Cleaning winter grime/ very dirty car

[saleem]

Hi all

What's the best way to clean a veerrry dirty car or one that's just been through snow/salt, without damaging the paint? Would a grit guard really be enough? I feel that you'll end up marring the paint AS you wash w/ a mitt, since it'll be always picking up dirt/salt.

I don't have a foam gun (but now I want one after seeing that thread!). The guy in Home Depot didn't know where I could find them. I didnt find any in the cleaning section, nor near the automotive where they have some bug sprayers. Would that be perfect for this application, and cleaning in general?

PS the home depot associate didn't know what a funnel was. i honestly wonder how he got a job in Home Depot.

[soonercivic]

Re: Cleaning winter grime/ very dirty car

Thats why he works at Home Depot instead of Lowe's or a real hardward store. Purchase a high pressure nozzle for your regular hose, that is probably the best you can do. Or go to a DIY car wash and use their high pressure rinse, then go home and finish the rest.

[saleem]

Re: Cleaning winter grime/ very dirty car

Thats why he works at Home Depot instead of Lowe's or a real hardward store. Purchase a high pressure nozzle for your regular hose, that is probably the best you can do. Or go to a DIY car wash and use their high pressure rinse, then go home and finish the rest.

would blasting the grime w/ pressure w/o lubrication from a foam gun be okay for the clearcoat?

PS - He said he was from electrical (not a valid excuse; its a funnel) and "everyone has their little names for it" (not a valid excuse; its a funnel)

[Murr1525]

Re: Cleaning winter grime/ very dirty car

Well, a Grit Guard is definately a must, but you can also go to the coin-op places. Lots of people use it without compaints to do a pre-rinse sort of thing. I mean, I wouldnt stand 6 inches away and put it on full blast....

If you want yoru wax to last, just use the water, but if you are going to detail afterward, you can use the soap as well. Then just come home and wash like usual.

Also, like so many cases when something isnt ideal, shrink your work area. Rather thn doing a panel or two between rinses, only do half a panel, etc.

Incidently, I think Gilmour, and I am sure others, make a jet-nozzle for hoses. Kind of increases the pressure some.

Also, just order your foamgun direct from Gilmour unless you want to try to build your own.

[saleem]

Re: Cleaning winter grime/ very dirty car

Well, a Grit Guard is definately a must, but you can also go to the coin-op places. Lots of people use it without compaints to do a pre-rinse sort of thing. I mean, I wouldnt stand 6 inches away and put it on full blast....

If you want yoru wax to last, just use the water, but if you are going to detail afterward, you can use the soap as well. Then just come home and wash like usual.

Also, like so many cases when something isnt ideal, shrink your work area. Rather thn doing a panel or two between rinses, only do half a panel, etc.

Incidently, I think Gilmour, and I am sure others, make a jet-nozzle for hoses. Kind of increases the pressure some.

Also, just order your foamgun direct from Gilmour unless you want to try to build your own.

thanks murr. is a foam gun a good asset if i'm just trying to take decent care of my car and get it to look nice? think just washing is fine?

Who makes foam guns, I saw the names gilmour and karcher... any guns cheaper than $50? someone was talkin about cheap ones from hardware stores?

[Murr1525]

Re: Cleaning winter grime/ very dirty car

I just use it because I feel like I get a lot of the soap to stay on the surface, instead of all running off from my sponge. Though when freshly waxed, it still tries to run off, and I kind of have to catch it. Maybe because it isnt a pressure washer one, I dont get as clingy of a foam as some people can, but between a blast on the sponge, and a blast on the car, I still get a lot of soap to be able to wipe around. I look at it as that means more lubrication is available, so less chance of scratching.

I have done pre-rinses, esp after the winter, but I really dont find it does a drastic amount more than a regular good spraying does, as far as removing dirt. The big/loose stuff seems to come off either way, and the small stuff still needs washed like usual.

I dont think there is any real time change for one person, but with two people it can go a lot faster. Makes it easy for a quick wash in the rain also.

As far as is it neccesary, of course not. Two buckets with Grit Guards is fine, and a third, or refilled bucket for the wheels.

Generaly, Gilmour makes the hose end ones, and Karcher makes the pressure washer ones.

I think I paid about $38 for mine direct, and I ordered a few quick connects as well. Read here for some more thoughts...

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/sho...hlight=foamgun

[OhioCarBuff]

Re: Cleaning winter grime/ very dirty car

I've always taken my cars through a touchless wash a few times a year when they get super dirty like that, I've always thought that becuase the touch free wash uses some kind of chemical to dissolve away the dirt instead of friction from a mitt or brush it would be the safest wash if you have dirt caked on.

Also, I suspect that becuase the chemical the touch free wash uses is strong enough to dissolve dirt it's gotta to be strong enough to fully wipe out your wax