Proctor: Slick car washer saves detailing time

Published August 28, 2006 at midnight

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Washing the car is one of those time-honored traditions. As a teenager, I loved cleaning and polishing my 1968 Olds Cutlass, with the Rocket V-8 engine.

But then comes the day when having a clean set of wheels isn't a priority, when the time-honored tradition becomes something there isn't enough time to do.

So when the folks at Viaworld asked me to try out their Power Sidekick Automobile Care System, I figured I'd see whether this gadget could shave some time from the cleaning cycle.

The Power Sidekick works with a rechargeable battery pack that powers a single motor, with attachments for washing, vacuuming and polishing your vehicle. I was interested in a handful of factors:

Its setup - i.e., switching out attachments. How easy is it to handle, since I'd be bending down to clean tires and wheels with the power washer and lifting it to wash the top of my truck?

How often would I have to put in more soap and water? Would the battery hold its charge? And how well does it clean, and does it save time?

Setup: The manual says to allow 10 hours for the initial battery charge (though it was actually charged in under three), which means you need to plan ahead - in other words, not like grabbing a bucket and heading out for a wash on a whim. I charged the battery on Saturday so I could wash the truck on Sunday. The company says the usual charger time (after the unit is broken in) is about 1 1/2 hours.

Instructions were easy to follow, and the attachments snapped in and out easily. But the snap-on handles did not fit tight; I realized it was easier to hold the power washer without them.

Handling: A small person might find it difficult to maneuver the power washer, though the vacuum and polisher/buffer should be no problem. The power washer attachment makes the Sidekick akin to a string trimmer (think cutting weeds and grass) - only you'd rarely if ever be lifting the trimmer to shoulder height or higher, as you would the power washer. With the main power unit (3.3 pounds) attached, the power washer (4 pounds) weighs just over 7 pounds.

The polisher/buffer (1.9 pounds) is a shorter attachment, and the vacuum (1.2 pounds) is basically the same as those small models specifically made to clean your car. Both were easy to use.

Soap and water: A small container in the power washer's housing holds the soap and water solution; I found soap made specifically for washing cars works best. I had to fill the container (about 20 ounces) three times to finish cleaning my truck (a Toyota double-cab with a 5-foot bed and camper top).

Battery: It held its initial charge through a couple of washes, and I never noticed any dropoff in power.

Cleaning: Let's start with the power washer. It's nice not having to drag around a hose and bucket or keep wringing out rags (and there's no washing with dirty water).

It does save time, though you still may have to grab a rag or small brush to reach nooks and crannies. I was surprised at how well the rotating brush cleaned my wheels; it quickly washed away brake dust.

The unit also made washing the top of my truck much easier, since I didn't have to use a step stool or ladder.

I was not thrilled with the washer's work on windows. I had to go back over them because the brush left swirl marks on the glass, even after rinsing (like how rain drops spot glass after drying).

The vacuum worked great. It had plenty of suction (got the pebbles and even picked up a few coins), and it's easy to empty the filter.

The polisher/buffer worked fine, though it got me to wondering how many people actually wax their vehicles these days.

Time saved? I was able to wash and vacuum my truck in under an hour, a job that normally would take at least 90 minutes.

Would I buy the Sidekick? Perhaps, if keeping my vehicle clean were a priority, because those time savings would add up. And I certainly would if the weather allowed for washing the family car or truck outdoors, year-round.

But there is something about a bucket of suds.

A car-washing timesaver

• What is it? Power Sidekick Automobile Care System

• What does it do? Battery-operated washing, vacuuming and polishing system

• The cost: $129.95

• Where you can find it: www.powersidekick.com

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