Anyone know the proper way to wash the car to minimize swirls ? Also if anyone has any tips on how to clean those damn rims. Ive tried steamcleaning them and that doenst work. Right now I just use paper towels and wipe it off . . . 5 min to wash the car 40 min to clean the rims . . .
carwash
- Thread starter coyfish
- Start date
mazdaspeedster3
Member
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- Mazdaspeed3. 2008
Yea, no fun. I found a great tool at Wal-Mart and have heard that Miejers has them as well. It is a big blue brush that attaches to your cordless drill. Dip it in th e bucket of soap and then put it between the spokes and pull the trigger. It is AMAZING! Cut the time to clean my rims by 75%. My buddy Steve has a MS6 and he has used it. He has been on the search for one since. As far as washing your car without swirls, get as much dirt off as possible with the hose and use plenty of soap, to much is never enough. Soap is really just a lubricant. Make sure your mitts are CLEAN and your drying towels are clean. Keeping your car clean more often will cut down on bad effects from lack of wax, drive through car washes and the like.
the black mica should not have many swirl marks at least that you can see since the metallic flake in the paint helps to fight that. i usually just wash with a really soft mit and then use a soft cotton towel to dry off. also make sure you are keeping your car waxed, after i wax i can't see any swirl marks, just check out my pics in the show off thread, i just clayed my car yesterday.
as for the wheels, i just get a wash mit and go between the spokes, only takes a few minutes a wheel, the fronts take a little longer since thats where all the break dust accumulates.
as for the wheels, i just get a wash mit and go between the spokes, only takes a few minutes a wheel, the fronts take a little longer since thats where all the break dust accumulates.
Thanks for the posts. Yeah mazdaspeedster ill look into that. As for the swirls . . . i don't have any just want to make sure im doing everything correctly. I have this big brush on a pole that I use. Its probably a bad idea because I can only imagine the dirt and stuff that gets stuck in there and presses against the car. Guess ill hit up wall mart and look for some soft handheld sponge type things.
The brake dust is pretty weird. In the back there is less dust but the dust is more like dirt. It wipes off easily with a towel and just falls off like dirt. On the front wheels the stuff is like oil smeared on. It smears across the rim when I wipe and takes forever to clean.
Also are all drive through carwashes bad? Most of the new washes (not the cheapy gas station ones) have those long noodle like washers that hang and wipe against your car. I know the spinning brush type washes found in most older washes are bad.
Once again thanks for your input.
The brake dust is pretty weird. In the back there is less dust but the dust is more like dirt. It wipes off easily with a towel and just falls off like dirt. On the front wheels the stuff is like oil smeared on. It smears across the rim when I wipe and takes forever to clean.
Also are all drive through carwashes bad? Most of the new washes (not the cheapy gas station ones) have those long noodle like washers that hang and wipe against your car. I know the spinning brush type washes found in most older washes are bad.
Once again thanks for your input.
OJ Bartley
Member
What I've been doing lately is going to the do it yourself wash, but bringing my own equipment.
1) I start out with the sprayer on "soap" and get the car all nice and wet and a little soapy. special attention to the areas that collect dirt like the rear bumper and side skirts to try to get the heavy stuff off.
2) Then I blast the wheels,
3) and switch over to the "soap brush" attachment... but do NOT use the brush on the car. I just let it squirt all the soap out and drip it all over the car. This thing really puts out a lot of soap, so it works pretty well.
4) Then I use my own clean wash mitt and start at the top and work my way down. I know to do things properly I should have a rinse bucket and rinse the mitt after every panel, but since I try to do the car once a week, there isn't really any heavy dirt on it, so I tend to do the whole car.
5) Next I fire up the sprayer again and rinse everything off, and usually spray on a coat of wax on the "wax" (duh) setting. If I'm doing a real waxing, I skip this part, and move ahead.
6) Pull the car out of the bay and wipe down all the panels with my California Water Blade, which gets off the majority of the water, and then I switch over to The Absorber chamois to get everything in the nooks and crannies that the Blade can't reach.
6b) If I'm doing a real waxing, I do it here.
7) Admire, drive home.
1) I start out with the sprayer on "soap" and get the car all nice and wet and a little soapy. special attention to the areas that collect dirt like the rear bumper and side skirts to try to get the heavy stuff off.
