How to wash your car- discussion for possible FAQ writeup

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[Dstanic]

I know that some people here love to detail their cars (such as Loudcut ) so post how you like to go about making your ride looks as good as possible!  Interior and exterior.

I'd like to later take the information and make a point form writeup in a sticky or something.

[loudcut]

Ok here goes nothing.


The Lineup


This is what I use when I plan on moderatly detailing the car. This is not my "balls to the walls" carshow process.

From left to right.

3M "Shine Restorer + Carnuba Wax" - This is what I use to wax the car. This may be some of the hardest wax to get off, but that means it's good. Now it is a bit pricey @ $9 for that little bottle, but you get what you paid for.

ArmorAll Extreme Tire Shine Gel - This is the tire shine I use. I don't care what anyone says, this is the BEST tire shine on the market. I can seriously apply it once, wash my car 3-4 times (washing over the wheels) and it still looks like a fresh coat of tire shine was just put on. Also it is a gel, so no spray off on that pretty paint.

McGuires Multi-Piece Wheel Cleaner - This is my wheel cleaner. I have alloy wheels (my Konigs) and this does a good job. I still go over the wheels with a wash mit, but this does a good job on loosening up the brake dust.

Aerospace 303 - The best interior detailer ever. Also pricey but it is the best of both worlds. It leaves a moderate shine and it actually REPELS dust. Put it on once and your dash will stay clean for weeks. I love how clean my interior stays with this stuff. It can be used on leather to, but I opt for something diffrent.

Lexol Leather Conditioner - This gives our cheap w-body leather the feel of a Mercedes. I love it because it has no shine to it and it really softens out the leather. It does have an odd smell to it though...kind of like drywall (wierd) but it doesn;t stay with the car long.

Invisible Glass - This is my glass cleaner. Actually now I have switches to EagleOne's glass cleaner because I feel it does a better job. Use this with newspaper and I would bet pink's you don't get a streak. Although I hate the feel of newspaper so I opt for Microfiber.

Dry Wash 'n Gaurd - If you want some of this you have to contact me. You can actually wash your car with this stuff (as long as there isn;t any MAJOR dirt like mud). I use it as a quick wax and a wheel wax. I have discovered that this stuff actually repels brake dust. Amazing product it is.

NOT PICTURED-------

McGuires NXT Car Wash - I promise there isn't a sudzier soap on the market. This stuff is ridiculous. I put like 3 capful in a bucket and it fills up with foam. Really reccomend this.

McGuires Quick Detailer - The one stop shop. This year at the Woodward Dream cruise it rained. This stuff and the addition of a California Water blade enabled me to have that "just washed and waxed" look once it cleared up. I have even used this on my windows. This will clean off ANYTHING and is great for bugs and bird droppings.

EagleOne Wax As You Dry - This stuff gives me a boner, what a great invention. It seriously leaves your ar so damn shiney! I use it EVRYTIME I was the car. Simply spray it on your car when it's wet and dry it off like normal..I highly reccommend this.

I also am a firm believer in microfiber towels. I love em and I haven't had any problems with them ruining my paint at all...

Basic Car Wash (for me)

I usually start off by grabbing my bucket and two wash mitts along with my soap. Why two wash mitts, you'll see!

-Soak the car down good, real good.

-Fill the bucket up with soap and pick the worse of the two mitts.

-This mitt will be your "wheel mitt" and will ONLY be used on wheels so you dont transfer any brake dust to your paint.

-Spray your wheel cleaner on and wash the wheels and tires away. I also get inside the wheel wells a little bit.

-After you got all the wheels cleaned and hosed off, dump out the water in the bucket and put your wheel mitt away.

-Refill the bucket with soap and water and grab your good mit.

-Soak the car again and wash away, from top to bottom, removing any and ALL suds. Try not to wash your car in the sun, it leaves water spots.

-After rinsing the car thouroughly, I usually grab my EagleOne "wax as you dry" and spray the car down.

-Dry the car off normally, then the wheels. Now if you plan to wax the car, or even if you dont, I like to take my Dad's air compressor and blow all the water out of the window seals and mirrors. Also dry inside those doors!!!! Rust will form there too!

-After the car and wheels are dry this is where I like to apply tire shine. I do this so early because it dries while your detailing the rest of the car.

-After the tires are all done, and please when doing tire shine, roll the car backwards to make sure you get all the rubber on the tire. I hate seeing like 4 inches of tire with no shine on them. This is where I start waxing.

-I wax the car from side to side, then trunk, then hood, then roof. mainly because I like setting the wax towels on the roof so they don't get dirty and I dont have to hold onto them.

-After your all waxed up and looking good, hit up those outside windows BUT SPRAY THE WINDOW CLEANER ON THE RAG. Don't get Windex on your freshly waxed paint.

-Inisde time. Hit up all the interior pieces with your detailer of choice, vacuum, then clean the windows.

END YOUR END RESULT SHOULD RESEMBLE THIS  









-Matt

[Dstanic]

Don't forget the wheel wells!  I spray tire/wheel cleaner real good to losen up mud.  If it's really muddy use your "tire mit".

Also if you have bugs on the front of the vehicle, spray a good multipurpose cleaner before soaking the vehicle, it will help losen them up.

[99RegalGS]

I use one of those "California water blades"  It works really nice to get the 96% of the water off the car quick.  I used mine today in fact.

[Dstanic]

I use them too.  Followed by a chamois to get rid of the rest.  If I have to wax a car or put it in the showroom (don't want it to be dripping) I used compressed air around the mirrors and other trim, followed by chamois again.  Any waterspots left over can be removed with a quick detailer and MF cloth, but I usually don't go to that length unless it is a black car.

[runt]

Wow.  And I thought I was anal.  Ahh, if I only had that time again.

[loudcut]

Wow.  And I thought I was anal.  Ahh, if I only had that time again.

If you are refering to me as having time, you are greatly mistaken. This is how I would spend my one day off a week. Of course that is if homework is permitting.

[99RegalGS]

Today was the first time my car has been washed in a month!!  and it's been since July since it's gotten a wax!!!

Yes I slack.

[runt]

Wow.  And I thought I was anal.  Ahh, if I only had that time again.

If you are refering to me as having time, you are greatly mistaken. This is how I would spend my one day off a week. Of course that is if homework is permitting.

Trust me.  I know what it's like.

[Robby1870]

Today was the first time my car has been washed in a month!!  and it's been since July since it's gotten a wax!!!

Yes I slack.

First of June since mine got a bath and wax.  Ironically, right after I washed and waxed it, the fuel pump died, lol.

[Dstanic]

Last time I washed my car was sometime last month.

I plan on doing it this week (cause of the nice weather), so that I can put a coat of wax on before it gets cold.  I suppose I can do it anytime though, after work in the heatered washbays...

[Euro]

so....if i do all of that matt, my end result would be a slick ass black cutlass! SWEET!!!