Wash Routine

[SierraRollinDubz]

how do you guys wash your car? Do you use special towels or washing mitts?

[Dubyagee]

100% cotton towels (separate towel for the tires and rims). Armour all car wash and distilled water in a pump sprayer for a no-spot rinse
________
Yamaha WR450 (http://www.cyclechaos.com/wiki/Yamaha_WR450)

[Southern Pride]

Soap and water, works like a charm! :naughty:

No actually 100% cotton towels, bleach out for white letters (tires), spray on turtle wax.

[Kal]

Carwash soap & water.. Microfiber towels to dry..
I've just started to use this stuff called AutoMagic, I was using this stuff called Bobby Wax before my cousin turned me on to AutoMagic..

http://www.automagic.com/

[Will]

i use car washing soap. Random towels to dry. I used to do zaino and stuff, but realized it wasn't really worth it. So now i just use final detail spray on wax. It beads water like crazy and leaves my paint with a soft feeling.

[Kal]

i use car washing soap. Random towels to dry. I used to do zaino and stuff, but realized it wasn't really worth it. So now i just use final detail spray on wax. It beads water like crazy and leaves my paint with a soft feeling.

When I use AutoMagic my truck also has a very soft feeling.. It also has a wet look to it and smells like perfume..

[VicRed]

-Meguiar's Deep Purple Car wash Soap
-Absorber Shammy to dry it off
-quick drive around the block to blow out water from the mirrors and door handles
-wipe down with the absorber again
-Mothers Billet polish for my wheels

[SierraRollinDubz]

-Meguiar's Deep Purple Car wash Soap
-Absorber Shammy to dry it off
-quick drive around the block to blow out water from the mirrors and door handles
-wipe down with the absorber again
-Mothers Billet polish for my wheels

Where did you get your absorber shammy at?

[Will]

When I use AutoMagic my truck also has a very soft feeling.. It also has a wet look to it and smells like perfume..
mine smells like CAAANDY!

i think you can get the absorber at pretty much any auto parts stores. Its like 10 bucks i believe...

i perfer the drive 80 to get the water off, b/c water gets into crevices of the truck and going fast seems to get it out.

[Josh]

i used turtle wax car wash till the bottle ran out. i was in a hurry one day and used dish soap. sounds odd, but it actually worked better than the actual car wash stuff. i always use a bucket and mitt, then towels i stole from a full service carwash my buddies work at. meguiars gold class all the way, i bought it to test it out, and wont use anything else.

[E.M.D.]

Where did you get your absorber shammy at?
I got one for sale if you want it

[VicRed]

I got my absorber's at Wal-Mart. I have also seen them at Autozone.

[Shift]

Got mine at NAPA. :D Anybody use one of those Water Blades?

[Twstd02]

i used turtle wax car wash till the bottle ran out. i was in a hurry one day and used dish soap. sounds odd, but it actually worked better than the actual car wash stuff. i always use a bucket and mitt, then towels i stole from a full service carwash my buddies work at. meguiars gold class all the way, i bought it to test it out, and wont use anything else.
Dish saop is one of the worst things you could of done! It eats away at your clear coat. If anything you should use shampoo. The best car supplies is www.mothers.com They have a car wash soap that smells like bubble gum. I wouldn't trust anything else on my truck.

[SierraRollinDubz]

Got mine at NAPA. :D Anybody use one of those Water Blades?

Whats a water blade?

[Twstd02]

yeah I've used one, they work ok. you can use it to get most of the water off, and then use a shammy to get the rest.

[camnut]

I go to a local distributor for detailing supplies. So i use their car soap (smells like cherry), a mitt and sometimes a brush. Then i squeegee and finish with some cotton towels.

[bcubed]

Got mine at NAPA. :D Anybody use one of those Water Blades?

I just started a thread about the Waterblade, I love mine but need to get a new one as the silicon is sort of getting worn .. it lasted several good years though. If you aren't familiar with it its a silicone blade that you has a handle and you squeege your paint, it wont scratch as silicone is the same thing they make fake boobies out of, lol, very soft. They only run about $19 for the big ones.

[Ryan]

mine smells like CAAANDY!

i think you can get the absorber at pretty much any auto parts stores. Its like 10 bucks i believe...

i perfer the drive 80 to get the water off, b/c water gets into crevices of the truck and going fast seems to get it out.


