Ok, lets admit it, we all like when our cars are clean, but they can be MUCH cleaner, and here i am going to show you how to make your car MUCH cleaner.


I personally am not one to talk when it comes to keeping a clean car, my car is usaully dirty, but i find ways to get around this.


My first recommendation is to go ahead and start out by washing the cars body. I recommend using a sheepskin wash mitt. You can get these at some local walmarts, but you can try autozone or somewhere else of that nature. Make sure it is real sheepskin as a non sheepskin mitt can marr the paint and put fine scratches in it.


For a soap, i recommend using duragloss 901. This soap can be found at napa and a few other places if you look hard. I personally recommend getting some from autogeek (linked below) if you can not locate it. This is a HIGHLY concentrated soap and 1 capfull will go ahead and make a full 3 gallon wash bucket. If you want to strip the current wax off of the car, supposedly dawn will strip the wax off of your car, but i dont recommend this. This is a rumor started by a wax company claiming that it may help strip wax, but no one knows. Remember, duragloss WILL NOT strip wax off of your car.


When you go to add water to the bucket, use enough to make it foamy, remember the foam is what helps protect you from marring the car as well and scratching the paint, not the water itself. After filling the first bucket, take the second bucket and fill it with plain water without soap. We will use this bucket to take off any dirt that got on the wash mitt.

Rinse down the car at this point, spray off any caked on mud or excess dirt using the hose at this point and make sure that you get off whatever you can. Make sure the cars paint is wet and do not allow the cars paint to get dry. Make sure all excess dirt is off of the car and make sure to get the wheel wells as well.

To start washing the car, take your mitt, put it in the soapy wash bucket, and wash one body panel at the time. Make sure to grab enough soap foam in between the mitt. Do not and i repeat DO NOT scrub your car with the wash mitt. Do this 1/2 a body panel at a time. Do the upper half of the body panel first. After this, you are to take your wash mitt, put it in the bucket with clean non soapy water, move it around and scrub itself in there, and pull out. If you see dirt on the mitt, use the hose to wash the dirt off of the mitt. This method is used to prevent the car from getting scratched. Do this for all of the panels on the car ABOVE middle of the doors. When you are finished with the upper part of the car, take your mitt, wash it throughly in the non soapy water. You may now start on the lower body panels. You may have to rinse the mitt off more often if you see lots of dirt on the mitt. I tend to rinse it every 1/2 of each panel / bumper. When you do this, make sure to be very conscious of when you have a dirty mitt as a dirty mitt CAN scratch your car. Make sure to use lots of soap, and make sure the car is clean. Make sure to get behind the wheels and the lower parts of the car including the lower plastics. I usually use a older rag to get the wheel wells and behind the wheels so i don't wreck my mitt, but i do not recommend you use a regular rag. If you can find a pure cotton rag to do this with, it would not be as bad.



After you are finished doing this, you may rinse the car. I recommend using the hose on mist mode, letting all the soap fall down the car. Make sure the car is completely soap free.


The next step to washing your car would be drying it. For drying the car i recommend using pure microfiber towels to prevent marring of the paint. If you are feeling risky, but you are sure your car is 100 percent clean and it will stay that way, the California water blade is an option. If you use the microfiber towels, DO NOT RUB them but instead dab the paint and make sure the car is dry. The last thing we need is water spots.

Wheels:

To wash your wheels i recommend using a microfiber cloth and soap.
(I recommend using a wheel cleaner if your wheels are severely dirty. I am going to say something that is mostly sin when detailing a car, but its what i do, i personally use simple green on wheels and make sure to wash them throughly. I have not had a issue with the rims flaking at all or anything of that nature personally, but do this at your own risk.)
When you are going to wash your wheels, make sure you get what you can off with the hose, and go on and use the soap you used for the car wash on the wheels. Make sure to pay attention to the whole wheel. Rinse your cloth VERY often when doing this and try to get as much dirt off as you can. Rinse the wheel off, and make sure to dry it as well using the same method you used to dry the car. Make sure the towel does not touch the tire. At this time, rise the tire off as well.




