Preferred Wash Method

[jarred767]

Hey guys, so I got a quick question on how you prefer to wash your car between details. I recently moved to a house with garage (from a condo where we weren't allowed to wash so I was limited to RFEW or UWWA. Both are awesome products, but now that I have more options I want to get a feeling for what others are doing.

When detailing other cars for a living, I usually just use Gold Class and don't pay too much attention to the specific product, just that it gets clean because for the most part these washes are followed by some combo of clay, compound, polish, and/or wax. (I don't do many maintenance washes), and Costco sells it by the gallon! So, for maintaining your own cars on a weekly basis between waxing, what do you guys do and/or what do you use for products? Thanks

[Aenygma]

Re: Preferred Wash Method

For the weekly wash, I use Gold Class or Ultimate Wash & Wax. I use the single bucket method (ducks) with a grit guard, and constantly rinse out the wash mitt with the hose (so it is like a two bucket method).

I start with the wheels first with a different mitt/brush. Then work the car from the top down. I follow by blotting up the water with Megs water magnet, and blow drying with leaf blower. Touch up with towel or MF anything they missed.

Then I put a coat of Ultimate Quick Wax on, and use ProtectAll on the windows. For the lights I use either ProtectAll or Plexus.

[Aenygma]

Re: Preferred Wash Method

Oops, forgot what I do with wheels and tyres.

I will put a coat of Ultimate Quick Wax on wheels, and dress the tires, and any other black bits with Hot Shine foam.
Interior gets cleaned with Natural Shine protectant, vacuumed etc...
I use ProtectAll on the Nav screen; will make it nice and smooth and slick.

[Murr1525]

Re: Preferred Wash Method

Gold Class soap and some UQW while drying is pretty good for the paint. And 2 buckets, Grit Guards, etc...

Wheels and such have more options, but if you can get them cleaned up real good, then put the Brake Dust Barrier on, it makes it a lot easier to just use soapy water for several months.

[SpoolMe]

Re: Preferred Wash Method

I use one bucket with 9 mitts. This way there is no chance of dirt transfer

[jarred767]

Aenygma - that is some pretty extensive weekly routine

I guess more than the whole process, I was curious of whether guys use a cleaner like gold class followed by a spray wax, if you just stick with something like UWWA, or if you use something like UWW?

And as a follow up, if you've used UWW, what is the wax/protectant like in comparison to a regular wash followed by a spray wax? Thanks guys

[Murr1525]

Re: Preferred Wash Method

The regular soap + spray wax after or while drying will be the better results.

But I do keep some UW&W around, for wheels and for if washing in the rain or something...

[Aenygma]

Re: Preferred Wash Method

Aenygma - that is some pretty extensive weekly routine

I know.
I need help.

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Preferred Wash Method

One bucket, 6 folded Supreme Shine microfiber towels, 2 ounces of ONR mixed with 4 gallons of deionized water. After mixing the ONR solution, I pour two gallons into the bucket with my towels and the other two gallons into my Gilmour garden sprayer. After I have walked around the car removing pollen strikes and other surface stickies, I soak the car with the garden sprayer to loosen up the dirt. My towels are triple folded to ensure that no edges are showing, only folded edges. I then proceed to wipe down sections of my car with a soaked towel, slightly lifting the leading edge of my towel. I come back for a second pass on the same panel after flipping the towel to present a clean leading edge. I refold the towel as necessary to give myself a clean edge. I only use the weight of the towel and my hand (no pressure applied)

After the entire surface has been wipe-washed, I blot-dry any large droplets of standing water with a waffle weave towel. Then using fresh (dry) microfiber towels, I mist M34 Final Touch detailing spray over the panels, spread the product with one towel and dry buffing it with the 2nd towel. Total time for wash/dry is 60-90 minutes, depending on my hustle LOL. I have been using this method (an adaptation the Gary Dean method) for about 8 months and over that time my vehicle showed so little swirling, I almost decided not to correct the paint as I prepped my Accord for sale recently.

The method is very non-invasive, and while I initially started out with 4 gallons, I use only 2 gallons to replenish my ONR washing solution for the next wash (my homeowner\landlord\roommate loves this aspect of my method). The left-over ONR solution soak water that I poured into the bucket to soak my towels gets recycled into the garden sprayer for the next wash, and I get my de-ionized (or micro-filtered) water from a vending machine outside of as grocery store I shop at.

[hacker-pschorr]

Re: Preferred Wash Method

I wish I could do this weekly, but when I do get a chance to wash this is pretty much my routine:

1. Go around the whole car with Body Solvent - let that dwell as I setup everything else
2. If bugs are really bad, do something with those (clay bar, bug / tar remover with cheese cloth.....etc..)
3. Spray down wheels with wheel brightener (if really bad, scrub them too)
4. Pressure washer set to 1/2 - 3/4 pressure with 40 degree tip, hose down car - rise off wheels
5. Using 25 degree tip, clean out wheel wells
6. Pressure washer with foam lance, cover car in foam
7. Meg's micro fiber mit - start at top, work down using one bucket with grit guard rinsing mit often. Re-soak panels with foamer as I move on
8. Back to 40 degree tip, rinse off car
9. Dry off car with Absorber
10. Finish up with water magnet
11. Go over car with QD (I don't do this every time, depends on how much time I have)
12. Wash windows

Sometimes I'll use my air compressor for better drying.

I'm trying out different shampoo's at the moment:

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?59387-Best-shampoo-to-use-with-pressure-washer-foam-gun&p=532685&viewfull=1#post532685

None of this applies to the car in my avatar....royal pain in the *** to wash if it gets really dirty (not often). I finally picked up some "No Rinse" to try, which I have a feeling I should have been using all along on her. Now I see meguiars has a no rise wash & wax.......guess I'm ordering some of that too!!!

[Jimjc]

Re: Preferred Wash Method

After reading for months I believe many are getting paranoid about washing. I do understand many don`t have access to water. I simply use 1 bucket using Megs gold class or Ultimate, I soak car first with strong water nozzle to blow off any particles. I have a mitt and wipe in one direction all the time. I use a strong leaf blower that gets 100% of the water off. I then use either Megs Ultimate spray wax or Megs quick detailer. That`s it, my cars look perfect all the time. Of course our cars are garaged. I do use Collinite 845 2 times a year also.