Car travel costs all the time only because of the rising cost of fuel and other expenses. Because of this, we want to keep the vehicle as good as possible for as long as possible, and this can be achieved if the car is maintained regularly and the surfaces of the car are kept clean so that rust or other dirt does not damage the paint surface.
There are motorists who only wash their cars in a brush machine and there are motorists whose car has never even seen a brush machine. For both options, there are several reasons why this is done, but let’s not go into this too much now.
How much does it cost to visit a car wash in a year?
A basic wash in a car wash without wax or other special features costs around €20 for a wash. Of course, additional treats, e.g. wax, solvents or washing the base can then be obtained with additional money, but it is good to use that 20€ as a figure in this comparison.
Let’s think that the car is washed every 25 times during the year, i.e. every two weeks. In a year, washing the car is 25 x 20€ = €500 expenses.
How much does it cost to wash the car yourself?
When you start calculating what it costs to wash a car in your own yard, you have to take different things into account, depending on whether you have a pressure washer, washing bucket, or other accessories at home. However, let’s start counting so that the only thing you can find at home is an outdoor faucet!
What is needed to wash a car at home:
- Pressure washer / €300
- Washing bucket / €10
- Washing glove / €10
- Brush for washing rims / €10
- Microfiber cloths / €10 – 5 pcs
So a total of €340 pays for the supplies to start washing the car at home. It is difficult to determine the price of a pressure washer, because there are a lot of options in terms of price and it can be used for many things other than car washing. Even with just a water hose, you can wash the car perfectly.
Then let’s go through the basic detergents needed for car washing. Since one car wash is enough for several washes, we also count the detergent after.
Basic detergents:
- Fure Car Shampoo €15.90 / Enough for 100 washes = €0.15 / wash ( 5ml detergent 10L water)
- Fure Raudapoistoaine €15.90 / Sufficient for 15 washes = €1.06 / wash< /li>
Occasionally needed detergents:
- Fure Pienpoistoaine €12.90 / Sufficient for 25 uses = €0.52 / time< /li>
- Fure Insect repellent €12.90 / Sufficient for 15 uses = €0.86 / time< /li>
- Fure Pikavaha €15.90 / Sufficiency 15 uses = €1.06 / time< /li>
Now when we start to calculate the basic washing price for detergents, the detergents for one wash cost about €1.21, and if we also use small remover, insect repellent and quick wax to finish the job, the cost of the ingredients for one car wash is €3.65.
In summary, you can start washing your car at home with 340€ accessories + 73.5€ Fure product package. That is, even if the only thing you can find at home is a water tap on the wall, you can save a lot of money by washing yourself. Of course, for this you have to take into account the passage of your own time and some of that water is also consumed. Pressure washers consume an average of 500L/h of water, so we are not talking about large amounts.
Well, where should the car be washed?
Washing the car in the machine
+ Fast and effortless
+ Used all year round
– Expensive
– Leaves dirt in the crevices and between the doors
Washing the car yourself at home
+ Cheap
+ Better washing result
+ Possibility to wash the car more precisely ( door gaps, rims, insects, pitch )
– Take more time
– Not necessarily an opportunity to wash in your own yard
– Not available all year round (Unless there is an opportunity to wash the car in warm winter)
Ultimately, the right option can be found in your own interest in your car and the possibilities of washing it. For example, not everyone has the opportunity to wash the car in their own yard, so then you have to wash the car in a brush machine or take the car to a local car wash. But if you want to save money, with an investment of around €50 you can already reface the car yourself!