To be continued

I really, really don't mean to harp on you in the least bit but just be sure to preface all of this with the fact that this is only your routine... there were numerous "recommendations" that I would never use while detailing our cars.

lol someone bored tonight? Yea my washing routine is different, most people will be

I really, really don't mean to harp on you in the least bit but just be sure to preface all of this with the fact that this is only your routine... there were numerous "recommendations" that I would never use while detailing our cars.

post what you would change
I am open to ideas, i jsut was posting the way i do it. What do you believe is not good in that ?

First don't EVER EVER EVER get Dawn anywhere near your cars paint, it won't only strip the wax it will completely dry out your vehicles paint.

Second it is best to wash from the top down.

Third you can always use a rough sponge, and some degreaser on the front, windshield, and side mirrors for bugs.

Fourth Degreaser works magic on your wheel wells.

Fifth, thats a great wash procedure, but what about wax, polish, clay bar, buffing, water spot removal, aquapel of your windows...

If I have time I will post my complete procedure later.

Sorry Sorry just saw the work in progress disclaimer

that and look at this

"upposedly dawn will strip the wax off of your car, but i dont recommend this. "

Dawn is the worst way possible to strip the wax because it also reacts with the clear coat to dry out your paint. Have you ever washed a car and it seemed like you cant keep it wet, you hose it down over and over but the water keeps disappearing, thats from dawn. The only real way to strip you cars wax the right way is to use a clay bar. Added benefit it takes just about everything off of your paint, it works as a razor blade that shears down to your clear coat.

Even if your car doesnt look dirty, take a clay bar and some windex and give your paint a couple swipes, youll be amazed at what is comes off.

And you have got it completely right with the two bucket system, there arent a lot of people out there who really take the time because they think they wont see the results, but after you do it a couple times, youll never go back to dunking your dirty mit in your soap.

I wasn't going to mention claybaring but I may. I personally use a porter cable 7424 and do things way differently. Dawn I have used once and it was neede due to the fact that the car got sprayed with a gel substance that was green and gooey, think it was hairgel.

The zaino guys I think started the dawn myth. I personally am getting into detailing myself, so don't be harsh on me please. I do recommend collinite 845 after polishing with some AIO for the winter.

I know that I do leave a thin thick amount of wax on the back of the fenders in the wheelwell where it likes to rot. I also have a tendancy to clean and wax all door jambs ( I oil my door hinges in winter because of rot), wax my windows, wax my headlamps after buffing them with a drill.

That is just input, not recommendations.

Yeah I always pressure wash my door jambs and hinges, waxing them is a little extreme for me. Clay Bar to me is ESSENTIAL, there really is no other way to clean your paint the way a clay bar does, my general outline is as follows.

Remember I am a Meguiars man...

1) wash...you know the deal, also degrease the engine compartment and pressure wash it
2) clay bar with windex, windows included
3) wash
4) #84 dual action cleaner polish maguires, with a DA orbital random polisher
5) wash
6) #85 diamond cut maguires, on any heavy swirls or blemishes, also with the DA orbital random polisher
7)wash
8) #21 synthetic sealant maguires, DA orbital...VERY IMPORTANT TO LET IT SET UP
9) NXT GEN tech wax maguires, DA orbital, also important to let it set up. Wipe off with soft microfiber. Then wipe down the whole car again with a clean microfiber.

I also wax my windows as an aqua pel alternative, for the lights i use maguires...one or a combination of 4 products,

clear plastic cleaner
clear plastic polish
clear plastic detailer
PlastiX

I ran a detail shop in Arizona, Maguires is all we ever used so, it rubbed off on me.

