Coin car wash??

[MrWaxer]

Re: Coin car wash??

I did notice on my Jeep tonight what looked like wave lines on the side. I like the idea of using my own soap and bucket with my microfiber sponge. I might have to try that next time and just use there water for rinsing.

[redhotchevy2000]

Re: Coin car wash??

i dont know many people who use the brush lol. im scared to let it touch anything but my wheels. thats all it touches on my car, wheels and tires.

everybody else can scratch their car to death....

when i wash mine

i pre rinse with "rinse"
soap with "tricolor foam"
wash with a microfiber mit soaked with GC shampoo
rinse with spot free or rinse
towel dry works for me.
then i usually inspect the car for scratches and what not. cursing if i find any. haha.

then ill fix scratches, dry off wheels/tires and usually i boost the wax on top surfaces due to some water spotting i have had problems with. then im on my way.

[MrWaxer]

Re: Coin car wash??

The wash I use has no "wax" ,they have what they call a 2 step sealant. It's a yellow and purple foam or rain x. I use the high pressure soap first and then after thoroughly rinsing there foam brush, wash and rinse. Then dry by hand.

[new2detailing]

Re: Coin car wash??

@Mark Kleis: Good tip. I'll will have to try that

If I use a coin-op car wash (I'll admit that I will do that in the wintertime). I never use the brush. I usually use the pre-wash, soap, high pressure rinse, then air dryer. Immediately, I then apply either Quik Wax. This is usually my winter routine and then I will deal with the proper detailing when the weather breaks. I find doing the final detail before the cold months using a good wax with spray wax touch ups help in not having road grime adhere to the paint.

[CharlesW]

Re: Coin car wash??

Thanks for all the info!! I live in NY, So it's getting to cold to wash by hand, My preferred way always. So now I turn to the car wash. And I always hand dry after I'm done.

Just a heads up.
None of the DIY or Touchless washes I have used leave my vehicles clean enough to touch them with a drying towel. All of them leave a film of dirt and dragging that over your paint can't be good.

[akimel]

Re: Coin car wash??

Yup

At my wash the "wax" option is nothing more than high-pressure water with a little "wax" mixed in. I use this rather than their potentially harsh soap to do the pre-rinse, then I use my own soap in my buckets for the wash, followed by a quick 30 second run around the car with the high-pressure wax to push the bubbles off, followed by a 1-2 minute rinse with spot-free water top to bottom.

Does that help?

Thanks. I'll have to check to see what the options are at my local coin-op--not of course that I am admitting that I will under any circumstances take my car to it ...

[Ryan L.]

Re: Coin car wash??

I do this sometimes when we go offroading and don't feel like cleaning the driveway or street from all the mud that comes off. Just rinse for a long time and the under body then drive home and wash it and finish up there.

Ryan

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Coin car wash??

Mark, let me make sure I understand. You use the wax option for both the pre-rinse and the post-rinse, as opposed to the rinse option?

Al

Yup

At my wash the "wax" option is nothing more than high-pressure water with a little "wax" mixed in. I use this rather than their potentially harsh soap to do the pre-rinse, then I use my own soap in my buckets for the wash, followed by a quick 30 second run around the car with the high-pressure wax to push the bubbles off, followed by a 1-2 minute rinse with spot-free water top to bottom.

Does that help?

[Sandstone]

Re: Coin car wash??

I always use them for my Chicago winter washes but I only use the rinse option. I rinse the car, and do one of the following depending on how dirty the car is:

1) use a 2 gal garden sprayer with 2 oz/gal of NXT, rinse, wipe and go.
2) use the two bucket method w/grit guards
3) use a 1 bucket method w/grit guard if it's just too cold

I might try adding a spray of some full strength LT to #1 but I haven't had much luck with using QD or NXT Spray Wax in the cold

I usually use a Cali squeegee on the windows to speed drying since I can't flood. I've tried it on paint with no probs but I'll stick to windows only for sanity sake.

[akimel]

Re: Coin car wash??

When I use the coin washes I avoid the soap spray and the soaping brush entirely I use high pressure "wax" for the pre-rinse, then use my own bucket and soap for the wash, and then use high-pressure wax for a quick rinse, followed by the spot free rinse.

Mark, let me make sure I understand. You use the wax option for both the pre-rinse and the post-rinse, as opposed to the rinse option?

Al

[MrWaxer]

Re: Coin car wash??

Thanks for all the info!! I live in NY, So it's getting to cold to wash by hand, My preferred way always. So now I turn to the car wash. And I always hand dry after I'm done.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Coin car wash??

About the only time I use those washes is when I am doing the complete process. Claying everything. Then the harsh soap does not bother me at all. I just make sure to rinse the vehicle twice.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Coin car wash??

When I use the coin washes I avoid the soap spray and the soaping brush entirely I use high pressure "wax" for the pre-rinse, then use my own bucket and soap for the wash, and then use high-pressure wax for a quick rinse, followed by the spot free rinse.

Works great for me in a pinch.

[Malo83]

Re: Coin car wash??

Never

[Murr1525]

Re: Coin car wash??

It is usually a strong soap, which will hurt the life of the wax.