Car Wash Conspiracy?

Frazod · 07-27-2005, 05:47 PM

After my wife got canned from her job a couple of weeks ago, one of the many things that got whacked by the budgeting axe was my at-least-weekly visits to the local Delta Sonic car wash. The main reason I did this was because of the dust that seemed to instantly gather on my car while parked every weekday at the local train station parking lot. The dust was clearly visable after the first day, and by the end of the week, the car was (at least in my estimation) filthy. Plus, the slightest amount of rain would turn the dust into large, brown splotches, and bright red paint doesn't seem to hide it very well.

Anyway, last Tuesday I finally got off my lazy ass, purchased one of those Mr. Clean carwashing kits, and washed the car by hand. Since then, it's rained like hell, twice, yet the car isn't dusty or spotted with dirt, and looks pretty much as clean as the day I washed it. That seems really strange, since I didn't wax the car.

So I wonder - it is possible that the car wash people add something to the rinse that actually attracts dirt, and thereby encouraging more frequent visits to the car wash? Or did all the dust in Northern Illinois somehow magically settle in the past week? The conspiracy theorist in me is seeing red, and not just the paint on the Mustang.

Anybody else ever notice this?

In any event, I think I'll wash the car myself from now on, regardless of the wife's employment status.

|Zach| · 07-27-2005, 05:50 PM

How much was the kit?

Frazod · 07-27-2005, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZachKC

How much was the kit?

I'm not sure - perhaps around $20 or so. Obviously works well, and it's already paid for itself considering how much I used to drop at the car wash.

|Zach| · 07-27-2005, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

I'm not sure - perhaps around $20 or so. Obviously works well, and it's already paid for itself considering how much I used to drop at the car wash.

Cool, thanks for the heads up.

milkman · 07-27-2005, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

I'm not sure - perhaps around $20 or so. Obviously works well, and it's already paid for itself considering how much I used to drop at the car wash.

Would this be the kit with the spot free rince?

Chiefs_Mike_Topeka · 07-27-2005, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SideWinder

Would this be the kit with the spot free rince?

It is impossible to have "spot free rinse" without using RO water (reverse osmosis). Reverse osmosis is a very involved process in which SOFT water is filter through several different types of media and then forced through a membrane removing all but .001% of all minerals and sediment dissolved in the water. Most people make the mistake of thinking soft water is spot free, or even worse that water sprayed over a filter in a at home carwashing kit makes it spot free water. When in fact it does not even make it soft water. Soft water is the removal of all but sodium cations. Spot free water is water that has been throught the RO process and has a total dissolved solids rating of less than 75ppm.

**HemiEd** · 07-27-2005, 07:32 PM

Tim, the much needed moisture we have had killed the dust. As you know, we went almost three months with only a half inch of rain. The dirt was dry and almost everything was brown. Now we have had two rains of almost an inch in a week which kills the dust. My cars are staying clean to. I do not think there is a car wash plot but would highly recommend getting that Mustang waxed.

milkman · 07-27-2005, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefs_Mike_Topeka

It is impossible to have "spot free rinse" without using RO water (reverse osmosis). Reverse osmosis is a very involved process in which SOFT water is filter through several different types of media and then forced through a membrane removing all but .001% of all minerals and sediment dissolved in the water. Most people make the mistake of thinking soft water is spot free, or even worse that water sprayed over a filter in a at home carwashing kit makes it spot free water. When in fact it does not even make it soft water. Soft water is the removal of all but sodium cations. Spot free water is water that has been throught the RO process and has a total dissolved solids rating of less than 75ppm.

So, the answer is "No"?

**Skip Towne** · 07-27-2005, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefs_Mike_Topeka

It is impossible to have "spot free rinse" without using RO water (reverse osmosis). Reverse osmosis is a very involved process in which SOFT water is filter through several different types of media and then forced through a membrane removing all but .001% of all minerals and sediment dissolved in the water. Most people make the mistake of thinking soft water is spot free, or even worse that water sprayed over a filter in a at home carwashing kit makes it spot free water. When in fact it does not even make it soft water. Soft water is the removal of all but sodium cations. Spot free water is water that has been throught the RO process and has a total dissolved solids rating of less than 75ppm.

