Cleaning while traveling? How do you do it?

[exploreco]

Just curious how you all clean your cars while traveling? I know obviously that cleaning the bugs off when I get somewhere is key, and I can take a bucket with a few products along. Do you go through a touch less car wash somewhere? How does this rinse less washing thing work? Thinking that there isn't always time to go through a car wash, well, that isn't the issue, but drying and details after wards are the problem. My wife isn't as patient to wait on me to sit in the parking lot to dry and then QD on the road. LOL Just curious what others do to keep their cars looking clean while on the road but maybe not able to give them a full cleaning.

Thanks

[mis3]

Re: Cleaning while traveling? How do you do it?

How about a touchess automatic car wash?
I use the touchless car wash in the winter. Since the car wash is not too far from my house, I would use UQW when I get home.

[Jarhead0754]

U can try ultimate wash and wax anywhere, which is a rinse less. Me personally i do a touch less followed by the uwwa. Everybody has their own little way. So just pick what sounds good to u.

[The Guz]

Re: Cleaning while traveling? How do you do it?

Some rinseless wash would work. You could invest in either D114 or D115 and make a couple bottles and use it as a QD to kep the car clean. Or you could pick up some UWWA as stated and use the same concept.

[JGdetailing]

I usually just go to the local self wash to get most of the dirt and bugs off. And then follow up with a bottle of QD. I usually one of my Meguiars bags in the trunk that has everything I would need.

[exploreco]

Re: Cleaning while traveling? How do you do it?

I guess my concern with these rinse less washes is I don't understand how they work. Can the car just be dusty? Or could you have driven a day in the rain and have road grime on the car? Would going through a touchless and then hitting it with a QD or a QW be just as good as doing a rinse less?

[Jarhead0754]

Some say yes but personally I say no. U get bugs and all sorts of airborne contaminate. So a tideless wash would b ur best bet. OD or OW are for touch ups. If ur cars a little dusty or has a few water spots from rain, the QD followed QW is the way to go

But traveling I just suggest running thru a touch less automatic machine to get the majority of garbage off, and later use the UWWA and give it a real good cleaning. and then u can maintain with QD and QW.

[The Guz]

Re: Cleaning while traveling? How do you do it?

Two really good videos to watch

[Blueline]

Re: Cleaning while traveling? How do you do it?

I have always been intrigued by these waterless products, and thanks to The Guz, I now understand them. You bring a nice ALREADY CLEAN yellow car in, do your thing with the waterless product, and you end up with a CLEAN yellow car. That is fine, the only time my car is that clean is when it is freshly waxed and washed conventionally, and I see no need to wash it again with a waterless product. I would like to see a demo on a car that has been driven for a few days, perhaps over a dusty road, or covered in pollen,and then through a rain storm on the Interstate........THEN use a waterless product. Sorry..I am still not convinced, and only a hose, two buckets, proprietary auto suds, and a sheep skin mitt, will ever touch my two black vehicles.

[exploreco]

Re: Cleaning while traveling? How do you do it?

Great videos guz. Thanks. That helps understand the rinse less wash. I think I could do that but I still need to get some more supplies before I do anything like this. I still need to acquire grit guards. I need that for my two bucket method anyways, but I can see doing this D114 or D115 method, especially in the winter in the garage if I don't have a bunch of salt. Although I suppose it would work the same. I can't find any retailers of the professional line here per the megs website so I will probably need to order some online. Would like to maybe order in the gallon jugs as that seems like it would be more cost effective in the long run.

[exploreco]

Re: Cleaning while traveling? How do you do it?

I have always been intrigued by these waterless products, and thanks to The Guz, I now understand them. You bring a nice ALREADY CLEAN yellow car in, do your thing with the waterless product, and you end up with a CLEAN yellow car. That is fine, the only time my car is that clean is when it is freshly waxed and washed conventionally, and I see no need to wash it again with a waterless product. I would like to see a demo on a car that has been driven for a few days, perhaps over a dusty road, or covered in pollen,and then through a rain storm on the Interstate........THEN use a waterless product. Sorry..I am still not convinced, and only a hose, two buckets, proprietary auto suds, and a sheep skin mitt, will ever touch my two black vehicles.

I do agree with you. I have a better understanding of it now. I am not opposed to trying it but not sure I want to guinie pig on my new black car. Maybe on my white one. But I am always looking for some options in the winter and if this would help out to be able to work in the garage, even if I used a touch less and then did this, I think I could live with that. I have never been through a touch less that has gotten 100% of everything off. And not knowing any better I have just come home and done a QD on that grime and probably rubbed it right in the paint. Didn't really show up on my white or tan car but I think I will on my black.

[Top Gear]

Re: Cleaning while traveling? How do you do it?

I'm really big on QD/QW, and I keep a bag of detailing merch in the trunk. Many times, that's all I need on the road, usually to remove bug spats and such. Passengers are not going to be very supportive, but you have to stand proud for what's important to you. Anyway, if the car's really dirty, like muddy or trashed by greasy rainy roads, and you're away from home, it seems simple enough to me to visit a pressure washer place, put in your quarters, and thus clean the car very easily and thoroughly with the spray wand - don't use the brush! You can then follow with drying and/or QD/QW as needed.

[C8N]

Re: Cleaning while traveling? How do you do it?

I just use the self service coin op washes.
Just use their pressure rinse for about 5 mins and back on the road.
It's really not that good of an option as depending on the area, they are not as easy to find.
For example, I personally have not see one of these in NYC and its surrounding boroughs at all.

[exploreco]

Re: Cleaning while traveling? How do you do it?

I'm really big on QD/QW, and I keep a bag of detailing merch in the trunk. Many times, that's all I need on the road, usually to remove bug spats and such. Passengers are not going to be very supportive, but you have to stand proud for what's important to you. Anyway, if the car's really dirty, like muddy or trashed by greasy rainy roads, and you're away from home, it seems simple enough to me to visit a pressure washer place, put in your quarters, and thus clean the car very easily and thoroughly with the spray wand - don't use the brush! You can then follow with drying and/or QD/QW as needed.

I hear you, my wife is never thrilled when I go through a car wash when out traveling. She says, just wait until we get home, it is just going to get dirty sitting out for the week or what ever . True, but I still like to have it clean while I am there. She knows with our new black car she just has to put up with a few more things now.