Washing your car in the PNW...

[BanzaiZee]

With it raining so often (all the time??) how frequently are you all washing your cars? Mine's a whiteout so it feels like a lost cause... Since it's dark by the time I get off work, I've been washing mine about once every 3-4 weeks at the car wash, and I get lazy on the weekends.

[slizoth]

I usually wash mine once a week, maybe every other week. I've found that Optiguard or a good layer of wax keeps it looking pretty clean even if it rains. I also garage mine.

[Neziah]

Mines a DD and outside parker as well. I try to wash it about once a week or so, I usually wait for a non-pouring day and wash it. I washed it in the rain last week. LOL It was covered with leaf junk and pine needles, had to get that stuff off. I just try to hose it off really well first to get the chunks off, the do the ole' two bucket method. I need to get some front mud flaps on to help keep the crap off of the side of the car. Lot of wax helps.

[Touge_ninja]

Twice a month for me.

[m.box.design]

i try to wash mine twice a month. i try to take advantage of any clear rainless days. mine is white too, so it's not really noticeable until you actually start washing the car, then you see how dirty it actually is. i just use a spray on wax after i wash, but it does bead water and makes it easier to rinse off the dirt and grime that accumulates.

[QFry]

ive given up on bucket washing for now...i will however do a quick soap/no-soap pressure washer spray down just to remove excess buildup every other week...and mud flaps help so much highly recommend getting them!

[BanzaiZee]

Thanks guys! Yeah, I have a clear coat on it so it's pretty easy to get the dirt off. I hate paying for a wash when it'll get dirty right quick! Need to just crack down and wash it myself.

[DarrenDriven]

I'm hand washing every week to keep her pretty. I drive my other rigs in the rain, but sometimes I get stuck out there, ya know. No bad swirls yet, but I can always give @Zach a yell if I need to polish her again.

[seven]

I have it garaged but I'll try and give some tips as until very recently, I didn't have a garage....

1- use a car wash, spefically one of the ones you drive into a bay thats covered with a roof that has a pressure washer - Why? Well you won't use the pressure washer usually but you CAN use the roof... Alternately, anything with a roof works, carport, tent, etc - just get yourself out of the rain for the duration of the wash

2- Use Optimum No Rinse (ONR for short) car wash! - Two reasons for this; it doesn't require a hose - so you can work anywhere, as long as you fill your buckets (see below) elsewhere. And Its a pretty inexpensive yet awesome product. (For the record, I now do ONR in my garage so I can wash the car even when it rains)

3- Use the 2 bucket method and more importantly BUY BUCKETS WITH LIDS! - I bought 2 home depot paint buckets for like $3 a piece or so, they come with lids. If you have grit guards from any company (if you don't, buy 2 for the $10 they are) and use them, fill your buckets with hot/warm water, one almost full, the other about half or a little less, put some ONR in each (more in the bucket with more water of course) and then put the lids on. Now you can take them in the car anywhere, they won't leak (at least mine never have) and you can dump them when you're done or just re-close them and dump them at home.

4- pay a detailer OR put a good coat of wax or a sealant on yourself. Opti-seal, opti guard, etc... give the paint a good wash, clay it, use a 1 step polish (as the car should have somewhat good new paint and not deep swirls) like Meguairs #205, Poor Boy's World SSR1, or Menzerna Nano Polish, and then seal/guard it... Put a wax on top if you want more depth/shine.


Hope that helps!

[[[|==86==|]]]

Originally Posted by seven

3- Use the 2 bucket method and more importantly BUY BUCKETS WITH LIDS! - I bought 2 home depot paint buckets for like $3 a piece or so, they come with lids. If you have grit guards from any company (if you don't, buy 2 for the $10 they are) and use them, fill your buckets with hot/warm water, one almost full, the other about half or a little less, put some ONR in each (more in the bucket with more water of course) and then put the lids on. Now you can take them in the car anywhere, they won't leak (at least mine never have) and you can dump them when you're done or just re-close them and dump them at home.

THIS

The more often you wash, the lesser chances for build-up. With less build-up, the possibility of self inflicted swirls decreases. However, this doesn't mean shit if you're using bad washing techniques...

Following an annual or bi-annual detail schedule will help keep the finish of your baby in good order. About what products to use and detailing techniques, that's another can of worms. I personally like to use Synthetics in this rainy state. After 3 months since my last detail on my DD, bird shit still slides off like butter on a hot pancake.

[seven]

Originally Posted by [[|==86==|]]

THIS
The more often you wash, the lesser chances for build-up. With less build-up, the possibility of self inflicted swirls decreases. However, this doesn't mean shit if you're using bad washing techniques...

Following an annual or bi-annual schedule will help keep the finish of your baby in good order. About what products to use and detailing techniques, that's another can of worms. I personally like to use Synthetics in this rainy state. After 3 months since my last detail on my DD, bird shit still slides off like butter on a hot pancake.

[shiud]

mine is garaged most of the time, unless I'm spending the night at my gf's. also as a daily driver that is frequently on the freeway, parking outside at work, and just overall fall/winter seattle weather.. my car can't stay clean longer than 4-5 days. I drive an asphalt, so it's not as noticeable as a white out or raven, but it's still annoying how quickly it gets dirty. I've got optiguard, so if i'm in a rush, i just stop by the local self brushless wash, and spend $3 for a quick 5 minute rinse. Otherwise I might wash it twice a month.

[NamSin]

I wash her by hand weekly to prevent build up since she's a DD- still need to get mud guards to minimise the splash up on the doors.

[ducatichick]

You mean driving in the rain isn't washing?

I think I'm a stellar candidate for OptiCoat!