A year or so ago, where I live in West Sussex, hand car washing was unheard
of unless you did it yourself. Then some guys, possibly Polish, started hand
washing cars in the car park of a local roadside cafe, about 3 miles from
where I live.
Washing the car, including the wheels, tyres, and door shuts. Rinsing with a
pressure washer, and drying off for £6, which I thaught good value. Did
great business, especially last year when we had a hosepipe ban.
Last week we've had another lot starting a service just outside our village,
using the premises of a roadside farm shop that been disused for years.
Since '88 if IIRC. When a storm flattened the few acres of greenhouses that
supplied the shop.
That's completely irrelevant though. Thaught I'd add it for a bit of local
interest. :-)
What I was really wondering is, is this just a local thing, or are hand
washing places popping up all over the country?
Mike.

"Mike G" <metier (AT) lycos (DOT) co.uk> wrote

Well, in London they appeared about 4 years ago and they've multiplied like
rabbits. Mostly Albanian/Kurdish refugees. Usually £5 a wash

In article <4637c2e6$0$8721$ed2619ec (AT) ptn-nntp-reader02 (DOT) plus.net>,
Mike G <metier (AT) lycos (DOT) co.uk> wrote:
Just about all the supermarket car parks round here.

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*If your feet smell and your nose runs, you're built upside down.

Dave Plowman dave (AT) davenoise (DOT) co.uk London SW
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"ChrisP" <NA (AT) NA (DOT) NA> wrote

You surprise me, but good luck to them if they've found a niche market.
I'd rather pay them 5 or 6 quid, than do it myself or use a garage car wash.
Apparently progress happens a little slower in the wilds of W Sussex.
Mike.

Mike G wrote:

And, can anyone recommend a good mobile valeting service in Essex? I
was back last week, and used my Dad's motor to take a few loads of old
crap to the dump. I'd like to get his motor properly cleaned up for
him, but I forgot to look in the yellow pages before I left for my
flight.


--
vulgarandmischevious

Mike G wrote:

They are everywhere in Berks/Surrey/Hants. Town car parks, Superstore car
parks, disused ex petrol stations and others. Annoyingly, they often take
over half of a floor level when they operate in a multi-storey park.

I've never used one. It seems to me that they use the same half-bucket of
water all day...

Chris

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Remove prejudice to reply.

"Mike G" <metier (AT) lycos (DOT) co.uk> wrote

I dont mind them, its the ones waiting for you at the lights to wash your
windscreen that I hate. You tell them you dont want it washed, they do it
anyway...and spit on you if you dont pay them

In article <mpWZh.1132$o42.1066 (AT) newsfe3-win (DOT) ntli.net>,
Chris Whelan <cawhelan (AT) prejudicentlworld (DOT) com> wrote:
This is the problem. I reckon to wash a car properly without risk of
scratching the paint requires more water than they use.

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*Reality is a crutch for people who can't handle drugs.

Dave Plowman dave (AT) davenoise (DOT) co.uk London SW
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"Mike G" <metier (AT) lycos (DOT) co.uk> wrote

Certainly one or two up here in Shropshire- there's a gang in one of the
Shrewsbury Multistories, £6 for wash, chamois, polish, hoover out, and some
tyre shine on a super-mini (corsa size) £20 for my Xtrail though- less value
IMHO, but they do do a good job.

Slightly nerve-wracking handing a gang of little-english-speaking strangers
your keys though!!

Tim..

In article <5nXZh.6375$en5.2495 (AT) newsfe6-win (DOT) ntli.net>,
ChrisP <NA (AT) NA (DOT) NA> wrote:
Try a polite shake of the head when they approach. With a smile if you can
manage it. If they're spitting at you it suggests you're inviting the
screen to be cleaned then not paying. Simple really.

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Dave Plowman dave (AT) davenoise (DOT) co.uk London SW
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