My FRS Looks Like A Barn Find And It Needs A Bath
 

My cars been sitting for a couple of years now (doing swap) and has really collected a lot of dirt and build dust and it's stuck on pretty good. I need to wash it but I'm afraid rubbing on it with a sponge will destroy the paint. I can pressure clean it first which I think will help,, but remain concerned.

What are your tricks for a really dirty car???

Once clean,, plan is to clay it and wax it and keep it covered when not working on it.

you can use a foam gun if it is real bad. Or just apply some pressure with your finger form the hose after soaping it up. You just need a powerful car cleaning soap. Then gently wipe off with a soft sponge. Let the soap do the work. Also know that unless you really push hard on a rock any scratches will be in the clear coat and you can just buff and wax them out. Depending on how bad, you will likely need some strong car soap, possibly automotive goo gone (read directions with that). Another handy thing is some tub-0-towels for your exhaust or any harder to get off spots.


Edit: just saw you updated your post, just be VERY careful pressure washing it. That is more likely to damage the paint than just using your thumb on a hose and a sponge. Best thing would be a foam gun. But if that is too pricey just a basic car soap/hose and soft sponge would be fine, just buff it out after and you will be fine.

I'm not a wash expert so take what I say with that in mind.

I'd try to blow as much as possible of it off with maybe a leaf blower first. It doesn't looked baked in yet.

After that, I would take it to a brushless car wash if there is one in our town. It might take a couple of passes.

Rinse it off with a low pressure hose. Then pressure wash with a wide spray. Then wipe it down.

My car can be almost that bad after a 45 minute drive for about 1/3 of the year.

The more dirt you can get off the car before you touch it the better. Clean your wheels first, with a seperate bucket as they are always filthy.

I start with a rinse with the pressure washer. Then move onto the foam cannon. Some like to rinse it off, then reapply. I typically will move straight to washing the car with the foam on. I'm sure you are aware but keep in mind the PSI of your pressure washer, a high end unit with 3000+ psi can take paint off it you are careless. I have a 1600 which is perfect for washing cars.

https://i.imgur.com/Ky1qUjB.jpg

I like to use two buckets, one with soap, the other water. I work small section at a time, top to bottom and rinse the mitt with fresh water between. Roof, windows, quarter panels, hood, bumpers upper door, fenders, lower door, rockers.


Then I use a leaf blower to dry the car. Without any protection on the paint I find it takes a bit longer to dry.

I tried out mother's speed clay 2.0 recently. I'll never use regular clay bar ever again. It's so easy to use.

Thanks guys. Watched a few videos yesterday outlining the foam guns/cannon,,, never saw those before. I'm going to try the cheapie Amazon Cannon and some Meguiars Gold and see how it goes. I can hit it a few times with the cannon to loosen everything up and if I have to sponge it use two buckets.

When you say "sponge" do you mean wash mitt?

Because no sponge should touch your car!

i'd just wash it with a microfiber wash mitt just like normal, and then buff/detail it just like normal.

the only new magic is the extra money disappearing from your wallet from all the conceptual 'better' options...

In winter, my car gets more dirty in a few days. I have it a proper wash by the washer people every 3-6 months.. Its expensive.. But I wash it 1 time a week like this lady does.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pr...NlstwwPj1I_HeG

Only I dress less wild, but keep the same distance. Only spray some water, then speed up to dry :D It's effortless, fun, and the result is enough for me..

A lower psi electric pressure washer might seem like too much to spend on the car just to wash but it will save so much time. Time = $ I have a 4200 PSI one also but got the electric one just for washing the car since it won't rip the paint off the car by accident. If you have one already you are almost there. That Amazon foam cannon here: https://www.amazon.com/TopGain-Canno...a-569787970799 and Meguiars Gold is exactly what I use too. That Meguiars foams up nicely. I do 1" of it in the foam container and the rest water.

I first hit the car with the pressure washer to knock most everything off, foam cannon, then pressure wash it off after letting it sit for 3-5 minutes. Then leaf blower most water off then a microfiber wipe to get the windows and drips the blower misses. I'm doing what RToyo86 recommended but not even using the 2 bucket system after since the rinse and foam gets the car 100% clean. Probably due to keeping the car waxed and stored in the garage is why I never have to actually touch the car when cleaning.

The paint is pretty much in the same condition as new 5 years later since it doesn't get touched except the light microfibering at the end after blowing it off. When Waxing/sealing once a year it's really the only time the paint is being touched much. Most of the scratches on a cars paint are from people washing the car since they use a bucket and keep dipping a sponge/mitt into the dirty bucket and back onto the car. Basically wet sanding the paint but very slowly over time. All the dust on your car looks like it will probably come off easy since it isn't sticky road grime/tar/etc but gently blown on dust in the air.

would totally watch a youtube vid of this and would prob find it very satisfying for some reason.

I watch The Detail Geek. He's one of the copy and paste detail channels like Stauffer Garage but his camera angles are better.


I just bought some detail brushes because I was binging detail channels, I had knowledge of detailing before (Wash, Clay, Polish, Wax, 303) but it gives me that itch to go further.

I'm washing my car today using naturally occurring soft fall water. It will probably take all day, at least according to the weather report.

With that much dirt, the second that wash mitt touches paint it’s going to instantly become sandpaper, and the paint is gonna get swirly as shit. Whether you buy any products or not you want to get as much dirt as possible off with as little pressure as possible. A foam gun isn’t magic, it’s just a way to add a bunch of soap (aka lubricant) with nearly zero pressure. Even without a foam gun I would THOROUGHLY rinse the car with low pressure water for a pretty long interval before touching the paint.

car cleaning guru is my guy. I think hes from ireland?? calming and that accent tho:

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk09vu6BzoU[/ame]

Well got after it a bit yesterday. Went around the car 3-4 time with the pressure cleaner still all kinds of stuff in the paint. Foamed it a few times then ended up washing it 3-4 times. Still an incredible amount of stuff in the paint. Two 100 gram clay bars later not too bad. Lots of fine scratches though. Wanted to use the DA on it but the backer pad is shot. Hit one fender with the high sped buffer and it took the ugly scratches out but slings cutting compound everywhere. Car needs the DA but should be OK. Wont ever let this happen again,, what a PITA.

I've now been washing my car for 6 straight days using this method, and it looks like it may continue for another 6. It can stop anytime now!