Driving is becoming increasingly expensive due to rising fuel and other costs. This is why people want to keep their vehicles in good condition for as long as possible. This is achieved by maintaining the car regularly and keeping its surfaces clean so that rust or other dirt does not damage the paintwork.
There are drivers who only wash their cars in a brush-based automatic car wash, and there are those whose car has never seen one. There are reasons for both methods, but in this article, we compare them from a financial perspective.
What does it cost to use a car wash annually?
A basic wash in a car wash, without wax or other extras, costs about €20. Additional treats, such as wax, solvents, or undercarriage washing, are available for an extra charge, but we will use the €20 price for the comparison.
Let’s assume that the car is washed about 25 times a year, i.e., every two weeks. Thus, the cost of washing the car over a year totals 25 x €20 = €500.
What does it cost to wash the car yourself?
When calculating the cost of washing a car in your own driveway, you need to consider whether you already have a pressure washer, a wash bucket, or other supplies at home. However, let’s calculate it based on only having an outdoor water tap!
What is needed to wash a car at home?
- Pressure washer – €300
- Wash bucket – €10
- Wash mitt – €10
- Brush for cleaning rims – €10
- Microfiber cloths – €10 / 2 pcs
The supplies therefore cost a total of €340. It is difficult to determine the price of a pressure washer because there are so many options, and it can be used for many things other than washing a car. Washing the car with just a water hose also works perfectly.
Let’s go through the basic cleaning products needed for car washing. Since one bottle is enough for multiple washes, we will also calculate the price per wash.
Basic cleaning products
- Fure Car Shampoo €15.90 / enough for 100 washes = €0.15 / wash (5 ml of detergent per 10 liters of water)
- Fure Iron Remover €15.90 / enough for 15 washes = €1.06 / wash
Occasionally needed cleaning products
- Fure Tar Remover €12.90 / enough for 25 uses = €0.52 / use
- Fure Insect Remover €12.90 / enough for 15 uses = €0.86 / use
- Fure Quick Wax €15.90 / enough for 15 uses = €1.06 / use
Basic wash products therefore cost about €1.21 per wash. If you also use tar remover and insect remover, and finish the wash with quick wax, the price of the products is about €3.65 per wash.
In summary, you can start washing your car at home with €340 worth of supplies and a €73.50 Fure product package. Even if you only have a tap on the wall, washing it yourself will save you considerable money. Of course, you have to account for your own time, and some water is also consumed. Pressure washers consume an average of about 500 liters of water per hour, so we are not talking about large quantities.
So, where should you wash your car?
Washing the car in an automatic car wash+ Fast and effortless
+ Can be used year-round
– Expensive
– Leaves dirt in crevices and door frames
Washing the car yourself at home
+ Affordable
+ Better washing result
+ Possibility to wash the car more thoroughly (door frames, rims, insects, tar)
– Takes more time
– Washing on your own driveway is not always permitted
– Cannot be used year-round (unless the car can be washed in a warm place during winter)
The right option ultimately depends on your interest in your car and your options for washing it. For example, not everyone has the opportunity to wash their car in their own driveway, in which case the car must be washed in an automatic car wash or taken to a local car wash service. But if you want to save money, you can start detailing the car yourself with just a small investment! Start, for example, with a Fure product package.