2) Then I blast the wheels,
3) and switch over to the "soap brush" attachment... but do NOT use the brush on the car. I just let it squirt all the soap out and drip it all over the car. This thing really puts out a lot of soap, so it works pretty well.
4) Then I use my own clean wash mitt and start at the top and work my way down. I know to do things properly I should have a rinse bucket and rinse the mitt after every panel, but since I try to do the car once a week, there isn't really any heavy dirt on it, so I tend to do the whole car.
5) Next I fire up the sprayer again and rinse everything off, and usually spray on a coat of wax on the "wax" (duh) setting. If I'm doing a real waxing, I skip this part, and move ahead.
6) Pull the car out of the bay and wipe down all the panels with my California Water Blade, which gets off the majority of the water, and then I switch over to The Absorber chamois to get everything in the nooks and crannies that the Blade can't reach.
6b) If I'm doing a real waxing, I do it here.
7) Admire, drive home.
lazybusinessman
Member
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- 2004 mazda6
yeah mother's makes a "powerball" for wheels and for paint now. i have the paint one and its great. i like it a lot more then my buffer. takes off wax really easy and quick.
i havent used the wheel one, but i would probably suggest getting the mini one to get in the tight spots.
i havent used the wheel one, but i would probably suggest getting the mini one to get in the tight spots.
yikes to using the california water blade. i've known people who use those and they scratch the paint all up, i'd never let one touch my car.
to the OP, the reason the backs are just dirty and not black like the front cause the fronts do most of the braking so the brake dust accumulates more. and i wouldn't use the brush on a poll. i would never let anything with bristles touch my car.
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- 2011 Mustang GT
+1 to the wheel chuck brush. I normally clean the wheels with a soft terry mitt that I only use on the wheels, then have a microfiber wash mitt for the painted surfaces. To dry, I run the squeegee first, then chamois on the paint. I finish up with a soft terry towel on the wheels and I'm all set to go. Start to finish takes me about an hour and ten minutes to finish.
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- 2011 Mustang GT
One thing about the wheels. I do my own tire rotation, so when I do that, I take the time to wash the wheels thoroughly, wax inside and out of the hubs, and put them back on the car.
As for the blades, if you half-ass the wash job, the blade is bad. If you take a little more time and keep your car properly washed/waxed, they seem to do just fine.I've used them for years and never had any major issues with scratches. If the car is extremely dirty, I won't use it, but on regular washing, I use the blades to get the worst of the water off.
As for the blades, if you half-ass the wash job, the blade is bad. If you take a little more time and keep your car properly washed/waxed, they seem to do just fine.I've used them for years and never had any major issues with scratches. If the car is extremely dirty, I won't use it, but on regular washing, I use the blades to get the worst of the water off.
how i clean wheels:http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123717580
Im going to write one up for washing as well.
Im going to write one up for washing as well.
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- 2011 Mustang GT
For wheels, I like using Eagle One A2Z or Meguars All-wheel. Both soap up well and stick enough to scrub, and cut the grime very well on wheels.
mazdaspeedster3
Member
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- Mazdaspeed3. 2008
I hate the guy who is in the bay at the do it yourself with the bucket and mitt! Do that at home! Also, you wont use the brush but you are not rinsing your mitt? Might as well pressure wash the brush out and just use that.
I cleaned my wheel wells once. Took me like almost 2 hours to make them all spotless. With my clean wheels, everytime i have to brake . . . i cry on the inside. Definately gotta hit up walmart get buy some of that grime removing gel and an assortment of brushes. But damn completely clean rims look amazing.
Cant wait to get new rims. I like the tsw nogaro's. Very simple and look so much easier to clean.
Cant wait to get new rims. I like the tsw nogaro's. Very simple and look so much easier to clean.
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- 2011 Mustang GT
Yes, the stock brake pads on the MS6 are especially dusty. I've never owned a vehicle like that before. Good bite, but dusty as hell. It usually takes me a good 20 min to clean my wheels before I start washing my car, and I always rinse the bucket out and put fresh soap and water in it before I continue. I'm planning on looking for a less dusty pad when they wear down.
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- 2011 Mustang GT
Did you use a wheel wax or just a standard auto wax?
