Recommended wash frequency, wax brand

[birdsquared]

I searched the forum, but didn't see a post discussing this. I've only owned beaters up until now, so I rarely washed them and never waxed them. Obviously, when the car gets "too" dirty, you wash it - but assuming regular dirt accumulation, roughly how often do you wash your Prius?

Also, any recommendations for good cleaning and waxing products that treat the Toyota paint "just right"?

Thanks.

[Tideland Prius]

I wash it frequently.. usually once a week in the summer, if not at the very least, every 2 weeks (trying to reduce water consumption here). Given that you live a few cities away from me, you probably experience the same weather (Almost! snow not included) and the same damn seagulls.


There really isn't one holy grail of a product to use. You'll soon find (when this thread starts to fill up) that we use a wide variety of products.

So to start off, here's my arsenal

- Sundance Car Wash Soap (from Canadian Tire)

- Microfibre cloth (for drying)

- Extra soft bristle brush (make sure it's really soft and for car use otherwise you'll end up scratching the paint. Ideally, use a wash mitt. Both my mitts are dirty hence the brush as a substitute).

- Mother's Claybar Kit (Meguire's has one too and I'd get that since it has a bigger claybar than the Mother's and doesn't come with a bottle of wax.. which I don't need. If you're not picky about wax, then the Mother's claybar kit will work)

- Mother's Pre-Wax cleaner (not necessary but there in case I'm too lazy to claybar)

- Mother's Sealant & Glaze

- Mother's Pure Carnuba Paste Wax (not cleaner wax, it's pure wax)

I also have Mother's California Gold Pure Carnuba Cleaner Wax if I'm lazy to use the pre-wax/S&G.

I have no relations to Mother's, it's just that Canadian Tire just happened to have the entire set when I was looking to buy.


For the best shine, go with a carnuba wax. It'll give you that "wet" look. However, because it is a natural product, it won't last as long as the synthetic products.


Take a look at this thread for more information:
Detailing Your Car

[birdsquared]

Tideland, thanks for the link to the detailing thread (which uses the word "wax" many times - dunno why search for "wax" didn't pick it up).

Your recommendations are certainly thorough, though I suppose the inference I was leaving was a little too vague - I didn't do any car cleaning before now, so I was looking for perhaps a recommended regime that is as minimal as possible, while still being "acceptable" (to varying degrees of "acceptable" of course).

For example, reading through the detailing thread, and the 'users' Owner manual, and other linked threads, and other searching, I am wondering about how workable the following is: Get the Mr. Clean Auto Dry (MCAD) device, use that to clean the car. Then use NuFinish Paste (once - maybe twice - a year). Then continue to use the MCAD on an as needed basis (twice a month or less if possible). If I were to do a claybar-ing - that would be after the MCAD and before the NuFinish, right?

I suppose what I am asking is for the simplest and most efficient methodology, rather than a detail oriented, time consuming one. Most of the multi-step procedures seem to be written by people who like cleaning their cars (not that there's anything wrong with that ). If there is a one-two punch that'll do the job - that's perfect for me.

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by birdsquared

Tideland, thanks for the link to the detailing thread (which uses the word "wax" many times - dunno why search for "wax" didn't pick it up).

Your recommendations are certainly thorough, though I suppose the inference I was leaving was a little too vague - I didn't do any car cleaning before now, so I was looking for perhaps a recommended regime that is as minimal as possible, while still being "acceptable" (to varying degrees of "acceptable" of course).

For example, reading through the detailing thread, and the 'users' Owner manual, and other linked threads, and other searching, I am wondering about how workable the following is: Get the Mr. Clean Auto Dry (MCAD) device, use that to clean the car. Then use NuFinish Paste (once - maybe twice - a year). Then continue to use the MCAD on an as needed basis (twice a month or less if possible). If I were to do a claybar-ing - that would be after the MCAD and before the NuFinish, right?

I suppose what I am asking is for the simplest and most efficient methodology, rather than a detail oriented, time consuming one. Most of the multi-step procedures seem to be written by people who like cleaning their cars (not that there's anything wrong with that ). If there is a one-two punch that'll do the job - that's perfect for me.

np. I think "wax" is too short? (i.e. it has to be a 4 letter word or longer).


Ahh haha. MCAD is ok although you're pretty much forced to use their products (soap, filter etc).