Well... first off, I would never use one of those mitts... it is so easy for something to be picked up in one of those without you even realizing it and "whoopsie" there's a nice little scratch. Personally, I use my own bare hands as much as possible, nothing else will give you the sensitivity and the ability to vary pressure as needed as your own hand. I'll usually use a nice big sponge to transfer the soapy water to the area I'm working on in one hand and use the other to wash the car... it's just like washing a baby - you wouldn't use some big ol' mitt, you'd use the gentle touch of your hand. Doing so also negates the need of two buckets as you're never transferring any dirt back to the bucket. As far as soap goes, I use nothing special.. for a regular, "maintenance" (in-between wax) wash I use nothing more than a regular non-abrasive, moisturizing hand soap, and I do so for a specific reason. The only thing I will wax my vehicles with is pure carnauba... I don't do any of that synthetic stuff regardless of how much some people swear by it. Being that carnauba is an organic substance composed mainly of fatty acid esters, I've always found that a moisturizing soap helps the carnauba to retain it's luster longer. Usually every season I will do a more thorough polish and wax - again, always applying the carnauba with my bare hands. Then once a year, usually in the spring after the mess of the winter months has passed, I will do a completely thorough clay job on them.

Well... first off, I would never use one of those mitts... it is so easy for something to be picked up in one of those without you even realizing it and "whoopsie" there's a nice little scratch. Personally, I use my own bare hands as much as possible, nothing else will give you the sensitivity and the ability to vary pressure as needed as your own hand. I'll usually use a nice big sponge to transfer the soapy water to the area I'm working on in one hand and use the other to wash the car... it's just like washing a baby - you wouldn't use some big ol' mitt, you'd use the gentle touch of your hand. Doing so also negates the need of two buckets as you're never transferring any dirt back to the bucket. As far as soap goes, I use nothing special.. for a regular, "maintenance" (in-between wax) wash I use nothing more than a regular non-abrasive, moisturizing hand soap, and I do so for a specific reason. The only thing I will wax my vehicles with is pure carnauba... I don't do any of that synthetic stuff regardless of how much some people swear by it. Being that carnauba is an organic substance composed mainly of fatty acid esters, I've always found that a moisturizing soap helps the carnauba to retain it's luster longer. Usually every season I will do a more thorough polish and wax - again, always applying the carnauba with my bare hands. Then once a year, usually in the spring after the mess of the winter months has passed, I will do a completely thorough clay job on them.

the issue is, most of us that work on our own cars have hands that are not all soft and moisturized, aka, my hands WILL scratch paint.


Im sorry, considering the fact that most peoples hands are like sand paper, i will pass. A sheepskins mitt in my opinion is far superior. Most MINOR damage that would be caused my washing can be fixed.

I personally use a knockoff foam gun myself to transfer soap, i use a gilmour 2 that was rebranded for mane and tail.

Yeah I always pressure wash my door jambs and hinges, waxing them is a little extreme for me. Clay Bar to me is ESSENTIAL, there really is no other way to clean your paint the way a clay bar does, my general outline is as follows.

Remember I am a Meguiars man...

1) wash...you know the deal, also degrease the engine compartment and pressure wash it
2) clay bar with windex, windows included
3) wash
4) #84 dual action cleaner polish maguires, with a DA orbital random polisher
5) wash
6) #85 diamond cut maguires, on any heavy swirls or blemishes, also with the DA orbital random polisher
7)wash
8) #21 synthetic sealant maguires, DA orbital...VERY IMPORTANT TO LET IT SET UP
9) NXT GEN tech wax maguires, DA orbital, also important to let it set up. Wipe off with soft microfiber. Then wipe down the whole car again with a clean microfiber.

I also wax my windows as an aqua pel alternative, for the lights i use maguires...one or a combination of 4 products,

clear plastic cleaner
clear plastic polish
clear plastic detailer
PlastiX

Hah, you do well

I am NOT a miguiars man myself and find there stuff to be overpriced, but i cant really admit to using there professional line. Unfortunately, i have clearcoat damage on my cadillac so i abandoned all hope with that and just use a mitt i have laying around and will wax it to prevent it from getting any worse.


