I need to wash my car already! Any reccomendations

[tracysbeans]

OK guys and gals you ALL have me deeply confused now. I think I'm going to have to start to wash my car in my bikini so I can find some kind soul to drive by and offer to help me figure out how to wash my car and with what.

OK can I just go to a regular car wash for now since it's kinda cold yet? I'm talking about one that just sprays your car. No brushes or anything? Someone told me they have one like that at Fleet Farm. To me that will be also quicker to do then washing it myself at home.

Please let me know. Tracy

[windstrings]

Originally posted by tracysbeans@Jan 14 2006, 11:58 PM
OK guys and gals you ALL have me deeply confused now. I think I'm going to have to start to wash my car in my bikini so I can find some kind soul to drive by and offer to help me figure out how to wash my car and with what.

OK can I just go to a regular car wash for now since it's kinda cold yet? I'm talking about one that just sprays your car. No brushes or anything? Someone told me they have one like that at Fleet Farm. To me that will be also quicker to do then washing it myself at home.

Please let me know. Tracy

[snapback]190301[/snapback]

I bet!... if you do not want to deal with the complexities of some of the car products offered... an easy one is "silicone nufinish".. you can pick it up anywhere, its in an orange bottle... its much easier than wax and last alot longer.. removes oxidation and road grime and even tar... Can go one hot or cold and you can do your whole car, then wipe it off.
http://www.autobarn.net/chnfp-80.html

Its called the "once a year car polish", but I like to do it more. Once you use it.. your car won't get as dirty. Dirt will have a hard time sticking to it and when it finally does.. a simple rinse with the water hose will do wonders "not as good as actually washing though".

It cost about 8.00 a bottle and should last you several years.

[Godiva]

After seeing what a car wash does to paint I'll never take my Prius to a car wash. Not even touchless. Not even one that does it by hand. Not even a detailer.

I use the Meguiar's five step plan.

Meguiar's Five Step Paint Care System

I make sure I wash and detail my car in the shade. That may mean I wash it at dusk, dry it and then detail it in the garage.

I wash my car using Gold Class but will be switching to NXT because I have hard water. I use two buckets, both with grit guards. One for clean soap and one to rinse only. There are different colors so I don't get them mixed up.

Two Bucket method

I dry the car with The Absorber.

I use detailer and a clay bar to clay the car. I don't do this every wash, just every few months. (I keep my car garaged.)

I don't have a problem with swirls yet. When I do I'll either use ScratchX by hand or use #80 with my dual action polisher.

It is important to use your pads/applicators for only ONE product and not mix them up. Not even washing and then switching. I mark all of mine.

I use a dual action polisher to apply Deep Crystal Polish with W8006 yellow soft buff foam polishing pad at 3-5. Small sections. Remove while still wet with microfiber towel.

I use the dual action polisher to apply NXT tech Wax using either another W8006 yellow soft buff foam polishing pad or a W9006 Tan softbuff finishing pad at 2-4. Do entire car and let dry.

Remove using the dual action polisher with W7006 cutting pad and microfiber bonnet at 2.5.

I use the NXT glass cleaner, interior wipes and Tire spray.

If needed I'll apply another coat of NXT wax in 24 hours.

In between washes I use NXT detailer.

When my microfiber towels need washing I wash them together and with nothing else. You shouldn't wash microfiber with anything else because it picks up lint. Use a very good quality microfiber towel. Check the edges. Sometimes they use polyester thread to bind the edges. If the binding could cause scratches during use, cut it off.

A really good towel I've heard about is the D.F. Concours towel. Just bought one and a bonnet and it looks great. Concours Towels

You can register for free at the Meguiarsonline forum. Lots of great information there. And if you're ever in So. Cal you can attend a Saturday class, learn a lot and get free stuff. All of their products are available online if you can't find them locally. Occasionally they do have classes on location. I think they're trying to set something up in Texas right now.

I know plenty here swear by Zaino. I just prefer Meguiar's. I've used it since they released their consumer line over 20 years ago.

And I never wear a bikini. I might wear a T-shirt and shorts in the summer but in the winter I wear sweat pants and a hoodie.

**********
What I own:

Absorber (2)
bucket (2)
Grit Guard™(2)

Meguiar's:
PlastX
Gold Glass Leather cleaner
Hotshine Tire detailer
Protectant wipes
Dash trim detailer
NXT glass cleaner
Microfiber towel (5)
Gold Class applicator pad (3)
NXT applicator pad
Chenille applicator pad (2)
Sponge
Lamb's wool mop
G7101 Gold Class wash Gallon
G12664 NXT car wash
Quick Clay white bar
NXT speed detailer
G104 Dual Action polisher
W8006 Yellow soft buff foam polishing pad for A2116 Deep Crystal polish
W8006 Yellow soft buff foam polishing pad for NXT Tech Wax
W9006 Tan Softbuff finishing pad for Gold Class wax
W7006 Burgundy softbuff cutting pad
X4003 Gold Class Clear Coat Safe Microfiber bonnet (2)

[SW03ES]

Asking for information here is just going to get you more and more confused because everyone has a different way of caring for their vehicles, and only a couple of them (sorry guys but its true) are even close to correct.

