The stroke of inspiration that led me to see if I could clean a rug at a car wash hit me as I was driving. I’d been considering how to go about cleaning the dirty rug in front of my kitchen sink, especially since it was too big to put in the washer.
Related: This Is the Single Best Way to Clean Your Area Rugs
As I drove past by the self-serve car wash at the end of our street, an out-of-the-box idea occurred to me: what if I could clean my rug at a car wash the same way I clean my car’s floor mats? I wasn’t totally confident that it would work, but I was willing to give it a try due to the sorry state the rug was in.
How to Clean a Rug at a Car Wash
I headed to the car wash with my rug, clipped it up on the wall, and started spraying it down. I couldn’t BELIEVE how grimy the water was that was coming off of the rug, but I found it oddly satisfying too!
After my successful car wash rug cleaning, I just set the rug in the bed of my husband’s truck and headed home. (If you don’t have a truck, you could squeeze out enough water to stop it from dripping and set it on a few spare bath towels to help keep your trunk or seats dry.)
Once I got home, I put the rug out in the sun to dry, and soon I had it back in my kitchen looking good as new!
Related: 18 Brilliant Hacks That Will Make Cleaning Your Car a Breeze
And once I know something works, I want to try it on everything, so I set myself to brainstorming other items you could clean at a car wash. Here’s what I came up with!
More Surprising Things You Can Clean at a Car Wash
1. Patio Equipment
Not sure where or how to clean your patio umbrella? Take it to a self-serve car wash and give it a thorough cleaning! Consider cleaning these other patio items there while you’re at it:
- Umbrellas and sun shades
- Patio furniture
- Charcoal grills
- Storage bins
- Window screens
Related: How to Put Away Your Outdoor Furniture the Right Way
2. Toys & Baby Gear
Not sure how to clean up bulky outdoor toys or other baby/kid gear? Take it down to the car wash! It’s a good option for cleaning things like:
- Wading pools
- Outdoor toys
- Bikes/trikes
- Baby gates
- High chairs
- Strollers
3. Yard & Garden Equipment
Giving your yard and garden equipment a good cleaning at the beginning or end of the season is a good way to keep it looking great! Spray down these and other outdoor items at a nearby car wash:
- Bird baths
- Planters and pots
- Compost bins
- Wood items you’re planning to refinish
4. Camping Gear
It’s dirty out there in the great outdoors, but camping gear and equipment isn’t always easy to clean at home! Head to a nearby car wash bay to clean camping gear like:
- Ice chests
- Cots
- Fire grates
- Tarps
- Camping chairs
- Boots and shoes
5. Miscellaneous (Bulky, Grimy & Hard-to-Clean Items)
- Ladders
- Doormats
- Pet crates
- Garbage cans and recycling bins
- Greasy range hood filters
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Have you ever cleaned anything unusual at the car wash?
We had a small home pressure washer that I used to clean my thick braided throw rugs. Just lightly sprayed with rug spot cleaner and pushed the dirt away — done on the driveway. Worked like a dream. I now use the car wash, sans the car wash soap spray, since the home pressure washer is no more.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Ball Pants after a dusty, dirty game!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m going to dissent on this one and say, “Ugh, no thanks!” Some car washes recycle their water and I’ll be honest, in some places, the water stinks 😵💫 I decided a year ago to use a karcher /high pressure washer, our own water, and I can take my time to wash anything, whenever I wish. I’m not holding up anybody and the water doesn’t stink! 😀🤭
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Large hard to clean bird cages
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Wow! For those without a hose attachment where they live, this is priceless!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Try putting the high chair in the shower at home with the hottest water.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Love these hints. Wish my mom was still living she would love everyone’s ideas too. She was my go to gal for handy hints.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have horses and I do this with my horse blankets and pads. Works great!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I wouldn’t do this in my town. We have permanent water restrictions and the car washes here reuse their water so you are using water which has previously washed off bird poop off vehicles and who knows what off tires. It is a good thing they do that though because in the years we had extreme drought and when we were under level 5 water restrictions when we couldn’t do any outside watering or home car washing, the car washes were allowed to stay open certain days of the week
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The water in the car washes is filtered and cleaned as part of the cycle, so you aren’t spreading disease from animal poop, etc.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.How about mini blinds? Yes please!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It might be a little strong for mini blinds, especially if they are the thin plastic. If they are rigid, might just work!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.GREAT IDEAS HERE, NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE…..I BET A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE DOING THIS…..
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Love all the tips you share. This one was especially good!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Brilliant! Will be part of my Fall clean-up routine this year!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Love your posts!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Oh my gosh! This is too funny. I have this picture in my head of you having a big truck full of stuff going to the car wash. lol. People will have to go to the next line behind you. lol. This is great information. I’m thinking of things to go now. lol thanks! Hugs, treen
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If you’re lucky enough to have a pressure washer, you can do this all at home.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I was thinking the same thing; I’m just missing the clamps. My husband can come up with something, I’m sure!
