Car washing for dummies

[jseabs]

I have a 2005 black prius. It is my first black car, and I wanted black because IMO no other color looks as nice when the car is clean. I have no issues with the work involved in the weekly washings, etc, but I've had some trouble with my washes. My main problem is that I've noticed a few very faint scratches that I believe resulted from me washing the car and the tools I use. Granted on a silver Prius you probably wouldn't see them, but they are noticable on black if you look for them.

I typically use a wash mit to clean the car (bought it from a BMW dealer for my wife's car a year ago), and I use a clean water bucket for rinsing the mit between loads from a bucket that is a soap-water mix. Any words of advice? I've completely unfamilar with high end car washing techniques, really never researched it. What works for you? Is there any hope for me to somehow buff out the scraches? They aren't terrible, but I feel terrible about them because I'm pretty sure they are a result from me cleaning the car.

[galaxee]

I feel the same way about my 05 Black. And it's my first new car as well as my first black car. I'm actually debating switching over to a touchless automatic wash for 3 weeks out of the month. (I wash weekly) to avoid swirl marks as much as possible... because after 4 months of weekly washings they're starting to bug me.

I just ordered some wax products from Zaino too. I was impressed by what others here are saying so I thought I'd try them myself when we had some extra money. I will report back when they come in and I have a free day to do the application.

[Tideland Prius]

Avoid sponges as they trap dirt and are hard to clean. A mitt is reasonable but again wash it frequently. The easiest would be Mr. Clean AutoDry. If they're fine scratches, waxing will buff them out.

[Fredatgolf]

I use microfiber towels. I find I can wash with very little soap. Sometimes I can just rinse with a couple of towels and then dry with one or two. I am using Meguiars detailing spray and the finish really stays slick. I was concerned about what I am doing so I watch really hard for swirl marks or scratches. I clean the finish every day or so and use soap only when the soiling is heavy or there are a number of buggies.

[jandmayra]

Based on previous experience, I would also recommend using a soap specially formulated for car finishes.

DO NOT USE DISHWASHING DETERGENT!

I had to get my black 1995 Acura Integra repainted after about five year because the clear coat wore off. Funny thing was that the vehicle spent most of its days in the apartment parking lot. I worked from home and rarely drove in abrasive environments like you might find during interstate driving.

[bobc]

Very useful site:

http://forums.roadfly.com/forums/detailing/

[jseabs]

Thanks for all the responses. That link does look very useful bobc, thanks for posting it (lots of info there in the FAQ).

I have always used maguire's car washing detergent in my soapy mix, so I don't think that is my problem. It must be that some really tiny piece of dirt got stuck in my wash mit during the wash that I then inadvertantly rubbed against the finish which caused the scratches. Perhaps going to a microfiber towel will help with respect to this...

Again thanks all

[devo1182]

Try 100% cotton towel.

[Sufferin' Prius Envy]

No small scratches from washing here.

What I do:

1) Wet car with hose to help loosen dirt, etc. Then blast with hose to loosen what will come off to help prevent step two from doing damage.

2) Pressure wash car with the small Karcher electric pressure washer I purchased at Costco. It’s not very powerful and is also low GPM . . . but it does a good enough job for my purposes. I also hit the wheel wells and rims. Even after that, there is still a fine dirty film which step three takes care of.

3) Hand wash with a good quality wash mitt and car soap. Rinse mitt often, and never put dirty mitt back in soap bucket without rinsing mitt first. I have a cheap plastic on/off valve at the business end of the hose which makes it convenient to rinse car and mitt. I place the hose inside the mitt and rinse from the inside out, thereby helping prevent imbedding dirt into the mitt. Never let the mitt touch the ground!!!

Use only straight line washing motions. Do not wash in a circular motion. Circular scratch marks are much easier to see because the light source has a much better chance of reflecting off a circular scratch toward the person viewing the car. Straight line scratch marks do no reflect 360 degrees.

4) Hand dry with a clean soft cloth. I use microfiber cloths that I also purchased a Costco in a bag of a dozen or so. Again, wipe in straight lines, not circles. If there is any sign of dirt, seeds, etc. on the cloth get another cloth. Sometimes cleaning the door or hatch frame will dirty the cloth. After most of the microfiber cloths have been used, I wash them all together in the washing machine with car soap and not with other cloths/clothes. Laundry detergent residue is not good for car wax. These towels are only used for drying the car . . . nothing else!

5) Wax your car and keep a good coat on it! I plan on switching to Zaino after I fill the chips . . . but ANY car wax is preferable to no car wax!!! I have noticed that the microfiber cloths will only leave behind lint when the car need a wax job.

[DaveG]

Here's another good resource for carwashing:

http://homepage.mac.com/darik/pages/carwash.html

Dave