The crown vic got hit around 2 weeks ago and id need to replace 2 doors, but the paint otherwise is flawless on the crown vic, and i am so POed about the doors, but i am not really concerned. It was more of something for me to waste time on, and needless to say, i am pissed off that some kids threw rubbing alcohol on my cadillac, i think thats what caused the cc failure, that or a acid bomb.

the issue is, most of us that work on our own cars have hands that are not all soft and moisturized, aka, my hands WILL scratch paint.


Im sorry, considering the fact that most peoples hands are like sand paper, i will pass. A sheepskins mitt in my opinion is far superior. Most MINOR damage that would be caused my washing can be fixed.

I personally use a knockoff foam gun myself to transfer soap, i use a gilmour 2 that was rebranded for mane and tail.

I never once said mine nor anyone else's hands must be "soft and moisturized" for it to be effective, and it's silly to think so. If you were to actually read what I said, the purpose of the soap is for the benefit of the carnauba, nothing else. Besides that, rough hands will not blemish the surface of any paint job. It's not a matter of who can rub the hardest.. it's a matter of being able to properly detect and remove debris from the surface of one's vehicle. The fact remains, I don't trust any one or anything to clean and detail my car except my own two hands, and if you're looking for a true "idiot's guide," you can't get much more foolproof than that. You ask what I do differently, so instead of coming back with dismissive condescension because it's something you never thought of, it may be best to at least remember that I've washing my vehicles in this fashion to great success longer than you've been around... the proof my friend is in the pudding.

I suppose what I'm really saying is - don't knock it until you try it. I've tried numerous approaches over the years and it remains that I've not found a better alternative than the two hands the Good Lord gave us.

If you wanted this to be "Crown Vic's Guide to Washing a Car" (which I never really thought anyone needed an actual guide for such...), then you should have said so. Otherwise I merely putting out there the best solution I've found over the years for other's to actually try if they so choose, not for them to dismiss immediately for some unwarranted reason.

damnit, maybe we hould change the title to the car wash discussion

also, AMG, i dont trust my hands at all. I guess i may try it.

I was talking about washing also with a mitt, not waxing. Waxing i WILL use my hands for

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7598756069207401372&q=showcargarage.com

I don't know anyone who washes their car and doesn't use their hands for something. I use a microfiber mit, and my free hand to feel along any suspicious dirt on my paint.

I think that using your hands for the whole car might be a bit of overkill. I don't find it is worth the time and effort as opposed to a mit, which, may cause some swirling, but the process I use has no problems with swirls that are that light.

I am also not sure that someones hands could do any damage to the paint, and if they could it would be as easily repairable as the damage caused by a mit.

I use Maguires because I get it at a discount, and I find they have a product for EVERYTHING, and in most cases multiple products for everything.

This discussion is gonna be a good one, haha we are still arguing about wash routines, we havent even gotten to arguing about products, much less wax, how to wax, interior products, interior routines....This should be interesting.

honestly, i think sub is doing overkill personally.


I think you have a superior position in this argument over him due to your experience.

In my opinion, anyone can be the best car detailer in the world, and it will most likely not have anything to do with their skill, or they product they use. I can wash and dry a car with a regular old sponge and some towels and it will look better than some finished products of a complete detail from shops here in vegas. What it comes down to is your effort. If you really CARE about making a car look good, you will find a way to do it.

Don't get me wrong, having a good lineup of good products is essential, but you can have the best wax in the world, and if you don't apply it correctly or really work at it, then your car will look worse than it did when you started.

In this case I do feel using your hands for the whole car is a bit of overkill, but your thought process is in the right place. It is a good thing that you would take the time to wash your car by hand, but maybe it would be more beneficial for you to use that time and effort in a different part of your car...Maybe polishing your tailpipes, which few people do. Or removing the wheels and cleaning the interior of your rims, which few people do, and you would be absolutely AMAZED at how much better your car looks. Or maybe you can wash your car with a mitt, and clean your window jambs.

In my opinion all these things will make your car look much better than the improvement, if any, you will see from washing your car with your bare hands.