How Do You Wash Your Car?

[Mango22]

There was a time when I used to wash and wax my cars obsessively, but i hated doing it. I find it to be a chore, like cutting the grass. There are those of you that feel it's therapeutic, but for me it's punishment. I go to the (water only spraying) car wash now and I've never had any scratches. More power to those of you who enjoy it and do a good job, but I for one say I wish the car would clean itself.

I guess I wasn't born with the male gene that allows me to enjoy washing and waxing my car. sorry for the rant.

When I did use to obsessively wash my cars this is the process I would use:

1) make sure the cars in the shade and it's not hot to touch
2) spray it down really well with water to remove and loosen all the dirt and crap before soaping it up
3) start washing the roof and the hood and work your way down constantly rinsing off your washing cloth to remove dirt as you go ( or just buy one of those soaker sprayers)
4) when you get to the point of washing the lower body and rocker panels use a different washcloth and bucket of soapy water since there's a lot more dirt and grime and you don't want to get it on your other washcloth that you use for the upper body
5) lastly clean the rims with a fine bristle brush.
6) hopefully you've been rinsing the car down as you go, don't leave the soap on for too long.
7) finally use the Mr. clean spot free rinse cartridges to fully rinse off the car. But note that this will leave chalky watermarks on the rims if they're brushed alloy. Make sure to rinse the rims with regular water after rinsing off the car, then dry the rims with a clean cloth. You can also apply wheel wax if you want afterwards it makes the rims look shiny and keeps them from accumulating dirt and brake dust between washes.
8) let the car air dry and then clean all your windows with some spot free window cleaner
9) lastly I would spray on some quick wax spray like Mcguires liquid glass shine (I think that's what it was called) and it would give it a smooth slippery glass coating that would last between full waxings of the car, which I did twice a year. I still have a few clay bars but ive never used them to this day I'm sure if I did my cars would look much better.
10) I never did much on the interior because I would usually keep the car spotless inside which bothered my wife because her vehicles always look like a dumpster exploded in her car. Periodically I would clean out her car too, and I would be amazed at the amount of stuff she could accumulate in her car in such a short time.

Anyhow, I didn't list too many references towards any brands for polishes so much as describing how I wash the cars because I thought that was important on how the car was washed and believe me my cars stayed clean, spotless, swirl free & scratch free. As good as the cars looked when I was finished I still hated the process and received no enjoyment out of it. I'm guessing that there are a few of you that will feel the same way I do after reading my post. Lol

[Chenslee]

I use this:


It's a fertilizer siphon. The black hose goes in a bucket of soapy water and gets sucked up into the water stream. I use an OXO brush and douse the area I'm cleaning. Dirt removed by the brush is immediately washed away by a deluge of soapy water eliminating the chance of dragging dirt across with sponges, rags, or a brush alone. I've had good results using this system on a red Civic Si. If you work quickly, it doesn't use too much water.

[engee]

Anyone ever use a foam gun? Any thoughts, reviews, or recommendations?

[PrimeMotoring]

We have a cam spray we use for details. Works great

[naticedog04]

two bucket, one filled with soap and other filled with just water
i rinse all sponges, towels, and brushes prior to using
rinse car down from top to bottom, make sure all loose dirt falls off
start with hood, wash all windows, rinse, wash front side, rinse, was left side or right side and rinse, wash rear and rinse,
change sponges; wash rims with sponge only and use tire brush for tire only
was around edges of and fenders, bumpers, and exhaust tips...
dry windows first with squeegee, then i use a "sponge towel" to dry car...
details interior such as, removing floor mats and dusting off, vacuum car, wipe interior down with armoral cleaning wipes, wipe windows with invisible glass and microfiber towel
use turtle wax foam for tires, not too big on the "super shinny" wheels... i just like them to look new..
i have yet to see swirls on my wife's white 2011 corolla... i have not clay barred or waxed since purchase in may 2011... looking forward to doing it soon, hopefully its not too late. =/
couple of side notes: try to wash within two weeks, never take it to the car wash unless they hand wash it... and even then its a little sketchy...
Motto: if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself
Bonus: wash your woman's car and it will only make things better...

[2000]

Originally Posted by engee

Anyone ever use a foam gun? Any thoughts, reviews, or recommendations?

I have a Gilmour 75QGFMR foam gun. It attaches to the hose and works fairly well, but it doesn't make fine foam like a foam cannon, which uses a pressure washer, does. I like using it for the initial soaping.

It is also quite good for cleaning wheels. Spray the wheel, clean with a wheel brush, and then rinse.

[NRGBalanced]

Originally Posted by Dr.Science

I would stay away from Windex on your car windows if you have a tint, because of the ammonia. Find a glass cleaner without ammonia to be safe.

I find Stoner Invisible Glass to be great on tinted windows. No ammonia.

[Jayde]

Subscribing to remind myself to read up this later tonight. This will be first new car, so I want it to look the best it for as long as I own it!

[russv]

During a late night musing of my week old FRS and moderate OCD (I've only washed and waxed the car twice in the first week of ownership) I came up with a brilliant foam gun hack, but admittedly a bit ghetto. Not wanting to spend inordinate amounts of money on a gun sprayer I took an unused Miracle Grow lawn feeder, put about 5 ounces of Meguiar's Ultimate Car wash, and sprayed it on the car after hosing it down. I then did my usual 2 microfiber mitt wash down. It worked great! And for only $10.

I can hear you total OCD types screaming from here!

[civicdrivr]

Hey, at least you wont have any weeds growing out of her.

[russv]

I have noticed that water tends to get between the rear tail lights and the seal. I've found that if I use a leaf blower (more good garden equipment) that it blows the water out. Any others notice this issue

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by russv

During a late night musing of my week old FRS and moderate OCD (I've only washed and waxed the car twice in the first week of ownership) I came up with a brilliant foam gun hack, but admittedly a bit ghetto. Not wanting to spend inordinate amounts of money on a gun sprayer I took an unused Miracle Grow lawn feeder, put about 5 ounces of Meguiar's Ultimate Car wash, and sprayed it on the car after hosing it down. I then did my usual 2 microfiber mitt wash down. It worked great! And for only $10.

I can hear you total OCD types screaming from here!

Excellent idea! I love ghetto stuff that works! I'm going to have to try this myself.

[NYC BRZ]

I used to use the Armorall Wash Gel and it was awesome since you never needed a bucket. Then they discontinued it. My G8 went through the autowash a lot and the paint looks like crap. Cleaning and detailing it is like cleaning/detailing a yacht. Its huge. I want to get back into the proper method. Any suggestions on products? Is Griots good or overrated?

[civicdrivr]

Originally Posted by NYC BRZ

I used to use the Armorall Wash Gel and it was awesome since you never needed a bucket. Then they discontinued it. My G8 went through the autowash a lot and the paint looks like crap. Cleaning and detailing it is like cleaning/detailing a yacht. Its huge. I want to get back into the proper method. Any suggestions on products? Is Griots good or overrated?

Griots is good but overpriced.

I use Meguires car wash soap if the car is really dirty. Otherwise I use Optimum No-Rinse wash:

http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-no-rinse.html

It has many uses (as shown in that link) and saves water too since you dont have to rinse the car off. Its great in the winter, just use warm water. I bought the 1 gallon bottle of it over a year ago and still haven't used all of it. I love the stuff. But if the car is really dirty (ie, not washed in over a week), a full car wash soap is better.