Car Wash Question

[chino]

Ok first, yes I did a search, it brought up exactly DICK. I don't know if it's the update but most of my searches are coming up nihl. Second I dug through 25 pages of appearance threads and got no where. I know there was a thread back a couple of months ago but I can't find it. That said heres my question:

How do you wash your car? Texas has become the freakin dust bowl lately and I am getting a layer of dirt that will not come off with touchless washing alone. Every time I wash it down I still see a thin layer of dirt on the car left when I am done. If I am going to do a soap rub down, what material should I be using? Obviously not terry cloth, and a chamois would be ruined before I finished half the car. So what should I use to avoid swirls and still get that pesky dirt off?

 

[mcstark]

I use two sponges -- the cheap dogbone shaped kind -- about eight inches long. Use one for everything above the side molding, and the other for everything under (very dirty). Dry it with a chamois.

Then get a decent paint cleaner - Macguir's is my choice. Follow the directions. Then maybe use a claybar, or proceed right to waxing.

The trick is to use LOTS of soapy water and don't press with the sponges -- let the soap do the work. You might want to suds the whole car down first, then go back with another bucket of soapy water and the sponges.

I hate touchless car washes -- at least the self-service kind. The don't do dick with just the wand, and I scratched my previous car using the brush.

Anyone else have suggestions? I'm open because this info is simply from my experience, and I haven't hand-washed my 5 yet -- just bought at the end of Sept. It's been to the car wash a couple times, but they don't do as good a job as me.

 

[TX Speed Demon]

Meguires Gold Class soap is the way to go. Get everything off with no scrubbing. I use 1 sponge for the car, and 1 cloth for the wheels after the car is done. I also go over each body panel 3 times (can you say OCD?) When all finished I squeege the car dry, but ONLY IF HANDWASHED otherwise you'll get scratches.

I prefer Turtle Wax tire wax on my tires and on all black plastic parts on my pathfinder.

About once a month in the rainy season I use Meguires Wax.

Every 6 months I use Meguires Paint Cleaner, Paint Polisher and Wax.

This process has kept my MSP looking and feeling brand new, she just turned 1 last weekend, and has kept my Pathfinder looking pretty tight too (1997).

 

[garretts77]

I have been using a "sheep-skin"-ish glove and a lot of soap and water. I have washed my car at least once every two weeks if not more often, and it works great. i dry with a chammois. I have clay bar'ed it once, and waxed it twice, and the paint still looks new. It has been raining here (as much as it does in San Diego anyways) so I have been too lazy to wash it lately.

 

[michaelnchelle]

I am not sure if this will help with the scenario you are describing, but I used to live in a dry dusty area with a black car. I got one of those California Car Dusters and it worked great for getting the light layer of dust off the car. You have to do it a couple times a day though, otherwise the dry dust gets "wet" from humidity or morning dew or whatever and then it sticks. But it only takes a couple minutes so its not a big deal to just run the duster over the car. It works well to get that dust off right after a wash or after you wax and there is powder left over.

Now, if your problem isnt dry dust, but damp dirt and road grime, this idea wont help much at all... I have that problem now and I pretty much have to just hose the car down and carefully wipe it off with a terry cloth towel... I do that every day or two in between "real" washings.

 

[mcstark]

I have that problem now and I pretty much have to just hose the car down and carefully wipe it off with a terry cloth towel... I do that every day or two in between "real" washings.

I'd be very careful doing this, because any little bit of dirt you don't get off will act like sandpaper with the terry cloth towel. You may not notice anything now, but eventually your paint will start looking dull.

Again, just my experience speaking there.

 

[Matthew]

oklahoma isnt much better if not worse...i got one of those feather duster thingys they sell at autozone and wipe my car down daily in between washes.

 

[parks853]

I wash my car alot. I have had her over a year and looks brand new. I just washed her today adn it is way below freezing in IN. Pulled her in the garage and washed her down. I always start by spraying under the fenders with some tuff cleaner. I use red thunder from malco. but that maybe hard to find. use simple green if not. wash the rims and tires too. I then spray the tuff spots (tar, bugs, etc... ) wash them down next. I then wash the whole car one section at a time starting at the top. fi it is really hot I rinse that section so I dont get spots. dry it next (terry towel). clean out the door, gas door, and trunk sills. make sure it is really dry and wax that thing. if you keep a good coat of wax then you wont get as much dust build up. If you car is really dirty you can use some cleaner wax (maybe a clay bar also). but I dont reccomend using that unless you have to. you can then wax the car later with some polish and/or protectant. like a carnuba. I started a post calle zaino polish.. ever heard of it. there is alot of good info in ther about different kinds of wax. when the search is working check that out.

fi you spend alittle extra time to wax every 3 or 4 months you will keep your car protected and alot cleaner. keep the nasty stuff off the paint. and you will be good. jsut dont dry when it is dirty. like sandpaper. someone already said that.. but it is true.. don tdo it. hope this long ass post helps.

 

[parks853]

click here for the thread with the wax info.

 

[mspdfreak]

Get the Zaino Brothers' complete kit. I costs about $94 shipped, but it is the best stuff I've ever used. The more coats you put on, the deeper the gloss gets. My MSP always looks like its wet. You get 2 claybars, 1 car wash bottle, 2 different waxes (1 regular, 1 for swirl marks), a spray bottle of gloss enhancer and 3 terry-cloth applicator pads.
I'm telling you, they take this s*** seriously! The seams on the applicator pads are inverted so the seam doesn't mark the surface. And they even recommend buying a "Fieldcrest" brand towel and cutting the edges off it to again, keep them from marking the surface.
If you're willing to spend the money and the time, you will have a show-car shine like you wouldn't believe!

(No, I don't work for Zaino!) (drive)

 

[Matthew]

you got any pics?

 

[parks853]

you got any pics?

matthew, click on that link like 3 links up that i posted. there are tons of pics and info on waxs and stuff. people said what they thought about the wax and what they liked instead.

 

[iam7head]

clay bar makes a day and night difference, but with ALOT of elbow grease.

wash with two bucket of water, one do the dirty work and the other with soak and clean sponge.

chamosis and absorber to dry

 

[parks853]

clay bar makes a day and night difference, but with ALOT of elbow grease.

wash with two bucket of water, one do the dirty work and the other with soak and clean sponge.

chamosis and absorber to dry

I do the 2 buckets also. I use one for under the fender wells and rims. adn the other for the rest of the car.