I got pulled over for doing that once. Luckily, only got a warning cuz that was my excuse...lol. :head:

[jgood2709]

rinse, meguiars gold class car wash shampoo and conditioner, rinse, water blade, take a lap, chamois, meguiars gold class endurance tire shine

[sierraon22s]

VicRed-quick drive around the block to blow out water from the mirrors and door handles

Instead of wasting your gas driving around to blow water from your mirrors and handles, you can blow on the crevice w/ your mouth :naughty: and save time and gas, thats what I do. Fold the mirrors inward and blow then fold the mirrors outward and do the same. As for the handles just blow around the housing. The water beads right off. Just remember to blow really hard. :naughty:

[2006BAMFRADO]

Instead of wasting your gas driving around to blow water from your mirrors and handles, you can blow on the crevice w/ your mouth :naughty: and save time and gas, thats what I do. Fold the mirrors inward and blow then fold the mirrors outward and do the same. As for the handles just blow around the housing. The water beads right off. Just remember to blow really hard. :naughty:

lol.. I'll stick with an air compressor or a couple cans of DUST-OFF! :LOL:

[Ryan]

lol.. I'll stick with an air compressor or a couple cans of DUST-OFF! :LOL:

:word: that can be a lot of blowing...lol

[Blue Streak 62]

I might look strange out drying my truck but I use an electric leaf blower,saves gas and I don't get dizzy from blowing lol.

[blwclvl]

I like the leaf blower idea I will have to use that one before I wash it to go to Panama City Beach this week. Dish Detergent strips the clearcoat and will strip wax off too. The only time it is suggested to use it on a vehicle that I know of is if you have wax buildup.

[Black_Chrome]

:word: that can be a lot of blowing...lol
im sure he gets alot of practise

[green beast]

I always use dish soap and water, clean with a sponge, and then use a chamois to dry.

[Josh M]

I always use Meguiars Gold Class Wash, Dry with 100% cotton towels (if they are not 100% cotton they will scratch you paint) The absorber does too from what I am told, the blades are awesome for quick drying, but don't get any object between the blade and the car....yikes! Eagle One wax as you dry...and every 3-4months (usually with the seasons) a good wax....Eagle One Nano....Meguiars Gold Class or NXT its all about the same.....

[Claye]

I use Meguiars NXT car wash and use a sheepskin wash mitt and microfibers towel mitts to wash it. I also use 2 buckets to wash with. One I have clean water in and the other soapy water. When I get through washing a section I rinse the mitt out in the clean water to get rid of all the bugs and such. Then I dry it with a microfiber waffle weave towel. Usually after that I'lll spray on some Meguiars Final Inspection too. About every other week I wax with Meguiars NXT Tech wax. Every other month I use Meguiars #83 for swirls and such then NXT followed by some Meguiars #26. Yeah I'm a freak huh? lol!!!!

[Kal]

03Carbondogg where do you buy a sheepskin mitt. I've been looking and can't seem to find one.

[Claye]

03Carbondogg where do you buy a sheepskin mitt. I've been looking and can't seem to find one.
http://properautocare.com/sheepwas.html

[Kal]

http://properautocare.com/sheepwas.html

Thanks for the link. They got some pretty cool stuff there. Kinda costly for only 6 months of use, how long does yours last you?

[Claye]

Thanks for the link. They got some pretty cool stuff there. Kinda costly for only 6 months of use, how long does yours last you?
I try to buy one about every 2 months or so.

[Z71Edge]

Hey Carbondogg, how's that Meguiars Final Inspection? Everything I've used on my vehicle's has be Meguiars products and I was wondering what is a good Detail spray. Another thing I need to find is a good product to remove the swirls in my paint...thats one thing I haven't done since I bought my truck and its drivin' me nuts. So whats the good stuff? Thanks man

[sierraon22s]

im sure he gets alot of practise
Its practice w/ a "c" not an "s" spelling bee champ.

[Claye]

Hey Carbondogg, how's that Meguiars Final Inspection? Everything I've used on my vehicle's has be Meguiars products and I was wondering what is a good Detail spray. Another thing I need to find is a good product to remove the swirls in my paint...thats one thing I haven't done since I bought my truck and its drivin' me nuts. So whats the good stuff? Thanks man
Final Inspection is great man! Way better than they're quick detail. For swirls the best thing I've found to use is Meguiars #83 cleaner. You need a DA buffer to get most of those swirls out though. Plus when using the DA with the #83 you need to apply it and keep going over it until the section of wax is completely dry. Like for example if you did the hood you need to work that wax in for at least 30 mins. Also for this type of job you need to wash your truck with Dawn to strip off all the wax and then apply everything. Also remember to apply some wax afterwards to seal everything and make sure your ride is protected.

[kryptonite]

I have clean water in one and soapy water in the other pail. - parphrased from 03 Carbondogg

One of my friends was washing his truck and he had two buckets out. I asked why and he said to rinse the (sponge, towel, glove, brush) before it went back in the soapy bucket. This way all the "dirt" stays in the rinse bucket and your soap bucket stays clean.

I had to rinse the water in my rinse bucket 3 times but the water in my soap bucket stayed nice and clean...hmmm this actually seems to help.

Okay now how long do you spend cleaning your trucks...on a weekly or monthly basis?
....or maybe someone should start this as a new thread?

[Claye]

One of my friends was washing his truck and he had two buckets out. I asked why and he said to rinse the (sponge, towel, glove, brush) before it went back in the soapy bucket. This way all the "dirt" stays in the rinse bucket and your soap bucket stays clean.

I had to rinse the water in my rinse bucket 3 times but the water in my soap bucket stayed nice and clean...hmmm this actually seems to help.