Go to www.autopia.org and read, read, read. There are enough articles there to keep you busy for DAYS reading about how to properly wash a car, how to properly prep a car for waxing, how to properly seal and wax, the differences between polishes and waxes, what Zaino is (and no, Zaino will not remove swirl marks) and what it can be used for, its endless.

Any questions you have, ask them there not here because those guys probably have 1000 years of detailing experience amognst them. Most members on auto entusiast boards aren't detailers, those guys are.

Since yours is black, if you really want to learn to take care of it properly, thats what you need to do. Its more difficult than if it were silver, but once you get the process down it'll be pretty straightforward.

All this spraying down then wiping, letting wax dry and then buffing it off with a buffer, YIKES Go to Autopia.

[tracysbeans]

Originally posted by SW03ES@Jan 15 2006, 02:28 PM

All this spraying down then wiping, letting wax dry and then buffing it off with a buffer, YIKES    Go to Autopia.

[snapback]190665[/snapback]

Ok I will go check it out. Hopefully the same thing won't happen over there. I'm SO confused now my head is spinning. I just NEED to wash my car. I don't want to wash it until I get this figured out. In the mean time it's sitting with dirt on it

Yeah I agree all that spraying down, then wipping, letting wax dry and then buffing had my head spinning I'm wonder if I'm going to have to spend a day washing my car.

That's why I was wondering if I should just pay to have someone else wash it just to get me a clean car back!

Washing cars doesn't sound to fun to me

[SW03ES]

It can be fun, I love it. The ideal saturday morning for me is washing and waxing my car, I find it very relaxing and rewarding. Its not hard to do really, to do it right like anything else there is a learning curve though.

It wont happen on Autopia because they all pretty much know what they're doing and they all pretty much agree on one proper process. You should read first, then ask questions afterwards though because you'll then have a better framework to put the advice they give you into.

I'll get you started on washing though.

Buy two 5 gallon buckets from Home Depot.

Buy 1 microfiber wash mitt or sponge

Buy 1 or 2 Microfiber Waffle Weave Drying towels

Buy a good carwash, Meguiars NXT Wash comes to mind and you can buy it locally.

Thats all you need. I like the microfibers from www.pakshak.com

Fill one bucket with soapy water, one with clean. Rinse the car down well with the hose, spray off as much visible grime as you can. Start washing from the top down. Do one panel at a time. Wash using the soapy water in long straight strokes, never in a circle. Rinse the mitt in the clean water before putting it back in the soapy water. Rinse each panel as you go.

Work your way down and around the car and do the wheels and tires last. Then give everything one more rinse and wipe off from the top down with the waffle weave towel.

THATS how to properly wash a car in 500 words or less lol

If you find it too daunting you can always hire a professional, it'll cost between $20-35 per wash. You should learn to do it yourself though, I bet you'll enjoy it.

Claying, Polishing, Waxing, and interiors are all different and they'll be covered on Autopia.

[tracysbeans]

Steve, Thanks for the great info.

So can you tell me where to get these 2 items and the item #s for each.

Buy 1 microfiber wash mitt or sponge

Buy 1 or 2 Microfiber Waffle Weave Drying towels


I would appreciate it. I guess I will learn how to wash it myself.

Is it nessecary to wax after each wash?

I think we should start a Prius class on how to wash for people like me that no nothing LOL

[SW03ES]

I get all my Microfiber stuff from www.pakshak.com. Look around on there and look for their waffle weave drying towels. Sometimes you can find pretty nice Microfiber sponges at places like Advance Auto Parts, but I know Pakshak has a MF mitt which is fine.

No need to wax every time you wash, the vehicle probably needs to be waxced 4 times a year, sealed 2-3 if you go that route.

If you want to add a little bit of slickness you can use a Quick Detailing product after the wash. I also use and like Eagle One's Wax as U Dry. Doesn't take the place of waxing but it helps restore that just waxed look.

Here are the drying towels:

http://www.pakshak.com/waffle-weave-micro-...el-16x24-1.html

You really need 2.

And here's a good sheepskin mitt:

http://www.pakshak.com/eurow-genuine-sheep...-wash-mitt.html

[tunabreath]

You might also need a stepstool or ladder -- there's an area on the top of my car that I can't reach standing on the ground.

[Godiva]

Originally posted by tracysbeans@Jan 15 2006, 03:07 PM
Steve, Thanks for the great info.

So can you tell me where to get these 2 items and the item #s for each.

Buy 1 microfiber wash mitt or sponge

Buy 1 or 2 Microfiber Waffle Weave Drying towels
I would appreciate it. I guess I will learn how to wash it myself.

Is it nessecary to wax after each wash?

I think we should start a Prius class on how to wash for people like me that no nothing LOL

[snapback]190705[/snapback]

Try Pep Boys, Kragen, etc. auto stores.

They'll either have Meguiar's NXT or Gold Class car shampoo.

They'll probably also have microfiber towels and wash mitts and sponges. Don't get really cheap towels.

I like the Meguiar's sponge that has a white chenille cover on it.

I also like The Absorber for drying the car. It's $9.99 and they should have it in any auto parts store. I even saw one at Target.

I might put up a washing page with pictures. Good idea. I'm about to wash my car right now.