Time Required: 45 minutes Price: $5 Materials:   Dirty Vehicle   Buckets   Soap   Sponges   Hose Hooked to a Faucet   Clothes that can get wet Rated: 3 / 5

This activity is great for hot summer days. Not only do you get to spend time together, you also get wet, get the car cleaned, and have a great time.

Start by wetting the car down. Only the outside though... :) make sure the windows are up.

Take the buckets, filled half way with water and a squirt of soap, and throw in a sponge. Start rubbing down the vehicle.

Once the whole thing has been scrubbed, hose it off. You can also just dump buckets of water over it if the hose doesn't reach.

Be prepared to get wet. Washing a car is easy but you will get wet for sure. :)

Car Wash Winter Adaptation:

Unfortunately your car still gets dirty in the winter months from the salt and grime on highways and streets; especially if you live where the streets are salted and sanded to combat the snow and ice.

The do-it-yourself carwash is the best option as a one-on-one activity for a teenager or older child with some muscles. Younger children would probably not be able to handle the power of the water shooting out of the nozzle, but it could still be a workable activity if you are holding the hose with them.

Dress should be rain gear or large plastic bags with holes cut out for head and arms (if the children are young enough to endure it.) Older children and teens might not need the gear if they are the only one in the way of the spray. Keep on the same side of the car as the person wielding the water and use the scrubbing brush as they wash away the grime with the high powered spray.