Clamps are very inexpensive at Harbor Freight.
LOL, treen, that’s exactly what I was picturing! Well, that, and curious folks who went to wash their trucks sticking their heads around the corner of the bay she was in, wondering why there was a lady in there with a bunch of lawn furniture until they saw her gorgeous telltale blonde hair tied up under her kerchief. Then they realize it’s their famous Jillee; the lady who does things differently…whose ideas may be unconventional, but they get the job done with less effort and expense, and she willingly shares them with everyone; neighbors in town and neighbors online for free and all for the simple joy of helping others. They all know she has a heart of gold and is the sweetest lady who always smiles and is the first to help anyone in need, and soon the car wash lot turns into an impromptu party with everyone sharing ideas and eating (not sure where the food materializes from, but it’s certainly not the car wash’s vending machine!) and talking and laughing and somehow the local little league is saved and gets new uniforms (“Jillee’s Juniors”/”One Good Team”, anyone?) or they are able to build a badly needed new wing for the school’s growing student body (due to all of the young new families moving to the area because of how safe and strong the community is.)
Yeah, my Dad says that I’ve ALWAYS had a huge imagination…
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I can’t help my Jillee-hero-worship thing, though. I read the OGT emails every morning and when I’ve got something that I’m not sure how to do, or I don’t know the best way of going about it, I check the website for tips, and often she has the answer!
Ha ha – I love this story! Thanks Kathryn, I’m so glad to have you around :-)
How about telling us how to clean those gross microwave bacon trays?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I haven’t ever used one before, but I imagine it’s pretty greasy! I would use Dawn dish soap and then sprinkle baking soda over the top. Scrubbing with this mixture should remove all the grease! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I spray my tray with oil and wash it in the dishwasher.
I started doing this a few years ago! I’ve also taken a portable crib to deep clean vomit out of the mesh. Because they recycle water, sometimes you want to give your items a rinse at home, like the crib, or plant pots. Most on this (GREAT!) list though, I wouldn’t bother.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Also, I wouldn’t use those vacuums for water, but I WOULD bring a storage bin to cart my wet stuff home in.
..car washes recycle water, so you are getting water that has been dirtied up by the past 100,000 cars…the filters are filthy and you get lots of grit scratching your car….filthy recycled water is what they use
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I don’t know where to heard recycled car-wash water scratched cars but it doesn’t. They are required to recycle water in my state and cars all come out shiny, not scratched.
BTW’s…Perhaps you can use the vacuum option to suck up the excess water if ringing out is not an option.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I think it might do wonders with a children’s car seat cover? Anybody tried?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.A polite caution and request from a car wash owner.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.While we are happy for you to wash any item with simple dirt, please do not wash BBQ grates or other greasy items. It mucks up our water and creates a very expensive environmental hazard for us. And for God’s sake ease do not change gears your oil or dump oils and greases in our reclaim systems. Also, the person behind you has to wash their car with the same greasy brush you just used on your BBQ grates. Please be mindful of our environment, costs to operators and your fellow human in general.
I completely agree and completely understand, great reminders. My life has been spent in the restaurant business and I understand the grease issue like no other…Animal fat and oils are a nasty business and so difficult to eliminate. And when you use chemicals to eliminate the grease, that’s one more not so nice addition to the car wash’s recycling system that provides the clean water for Jillee to clean her carpet! Great advice, tip, suggestion and reminder.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Very dirty boys baseball pants clean up well at the car wash!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Be sure to look for signs prohibiting such things.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Love this idea! I’m currently doing inventory in my house for what I can spray the hell out of….at the car wash. *yes I did sing that part…” its gonna be epic. Stay tuned.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You can also clean pack n plays at the car wash and it does a much better job than trying to scrub out all that yuck with a brush at home! Then once you get it all clean and back home, just set it on your patio, porch or in your yard for drying. I always spritz them with a bleach and water solution as well so then it all dries at the same time. After this treatment they are good as new, clean, sanitized and ready for use again.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You should us vinegar, not bleach, on anything for a baby! Bleach can cause skin irritation and if the get any residue in their mouth.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.make sure you check the material that the pack and play is made of. Some are made of a cardboard type material so they will warp if using too much water. I found out the hard way, when I left the “mattress” part to soak in the tub. When I checked on it I found a soggy mess. Even tho I believe alot of these are made with a Plastic piece in the mattress, some are not. And for someone who’s name is MotherEarth,,Bleach, really?!?!?! Bleach is horrible for our true Mother.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The wet and soapy floor of the car wash where a friend recently went to wash outdoor furniture caused her to slip and fall and break her wrist. Be careful!
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