The best car washes in Canberra [2024]

Waves car wash in Gungahlin have put their prices up substantially. They have a new menu system where you pick what you want cleaned and if you don’t pick an item eg. “Wheels cleaned” this part of the car doesn’t get cleaned. I use to pay $70 to have my car cleaned and vacuumed but now it would cost between $125-150. I was told $80 should be a close match to what I use to pay and when I wasn’t happy with the results I asked for this to be fixed and was told no I would have to pay more money. I am seeking a refund through my bank and have also written to the ACCC hopefully to stop other people being innocently ripped off with the new pricing.

Ha. Our cars are not allowed to be taken anywhere were they leave marks in the paintwork (i.e. drive through car washes or places where they use buffing machines). Therefore, we do it ourselves and this constitutes a major commitment of time and effort. For those of you that don’t know…there is a technique to hand washing a car – who would have thought? I had no idea before I married a car washing perfectionist who has always driven unique cars. However, after many years of marriage I now have a firm grasp of the procedure – and yes – I do wash the cars by following the rules below:

– Have several cloths and chamois’ for washing and drying as well as a good quality detergent – we like Meguires – many of the cheaper brands are like dishwashing detergent and are likely to strip any polish you have on the car.

– Only wash the car on an overcast day, in the shade or at night. Water with detergent that drys before you rinse it off can leave water marks on the paintwork! Therefore requiring a polish to clean it up.

– Taking into account the requirement to work fast, you wash the car in sections from the top down.

– Rinse the outside of the car.
– Wash the top section of the car with your cleanest/newest sponge or cloth.
– Rinse the top section.
– Dry the top section with your best chamois.
– Wash the middle section of the car with your second best sponge or cloth.
– Rinse.
– Dry with your second best chamois.
– Wash the bottom section of the car with your third best sponge or cloth. As this section is usually the dirtiest it pays not to contaminate your first and second best cloths with this dirt.
– Rinse.
– Dry with your third best chamois.
– Wipe up any overflow water during the process. I can sometime wipe the same part of the car 3 times before I am done.

Then you can move onto the wheels where you:
– Wash them with the remainder of the bucket of water from washing the car
– Wash with your WORST rag/cloth/sponge.
– Dry with your second WORST rag/cloth/sponge.
– Paint the tyres.

Waa haa haa. It sounds much worse than it is or else I have become accustomed to it and don’t think about the process anymore. Perhaps this time and effort is why people pay other people to wash their cars!!??

rosscoact said :

I take one of my cars to Waves and apart from that slightly annoying up-selling policy I reackon they do a great job.

Good point. I went for the upsell and had them do the hand wax etc. It came to $120 which is far too pricey for me now that I’m only working part time. It was a fantastic job but I’m wondering what it costs for just the basics. Although I guess I should just bite the bullet and do it myself.

rosscoact said :

dungfungus said :

rosscoact said :

I take one of my cars to Waves and apart from that slightly annoying up-selling policy I reackon they do a great job.

Unfortunately their brushes put swirls on paint and I’m forced to take the other car to Star which does a really really good job and is hand washed, but is more expensive.

“I take one of my cars to Waves …..”
Is that the Roller or the Bently rossco?

1996 Mazda Dungers. I am a man of modest means and demeanour

That’s my style too.

I just use our local self-wash place. Costs 7 bucks (2 bucks on the vaccum, 5 bucks on the rise, soapy brush then rinse) and dry it off when I get home.

I do it perhaps 5 or 6 times a year, and it generally looks clean and good.

As an Owner, I’m sure the Hyundai Motor Company appreciates my effort to maintain the high esteem of their marque.

dungfungus said :

rosscoact said :

I take one of my cars to Waves and apart from that slightly annoying up-selling policy I reackon they do a great job.

Unfortunately their brushes put swirls on paint and I’m forced to take the other car to Star which does a really really good job and is hand washed, but is more expensive.

“I take one of my cars to Waves …..”
Is that the Roller or the Bently rossco?

1996 Mazda Dungers. I am a man of modest means and demeanour

curlylocks said :

I have not had my car cleaned by any of the mentioned companies, but I have seen how one of them does it at Belconnen mall,I think its STAR

Just be very careful as I have seen them spray the rear door whilst the door is open so the water is actually spraying in the car. Personally I would just do it yourself, if you are time poor see if you have a teenager around the area that would be willing to wash your car for you.

I think people utilise the car wash system as they can claim it off their tax if they are salary packaging a vehicle. I dont think many people without the tax perk would fork out $69 bucks for a car wash.

I have not had my car cleaned by any of the mentioned companies, but I have seen how one of them does it at Belconnen mall,I think its STAR

Just be very careful as I have seen them spray the rear door whilst the door is open so the water is actually spraying in the car. Personally I would just do it yourself, if you are time poor see if you have a teenager around the area that would be willing to wash your car for you.

rosscoact said :

I take one of my cars to Waves and apart from that slightly annoying up-selling policy I reackon they do a great job.

Unfortunately their brushes put swirls on paint and I’m forced to take the other car to Star which does a really really good job and is hand washed, but is more expensive.

“I take one of my cars to Waves …..”
Is that the Roller or the Bently rossco?

We’ve taken our cars to the Star Car Wash at Westfield Woden a few times now and they’ve been good each time. I like that they take online bookings so we can park the car, go and do some shopping, and come back to a clean car. I paid just over $30 from memory for their basic inside and out clean.