Sadly I am one those that have the desire to look after there investment, this is the way I care for my car:

First go up the local jet wash and just using the high pressure rinse option give the car a b***** good hose off starting at the roof down, next home and give it a wash ( with warm water) with Autoglym "pure" shampoo followed by a thorough rinse, after drying with a micro fibre drying towel I use Autoglym aquawax followed by a buff.

If the cars never been waxed then before you jet wash it give it a good spray of magma or tfr then clay bar it ( you'll be amazed how much carp is on a even a new car) then follow up.with a coat of something like autofiness "ultra glaze" followed by a coat of autoglym "egp " you'll be amazed at the difference....I took delivery of my new car 5 weeks ago and immediately spent 7 hours giving it a proper clean and protection, I know others may laugh but to me it's worth it, let's be honest if you've just spent £25k + on a car then surely hundred quid or so on quality products to look after it is worth it?

Incedently it's well worth giving your wheels a couple of coats of dedicated wheel wax asap, only needs doing twice a year and makes cleaning them so much easier, I use "mint rimswax" total pain in the bum to apply but I can assure you brake dust, road muck simply rinses off.

As for the interior then autofiness interior cleaner is your friend...brilliant stuff and it smells great.

Must add I have no connection with the company's mentioned but there stuff just works..

If your really sad ( like me ) there's a couple of great detailing groups on Facebook...

Oh and never use a sponge, a noodle mit is your friend.

Bit baffled by this. Looking after your car is obviously a big deal to you, so why don't you get your own pressure washer?. Unless the local place is very local indeed, and unless the roads between your home and it are very clean and free from other traffic, you are going to pick up more dirt on the way home.

Sadly I am one those that have the desire to look after there investment, this is the way I care for my car:

First go up the local jet wash and just using the high pressure rinse option give the car a b***** good hose off starting at the roof down, next home and give it a wash ( with warm water) with Autoglym "pure" shampoo followed by a thorough rinse, after drying with a micro fibre drying towel I use Autoglym aquawax followed by a buff.

If the cars never been waxed then before you jet wash it give it a good spray of magma or tfr then clay bar it ( you'll be amazed how much carp is on a even a new car) then follow up.with a coat of something like autofiness "ultra glaze" followed by a coat of autoglym "egp " you'll be amazed at the difference....I took delivery of my new car 5 weeks ago and immediately spent 7 hours giving it a proper clean and protection, I know others may laugh but to me it's worth it, let's be honest if you've just spent £25k + on a car then surely hundred quid or so on quality products to look after it is worth it?

Incedently it's well worth giving your wheels a couple of coats of dedicated wheel wax asap, only needs doing twice a year and makes cleaning them so much easier, I use "mint rimswax" total pain in the bum to apply but I can assure you brake dust, road muck simply rinses off.

As for the interior then autofiness interior cleaner is your friend...brilliant stuff and it smells great.

Must add I have no connection with the company's mentioned but there stuff just works..

If your really sad ( like me ) there's a couple of great detailing groups on Facebook...

Oh and never use a sponge, a noodle mit is your friend.

Bit baffled by this. Looking after your car is obviously a big deal to you, so why don't you get your own pressure washer?. Unless the local place is very local indeed, and unless the roads between your home and it are very clean and free from other traffic, you are going to pick up more dirt on the way home.

easy answer....I live in a ground floor flat....and yes the jet wash place is 500 metres away...lastly yes a clean car means a lot to me..

Wash 'n wax it once a year, then wash it as infrequently as possible. Every time you run a cloth or brush over the surface, microscratching will inevitably be caused. If it's not dirty, don't wash it. In winter especially, all I mostly do is a waist-high rinse with plenty of water and a soft cloth. No wiping dry - water from our rain butt doesn't smear.