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?
Brilliant idea! Definitely going to do it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have a large playpen I have opened up around my patio for the dogs. I was thinking of taking it with me as my sister has cats, but being outside it is filthy. I’ll fold it up and take it to the car wash. Thank you so much ! I live in a condo so I don’t have access to a hose.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Interesting post. It gave me the giggles big time. We do have a self serve car wash not far from our house. But, with my parents being thrifty , we usually wash the car and other stuff at home. The only time I can recall my Dad even using the car wash, was if there was a
Please log in or create a free account to comment.coupon on the back of the receipt. We do sometimes will use their big vacuum hoses occasionally to clean the car mats.
I will suggest this great idea to my husband for the next time he cleans the pool and hot tub filters!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m contemplating taking my bigger area rugs to car wash. Would it be an overkill? :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It is so funny that you made a post about this and it is a great way to clean so many things. My husband loves the car wash. He washes just about everything there. I am not kidding. He will take anything down there and clean it off. It really is a good idea. Our car wash is 1/2 mile from the house in this little town so nothing gets so wet that we can’t get it dried off quickly. Everyone should give this a try if possible. It is a great time saver, and time is money.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I take the filters to my hot tub to the car wash….and large pots when I want to re-pot
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Wow, that is amazing! I would have never thought of that. I will have to try this. Thank you for the idea! You rock! :0)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This was an OMG moment post for me! I have been to the car wash many, many, many times for the car, never did I take a moment to think outside the box. Now I can’t stop thinking about all the things I want to clean there. All outside summer items are hitting the car wash this weekend to get ready to put away for the season. No more opening up yucky chairs and cushions in the spring. Plus those kitchen rugs and door mats! Thanks for turning on the light bulb over my head! (:
Please log in or create a free account to comment.LOVE THIS POST!!! People looked at me crazy years ago when I fist did my area rugs in one. They come out great. Did try a pressure washer but I pay for water at home and it’s expensive. The pressure washer on large rugs don’t have the greater pressure ore wide span of a car wash so you’re done in no time! Great ideas of other things. I’ll just have to load up! :0)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Things I’ve had success with are picnic coolers, all sizes, washable furnace filters, child cars seats (the covers are extremely hard to reattach so it’s much easier to clean the whole seat rather than take the cover off to wash) and floor registers.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I know beekeepers who spray out their honey extractors at the car wash. A very messy job otherwise
Please log in or create a free account to comment.White baseball pants can also be washed at the car wash.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If one has patio furniture, pool and a garage etc, why not invest in a pressure washer than you wouldn’t have to run to the car wash? Two years ago as I was beginning to move, I noted the back deck was yucky and slick. Asked a friend to come over and clean it. It was remarkable. Looked like new!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Since then, I’ve seen my daughter clean pool decks and many other items using that kind of device.
1. I’ve seen people washing their cows and horses at a car wash
Please log in or create a free account to comment.2. My friends and I have washed each other at the car wash after a day at the beach… No soap, stand way back! Ha!
Washing horses and cows at the car wash is very dangerous for the animals. The pressure of those wands can literally cut skin. I certainly wouldn’t want my poor horse cut by a high pressure hose.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My very first thought, exactly.
I would not recommend washing any living thing at a high pressure car wash. As a teen I sprayed my sister’s leg with one of those things and her poor thigh was bruised for weeks!
I used a rolling pin to get excess water from some chairs that I pressure washed. It works great.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If you own a pressure washer, you could accomplish the same results. If you need soap, then a bucket and brush would work.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great ideas!!! You got me thinking and I am going to try to clean my rug with my husband’s power washer. Wish me luck!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Could add up to a lot of visits to the car wash . . . What about investing in a pressure washer? Never used one myself, but it sounds feasible.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Read your post after I posted. Great minds…
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This post made me LOL picturing the guy next to you at the car wash cleaning his car and watching the clown car of items you brought to wash!! I think the Chuck Taylor shoes may have been my favorite hanging in the bay. Thanks for a humorous start to my day! Absolutely ingenious!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This is such a creative way to clean! Thank u for ure inspiring posts!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.THAT was beyond great! What an entertaining and such a clever post! You made me giggle and now the possibilities are endless!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You’ve just inspired me! Now I know how to get my son’s older, outgrown wheelchair sparkling clean before taking photos & putting it up for sale!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Love all your posts, but this one really screams to my OCD! Thank you so much!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Absolutely brilliant!!!!
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