Okay now how long do you spend cleaning your trucks...on a weekly or monthly basis?
....or maybe someone should start this as a new thread?
I wash it when I drive it. Usually every weekend but sometimes I don't. So you could say I wash every week or every other week. Just depends.

[Derek]

i just drive through a big mud puddle, cleans it right up :D
although the boss hates when my truck is dirty cause when it rains it get mud all over his parking lot :bawl:

[SSALASKA]

I use Maguires gold class soap, I start at the top of the truck work my way down. Use a seperate was mit for the wheels and wheel wells. I rinse it was the Mr.Clean auto dry, Just using the filter option for a spotless dry. Then I use a real shammy, I think its deerskin. Once I have her all dry, I either wax with Maguires gold class wax, or I use Maguires quick wax. With the quick wax I spray it on, evenly rub it in till it hazes, let it sit for a few mins., Remove it, the polish it till its perfect no swirles. I am not sure what I use on the tires but its a clear silicone base liquid of some sort works really well. Polish the exhaust tip with never dull.

The other day after washing her, A friend of mine and I were pulling out of a gas station when we were stopped buy some dude in a Escalade. He was the owner of a detail service, He asked where I had my truck done? I told him I do it myself, He was like that shits perfect man, Like "GLASS". That made my day...

How does that Final inspection stuff work compaired to quick wax?

[Claye]

How does that Final inspection stuff work compaired to quick wax?
You mean Quick Detail? It works 50% way better. You can tell a big difference!!

[MOC]

I just do this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/bow_hunter/Silverado/Truckwatercrossing.jpg

:D

[Derek]

:word: nobody like my idea like that either :D

[Homer J]

where do you get all these cool merguiers products? all i've seen around here is the gold class wax, quick detailer, and some of the tire dressings.

i like the two bucket idea. i usually use turtle wax cars wash, a sponge and the Mr. Clean auto dry rinse cycle. seems to work pretty good.

[Slammedchevy01]

i used turtle wax car wash till the bottle ran out. i was in a hurry one day and used dish soap. sounds odd, but it actually worked better than the actual car wash stuff. i always use a bucket and mitt, then towels i stole from a full service carwash my buddies work at. meguiars gold class all the way, i bought it to test it out, and wont use anything else.
dish soap strips wax :nono: :crazy:

[Slammedchevy01]

I use Megiuars purple bottle and pink bottle combined for soap, 2 seperate buckets for the car/rims. Chamois to dry, but I may try an absorber :read: oh yea I use a soft azz mitt also and a seperate one for my rims :read: I need to pick up some NXT wax, and tire dressing. I heard the NXT for tires doesnt fling all over :worship:

[Slammedchevy01]

oh yea, and dry the rims with a regular towel

[Claye]

where do you get all these cool merguiers products? all i've seen around here is the gold class wax, quick detailer, and some of the tire dressings.

i like the two bucket idea. i usually use turtle wax cars wash, a sponge and the Mr. Clean auto dry rinse cycle. seems to work pretty good.
I usually find all my stuff at a local Auto Parts store. Not an auto parts store like "Advance" or "PepBoys". Sometimes I do order it though staright from Megiuar's site.

[2006BAMFRADO]

I heard the NXT for tires doesnt fling all over :worship:

eh? NXT for tires? :think:

[Slammedchevy01]

thats what I heard :think: whats good stuff that doesnt fling off?

[Claye]

eh? NXT for tires? :think:
Yeah they make a tire dressing too. But yeah it does fling too! I've tried a lot of brands and found that Stoners doesn't sling as bad. Almost all will though. I usually spray it on and let it set up for a good while and then wipe back over it.

[Slowrider5]

I find a leaf blower works pretty good for drying, and you don't have to worry about leaving any kind of marks behind in your paint. Also works good for getting water out of the crevices that you could never do with a towel.

[benhiers]

I wash with car wash soap,blow off with compressed air from air compressor.finish drying with microfiber towel.wax with nxt.polish rims with turtle ax chrome polish.use nxt spray wax every now and then

[matthyoo]

Only one car detailing product touches my truck...it's called Zaino :)

[Will]

Only one car detailing product touches my truck...it's called Zaino :)
nxt is better lol... i have both :D

[T.J.K.]

I do like NXT better than Zaino also. Zaino is supposed to be unbelievable though, and I didn't find it that impressive. When I used NXT ( I bought cause of this thread ) I was totally impressed. I love it. Best thing is is that it is an easy process.

[Germanator]

Go to the self car wash spend $3 for wash and rinse and use old towels to dry it off. Sometimes use spray on wax from Meguiar's. Just polished my rims with mothers and the shine came back, with most of the ugle water spots gone. :rocking: Took me 4 hours though.
Keeping the truck clean is a task and requires lots of time like 2-3 hours every other weekend. But at the end it's worth it.
Do you guys use touch up paint for some of your chips? I had to touch up a lot especially down at the lower fender panels.