Getting Started - The Usual Saturday Ritual

So, it was that time again. The car looked like it had driven through a mud wrestling competition, then a bird convention. Seriously. I hauled out the trusty pressure washer. Thing's a bit heavy, but worth it, usually. Unwinding the hose is always a bit of a dance, you know? Like wrestling an anaconda sometimes. But hey, gotta get it done.

The First Blast - Getting the Big Stuff Off

Alright, connected everything up. Water on. I always start with just a good rinse. No soap yet. Just blasting off the loose dirt, the dust, and honestly, half the bird presents. You'd be surprised what plain water under pressure can do. I use the wider fan nozzle for this, don't want to be too aggressive right off the bat. Learned that the hard way once, nearly took a piece of loose trim clean off an old banger I had. Live and learn, eh?

Foam Party Time - Or Not?

Now, some folks go nuts with those foam cannons. Looks cool, I'll give 'em that. Like the car's got a massive beard. I've got one, used it a few times. It's alright. But honestly, most days, I just switch to the soap dispenser attachment on my pressure washer. Simpler. Less faff. Squirt on a decent layer of car wash soap. Make sure it's actual car wash soap, mind you. Heard stories of people using dish soap and stripping all the wax off. Yikes. I let that soap sit for a bit, let it do its magic, soften up the grime.

The Real Work - If You Can Call It That

While the soap's dwelling, sometimes, if it's really bad, I'll grab a wash mitt. Especially for the lower parts of the car, behind the wheels. That's where the nasty, sticky road gunk loves to hang out. But a lot of the time, if I've kept on top of it, the pressure washer and soap do most of the heavy lifting. I'm all for less elbow grease if I can help it. Work smarter, not harder, right?

• Wheels always need a bit more attention. Brake dust is a pain.
• Bug splatters on the front bumper? Sometimes they need a pre-soak or a gentle rub.

Rinse and Shine - The Best Part

Okay, soap's done its thing. Time for the final rinse. Back to the clean water nozzle. This is the satisfying bit. Watching all that dirt and suds just melt away. I always rinse from the top down. Makes sense, right? Gravity and all that. Get all the soap off. Don't want any streaks or spots later. I go over it a couple of times, just to be sure.

Drying Off - Or Letting Nature Do Its Thing

Now, drying. If I'm feeling particularly energetic, or if it's a sunny day and I'm worried about water spots, I'll get out a big microfiber drying towel. Pat it dry, or gently wipe. Other times, if it's cloudy or I'm just feeling lazy, I might just let it air dry. Not ideal, you can get spots, but sometimes life's too short, you know? Or I'll just take it for a quick spin around the block, let the wind do some of the work. Cheating? Maybe a little.

So yeah, that's pretty much my routine with the pressure washer. Beats going to the car wash and feeding coins into a machine, in my book. Plus, you know it's done right. Or at least, done your way. And the car looks a heck of a lot better. For a few days, anyway, until the birds find it again. Classic.