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Sensory Overload! Check Out This Summer Series Activity from R&T Crew

Photo credit: Zurijeta
Photo credit: Zurijeta

Check out R&T Crew's latest summer series activity, an at-home car wash that keeps the kids cool and your car clean!

Plus, sign up for R&T Crew full time to receive unlimited access to at-home activities that keep them constantly occupied.

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Car washes were first introduced in the U.S. in 1914, but they were a far cry from what we know them as today. Back then, car washes used person-power to push the vehicles through each stage of the cleaning process. It wasn’t until three decades later that the first semi-automatic car wash made its debut. For as long as we can remember, we’ve been enamored with the sights and sounds of the car wash. The mechanics of a tunnel filled with oversized brushes, rushing streams of water, and soapy suds are more than enough to hold our attention.

All of the above is precisely why we think the perfect way to cool off and incorporate water play on a warm summer day is with our own RT Crew Car Wash. In this DIY activity, your kids will help measure, cut, and build the geometry of a car wash structure. After the basic foundation has been assembled, they’ll gather the most eye-catching and colorful supplies for decoration. Then, crank up the hose and you’re open for business!

Here’s what you’ll need for the structure:

-Drill

-Measuring tape

-PVC pipe cutters

-5 -1/2 in. x 5 ft. PVC pipes (cut to 5 - 3 ft. segments)

-18 - 1/2 in. x 5 ft. PVC pipes (cut to 36 - 2.5 ft. segments)

-1 PVC female hose adapter

-8 PVC four-way tees

-20 PVC tees

-8 PVC caps

-4 PVC elbows

Here's what you'll need for the decoration:

-Scissors

-Watering hose

-8 Pool noodles

-8 Small sponges

-3 Large yellow sponges

-6 Plastic table cloths

Instructions:

1. Begin allotting the pieces for your structure—parents: You’ll want to help with this step! Grab your pipe cutters and start cutting your PVC pipes into 2.5 ft. segments until you have 36 pieces—these will form the frame of your car wash.

2. Next, you’ll move on to cutting the pieces for the top of your car wash. This time, you’ll cut the PVC pipe into 3 ft. segments until you have 5 pieces. Then, take your drill and create small holes halfway through the length of the pipe, about every 3 in.

3. Now you can begin to assemble the giant puzzle! At this step, keep your PVC caps, tees, and four-way tees handy to connect at the intersections and round off the corners. Grab the kids to help and begin laying out the sidewalls and the top of the car wash. As you position the top sections of your car wash, make sure the holes are facing down towards the ground, which will allow the water to trickle out. Place the PVC caps at the top most sections of your pipes.

HELPFUL HINT: Think of this structure as a giant grid—imagining that the three-dimensional configuration is 4-squares across and 2-squares tall will help you envision how your car wash will take shape.

4. Connect the PVC female hose adapter to the bottom of your structure in order to install your watering hose.

5. Once your PVC framework is complete, it’s time to add the bells and whistles! Use your plastic table cloths, sponges, and pool noodles to start fashioning the oversized brushes and bristles seen in a full-sized car wash.

6. Start by taking your plastic table cloths and cutting them into strips, which will hang at the entry and exit points of the car wash, mimicking giant curtains. Cut up more colorful strips to tie around the outer PVC pipes of our car wash—the possibilities are really endless!

7. Grab your smaller sponges and cut them lengthwise into strips, tying them together at their centers to create sponge bombs. String your larger sponges and sponge bombs with pieces of plastic tablecloth and tie them to the top runs for a cool, tethered effect.

8. Lastly, take your pool noodles and bend them over the tops of the structure and slide them onto the ends of the PVC caps to create the archway for your car wash. You can also create a hot dog slit through your pool noodles for easy decorating on other areas of the PVC structure.

9. Time to hit the RT CREW Car Wash! Grab your ride and invite the neighborhood over to take turns driving through the car wash—we think it’s the best way to get your ride spiffed up and cool down all at the same time.

This activity was provided by The Sits Girls.

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