I disagree with the Meguiar's Video! <gasp>

[Blueline]

Re: I disagree with the Meguiar's Video! <gasp>

Every single person on this post so far hasn't had this problem of missed spots you are talking about, so maybe its your technique of washing?

I missed a spot once.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: I disagree with the Meguiar's Video! <gasp>

If I can get power washer with enough pressure and car wash soap with enough cleaning power, can I skip the wash mitten step altogether? The soap will be applied via the pressure washer.

My experience is that once I touch the car with the wash mitten, I lose the wax :-(

- Vikas

We highly doubt you're stripping wax just by using a wash mitt. A pressure wash strong enough to remove all the dirt will likely strip the wax as well, plus it opens you up for other issues. You'd have to have a pretty high psi level to remove all the dirt, and that pressure will likely be strong enough to cause some damage when your spray comes in contact with trim.]

You're far better off using a proper two bucket wash method with a quality car wash soap and a good mitt.

[Fly Bye]

Re: I disagree with the Meguiar's Video! <gasp>



I've seen pressurized water remove paint. The sprayer was close to the finish, idle for several seconds.

[Andrew C.]

Re: I disagree with the Meguiar's Video! <gasp>

I missed a spot once.

Haha be quiet Blueline, I meant the problem of lots of missed spots

[CumminsCrazed]

Re: I disagree with the Meguiar's Video! <gasp>

ive been washing cars for.....10 yrs or better, meaning a was a wee little guy when i first started, maybe 12 or so, and even then i didnt miss any spots, and ive always washed top to bottom. thats just logical....

[akimel]

Re: I disagree with the Meguiar's Video! <gasp>

My Marine Corps son says I should shampoo my hair BEFORE washing my face and body. For some reason I always shampoo last. Hmmm.

[agp56]

Re: I disagree with the Meguiar's Video! <gasp>

I wash my car the same as I do my body. Get it wet, soap it down top to bottom, rinse it off, dry it off. Works fine for me in both areas of life.

[sontakke]

Re: I disagree with the Meguiar's Video! <gasp>

Wow.
Ok, again, as stated earlier, Top to Bottom for the mentioned reasons.
If you are missing a dozen spots while washing, chances are it is your technique, not from where you start. What are you using to wash the car with? Brush, mitt, neighbors cat?


You might as well take the car to the local drive-thru car wash, because that is what you will accomplish. Unless you use some heavy duty chemicals to strip the dirt and grime, it won't all come off. And if it does all come off with those chemicals, I can guarantee that all of your LSP is gone as well. Stick to hand washing......

You say you are stripping the wax when you use a mitt..... What mitt are you using? What wash soap are you using? And what LSP do you have on the vehicle?

I am using DG soap (I forgot the number) and use microfiber wash mitt. LSPs I have tried several including M16 and DG 501 and/or 105 and many more such as M26, Zymol (dept store version), GoldClass.

Unless I am willing to re-wax the vehicle, I just hose down the dirt and call it a day.

- Vikas

[Expertcarpetcare]

Re: I disagree with the Meguiar's Video! <gasp>

Next dirty black truck I get I'll take a vid. Sorry for making so many of you fall off your chairs

I experimented on a red car today washing from the top down myself, with attention to detail. There were no missed spots. It's more when my staff washes that way that I see all the missed spots. One of my techs washed the company van the other day, I took him around the van and counted all the missed spots of dirt showing obviously on the paint after it dried. I counted 13. My wife also details and it's a little more delecate informing her of missed spots and poor technique. I usually get yelled at if I critisize her washing abilities, but sure enough she leaves at least six when she washes a car.

So, it's not just me, it's about attention to detail. Most posters here are detailers and have been trained to take their time and pay special attention to every square inch of a vehicle. It's a no-brainer for most of you to do a simple task like wash a car and not miss any spots. But for people that are not as detail-minded, no matter how hard you try to train them, it's either there or it is not.

Fortunately for most of us, not everyone has the ability, which is why we are all busy. nor the desire to pay special attention to detail. I told my technician just the other day "It's not about getting the job done, its about doing it". Let him ponder that over the weekend.

I appreciate most of you for telling me I dont know how to wash a car. But there is method behind my madness. And all of us have a learning curve no matter how many years we have been at this, that is why you are here I would wager.

I've been detailing cars for five years now. We do over 200 cars a year which is not bad for a two-person operation and the level of detailing we do is more than most in my area. We run a 98% satisfaction rate. (We keep track of that stuff with customer opinion cards and surveys) I will never stop trying new ideas, and challenging the old school methods with trial and experimentation in a scientific manner. This is how I learn what is my favorite soap, favorite wax, why that cloth works better than this, why I should use this product on that car and not on this one and so on and so forth.

Thanks all for the feedback, it is food for thought and I've pulled some good ideas out of it. Stay tuned for the video, if anything it will be some entertainment.

I'm leaving for holiday tomorrow morning so you wont see the vid for at least a week.

[davey g-force]

Re: I disagree with the Meguiar's Video! <gasp>

Most posters here are detailers and have been trained to take their time and pay special attention to every square inch of a vehicle. It's a no-brainer for most of you to do a simple task like wash a car and not miss any spots. But for people that are not as detail-minded, no matter how hard you try to train them, it's either there or it is not.

Fortunately for most of us, not everyone has the ability, which is why we are all busy. nor the desire to pay special attention to detail.

That's a fair point.

[chessplayer]

Re: I disagree with the Meguiar's Video! <gasp>

i wash from the top to down myself and have never missed a spot/section....