The easiest is probably an automated wash lol (I use Esso's touchless so I minimise the risk of getting scratches from the brushes).

In terms of self-cleaning, I recommend Optimum No Rinse. It requires two buckets of water - one with the solution, another with just plain water to be used as a rinse bucket. That's it. No need for a hose. Just dip your mitt in the solution, wipe the car and rinse it in the 2nd bucket whenever the mitt is dirty. Once the car is "washed" (or rather wiped clean), then just dry with a microfibre cloth (or similar).

I can't remember who but someone here bought a bottle of Optimum No Rinse on my recommendation and was satisfied with it (hopefully a search can turn his/her name up).

NuFinish once or twice a year is fine. I usually wax before and after summer (or before and after winter.. depending on my schedule and the weather).

You're right about the claybar. It's after the wash and before the wax. Claybarring removes the wax so make sure you have time to wax the car if you're going to claybar. You'll be amazed how much crap is stuck to the paint (mine's already rough since I last claybar in July or thereabouts).

Do it well and you'll get great results. Here are my glamour shots:
Wash/Dry/Claybar/Pre-Wax/Sealant&Glaze/Wax = One Shiny Car

[birdsquared]

Thanks again. And for any others reading this - I figured out better search terms that found the following threads that address this exact topic (...)
Washing 101
Car or hand wash
What brand of cleaning products

[Bryan5]

I have a question about microfiber cloths. I bought one to dry off my prius after I wash it, but it didn't work like I expected. It leaves streaks on the car and windshield, and I end up having to use a regular towel to completely dry it off. Is there some special method required to get it to dry more thoroughly?

[birdsquared]

Ooh - I'm interested in the response, since I just put in an order for some Cobra microfiber cloths to go with the Optimum No-Rinse, and the Klasse All-in-One that I also just ordered...

[richard schumacher]

My previous car was also a beater that got little washing, and my method is near the easy end of the scale. For four years I've used Mr. Clean Autodry whenever I feel like washing the Prius and it looks great: glossy and unswirled. I use one mitt for the wheels only and one all cotton mitt for everything else, and launder the mitts after each use.

I waxed it once with Turtle when it was new, and not since. I'll probably re-wax the roof in the coming year as water is not beading on it as well as before.

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by Bryan5

I have a question about microfiber cloths. I bought one to dry off my prius after I wash it, but it didn't work like I expected. It leaves streaks on the car and windshield, and I end up having to use a regular towel to completely dry it off. Is there some special method required to get it to dry more thoroughly?

Make sure it isn't cool? I've noticed (because of the nature of MF cloths) that if the ambient air temp is low enough, after I wipe, there are tons of tiny little beads of water left behind and I can't remove it no matter how much I wipe. Like you, I have to use a regular cloth/towel to clean up the tiny beads. In the summer, it works well since the beads of water are so small and the temperature is warm enough that they evaporate.

Originally Posted by birdsquared

Ooh - I'm interested in the response, since I just put in an order for some Cobra microfiber cloths to go with the Optimum No-Rinse, and the Klasse All-in-One that I also just ordered...

Looks like you're all set. The Klasse AIO seems to be recommended often so let me know how that works out for you. Ditto the Optimum No-Rinse. I hope to get a set once my current carwash soap runs out.

[edthefox5]

Originally Posted by birdsquared

I searched the forum, but didn't see a post discussing this. I've only owned beaters up until now, so I rarely washed them and never waxed them. Obviously, when the car gets "too" dirty, you wash it - but assuming regular dirt accumulation, roughly how often do you wash your Prius?

Also, any recommendations for good cleaning and waxing products that treat the Toyota paint "just right"?

Thanks.

After some experimenting I have found that the original Toyo cleaner/sealer that came in the center console of the car when new works really good. I wash the car once a week but have noticed the hood because of it being aluminum needs some special attention. First I use the original Toyo stuff as a cleaner than have had good results putting Zymoil wax on after cleaning & buffing the Toyo stuff off. But every wax everyone has mentioned so far is great too. I like Zymoil as I'm lazy and it seems to go on & come off easy. I have just done the hood so far about about every week or so. After 5 months I'm getting ready to Toyo/Wax the whole car. So far the hood has no scratches or dings which I have been expecting as so many posters have had issues with the paint on the hood being soft and getting chipped. Try my system...you'll like the results.