your pet in perfect condition, you need to know some secrets that we will tell you about.
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