Spot free is a relative term. We didn't know what reverse osmosis was in the 70's if it even existed back then. But you could certainly tell if a car wash used soft water by the way your car dried without having to chamois it.

**Skip Towne** · 07-27-2005, 05:53 PM

I used to own three car washes. The only thing I did to the water was run it through the softener so you got lots of suds and a spot free rinse. They never let me in on the dust gathering potion, damn it.

Frazod · 07-27-2005, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Towne

I used to own three car washes. he only thing I did to the water was run it through the softener so you got lots of suds and a spot free rinse. They never let me in on the dust gathering potion, damn it.

Sure sounds like a great marketing ploy, though, doesn't it?

**Skip Towne** · 07-27-2005, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

Sure sounds like a great marketing ploy, though, doesn't it?

Sure does. Car washes are a great business. You are basically re-selling utilities and there is no way anybody can tell how much money you took in.

Frazod · 07-27-2005, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Towne

Sure does. Car washes are a great business. You are basically re-selling utilities and there is no way anybody can tell how much money you took in.

One thing you mentioned in your first post - the soft water - made me think a feature of the Mr. Clean kit - a built-in filter for rinsing that purifies the water. Perhaps that accounts for the big difference.

RedDread · 07-27-2005, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

One thing you mentioned in your first post - the soft water - made me think a feature of the Mr. Clean kit - a built-in filter for rinsing that purifies the water. Perhaps that accounts for the big difference.

I bet this is spot on (heh). I think the dust from the carwash was just an unintentional side effect of our shitty water system and it's minerals that have a tendancy to keep water over a 7 pH.

This is actually one of the things my step uncle tests out in Reno, NV. I'm sure he could explain it better.

/science geek

FloridaChief · 07-27-2005, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Towne

and there is no way anybody can tell how much money you took in.

Mr Towne, the IRS would like to meet with you now...

07-27-2005, 05:47 PM	Topic Starter
Frazod Did you hear what I said? Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $-886615	Car Wash Conspiracy? After my wife got canned from her job a couple of weeks ago, one of the many things that got whacked by the budgeting axe was my at-least-weekly visits to the local Delta Sonic car wash. The main reason I did this was because of the dust that seemed to instantly gather on my car while parked every weekday at the local train station parking lot. The dust was clearly visable after the first day, and by the end of the week, the car was (at least in my estimation) filthy. Plus, the slightest amount of rain would turn the dust into large, brown splotches, and bright red paint doesn't seem to hide it very well. Anyway, last Tuesday I finally got off my lazy ass, purchased one of those Mr. Clean carwashing kits, and washed the car by hand. Since then, it's rained like hell, twice, yet the car isn't dusty or spotted with dirt, and looks pretty much as clean as the day I washed it. That seems really strange, since I didn't wax the car. So I wonder - it is possible that the car wash people add something to the rinse that actually attracts dirt, and thereby encouraging more frequent visits to the car wash? Or did all the dust in Northern Illinois somehow magically settle in the past week? The conspiracy theorist in me is seeing red, and not just the paint on the Mustang. Anybody else ever notice this? In any event, I think I'll wash the car myself from now on, regardless of the wife's employment status.
Posts: 121,810

07-27-2005, 05:50 PM	#2
\|Zach\| For The Glory Of The City Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $2966768	How much was the kit?
Posts: 54,803

07-27-2005, 07:32 PM	#7
HemiEd Supporter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ozarks Casino cash: $-609436	Tim, the much needed moisture we have had killed the dust. As you know, we went almost three months with only a half inch of rain. The dirt was dry and almost everything was brown. Now we have had two rains of almost an inch in a week which kills the dust. My cars are staying clean to. I do not think there is a car wash plot but would highly recommend getting that Mustang waxed.
Posts: 34,928

07-27-2005, 05:53 PM	#10
Skip Towne Supporter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: T-Town Casino cash: $10004900	I used to own three car washes. The only thing I did to the water was run it through the softener so you got lots of suds and a spot free rinse. They never let me in on the dust gathering potion, damn it.
Posts: 69,689