Washing...

[SL1CK]

Is it possible to wash too much? People always say, "You wash too much your gonna wash the paint right off!" and stuff of that. I think its more of a myth huh?

My question is basically: is it possible to wash too much or too frequently? I washed yesterday, but didn't like the way it came out (lack of light) when I saw afterwards, so would I be ok washing it again today? I won't "do" anything to the paint right?

[Jbirk]

Washing doesn't hurt the paint at all unless you apply dirty rags to the paint. I.e. each tiny particle of dirt can dig into the paint like a micro knife and leave a microscratch and dull the finish.

If you have 100% clean washing mitts and use a quality soap and avoid pressure washing unless you have a filter, you will be fine. You should use the 2 bucket method or at least multi bucket method of some sort. If you must use one bucket, make it a 5 galon bucket and keep the mitt off the bottom of the bucket or the ground. If any of your equipment touches ground, make sure it gets thrown out.

You only get swirls and scratches when you introduce something hard to your car. Does it harm the car? Yes. CAn it be repaired? Yes assuming your paint is healthy i.e. no clearcoat failure and lots of fine paint under the scratches.

[MotorcycleDetailing]

Washing should be fine its the polishing and buffing the slowly wears the paint or clear coat away.......I thick thats how it goes anyway.

TJ

[Murr1525]

Well, the more you touch the more you risk introducing swirls.

But if you are using good soap, sponges, grit guard, etc, then you have minimized the risk as much as possible.

So other than that, you are fine.

[SL1CK]

Awesome.

[DaGonz]

I get that all the time...

"you're washing your car again?"

I use the two bucket method and move my wash mitt in a straight line following the airflow over the vehicle...

No problems.

PS: most of the people who make the comment are driving vehicles that are swirl city, look like rolling dumpsters or a combination of the two!

[SL1CK]

How long does it usually take to just wash the car? 10 minutes? 30 minutes? an hour!?

[Murr1525]

Depends how anal you are...

2 people, in the rain, with a foam gun and a rinse bucket, 5 minutes... no drying of course.

But I guess a general wash and dry would be at least 20 minutes, depending on what you do about wheels, and other little places.

[farmboy]

It takes me an hour to wash and dry my truck (04 ram QC). I use the two bucket method with grit guards. The wide and regular body brushes are my choice tools because of the length. I always have to clean the wheel wells because the dirt always shows in such a large opening. I atleast hit the wheels with soap and water. I only clean the tires or use wheel cleaner when I really have to.

[Accumulator]

Originally posted by SL1CK
How long does it usually take to just wash the car? 10 minutes? 30 minutes? an hour!?

It takes as long as it takes. For me, washing and drying a vehicle is at least a two-hour job, working so fast that it's aerobically demanding (and I'm in shape).

Doing it in a way that doesn't skip any areas or mar the finish takes a *LOT* longer than less meticulous methods. I can wash in 30 minutes easy, but not without marring the paint a little and/or skipping stuff like doorjambs and the undercarriage.

[RedSoxRacer]

You guys wash your cars??

[DaGonz]

Originally posted by RedSoxRacer
You guys wash your cars??

No, we bathe them using the finest auromotive soaps and shampoos specially designed to clean and enhance the smooth surface of the paintwork....

[RedSoxRacer]

Originally posted by Gonzo0903
No, we bathe them using the finest auromotive soaps and shampoos specially designed to clean and enhance the smooth surface of the paintwork....

That's more like it!

[gollums_friend]

I've washed/dried my new car every weekend since I got it early May. I had my 1993 Grand Am for 6 YEARS and I don't think I ever took the time to hand wash it, just went to the local carwash and sprayed it down, occasionally using their brush if the mood hit me....

My apt complex has a water hose near the office for residents to use if the want to park and wash. I've begun earning the reputation of "car wash lady", especially after last weekend when it took fri/sat/sun to completely detail my mom's car...then I turned around the following tuesday to wash and dry my own after getting home from work (you have to understand that ME doing anything after a day at work is a miracle in itself....)

What kills me is the number of residents out walking/bike riding who go by and say something like "I'll bring mine over to ya right after you're done, LOL".....like they're the only ones who have ever said that.... Only one of them (older guy) asked me how much I'd charge to wash his full size truck and I told him "more than what you've got"........he seemed to find that hilarious......but I wasn't joking.