Almost all our car washes around here are DIY. It only costs $1.50 for a 4 min. wash using their soap, etc. We never use the full-service car wash though.

Actually if you look into it, using a car wash wastes less water because the washes recycle the water, rather than letting run down the driveway and street. So the "green" advocates recommend using the car washes. It's quicker, too!!

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I guess it just depends how much value you place on your time. I am frugal in some ways but it's just not worth my time to wash, dry, wax, vacuum, etc the car when six guys and the car wash machine accomplish it in five minutes. I only pay about $15 for a full service wash and I think it is WELL worth it.

My DH washes the car, he and the boys wash the cars, trucks.

We go to the self serve car wash - that way it saves on water and we don't have a dirty driveway to clean afterwards. It costs $5 and it looks pretty good. DH tried to be nice and run my car through one of the automatic ones and I had a fit - of course they ripped off part of the grill - I hate those machines always have bad luck in them. I only used one once before and it damaged my car then to. It was a real pain to get the car wash to replace the piece it ripped off my car - DH was there with them over an hour - such a pain.

we hand wash the truck. the kids wear their bathing suits and i am in charge of the hose( i do not trust my kids with the hose). we go faster and its fun too.

I guess I'm trying to figure out how some people use a carwash to save time (it takes my dh about 15 minutes) but yet mow their own lawn (takes dh about 2-3 hours). I think mowing the lawn is much worse, its sweaty, dirty, loud and usually hot. The car washing is fun, we make a game of it, the kids have fun and get squirted a little...I get to sip a drink and watch my dh wash my car and we can talk and spend time together. We can't spend time together when he is mowing (too loud and he is constantly moving). I like when he washes my car with the kids...I value that time on Sundays when we just hang out and spend time outdoors together. He also gets a chance to touch up any tiny scratches or little marks on my car in the process. And he's way cuter than those guys at the carwash!

DH takes care of both cars inside and out. We haven't been to a real car wash in ages.

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SAHM of 4

August food budget (groceries/take-out): $500.00/$75.00
Total spent: $238.97/$14.12

July budget/spent: $500.00/$650.00

I wait for rain!!!

Neither. We live on a dirt road, so it's pointless. It gets a complimentary wash at the dealer when I get my oil changed. It might get a full wash/internal clean from Jax car wash when they give it to you on your birthday, if I remember to take it in. It might get washed before a wedding or funeral. In that case, we drive thru.

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