Share your washing approach

[Beachbum]

An alternative method for removing bugs and droppings is to soak a paper towel (or microfiber) in hot water, place it on the splatter and let it soak for 10 minutes before gently lifting up (not rubbing).

True, but doing the whole car that way takes a lot longer than a citrus wash. OK so not the whole car, but all of the front, plus parts of the roof and sides too.

 

[Lotus64]

True, but doing the whole car that way takes a lot longer than a citrus wash. OK so not the whole car, but all of the front, plus parts of the roof and sides too.

I agree with you.

I typically use the soaked paper towels to spot treat on the front end over the ppf in order to extend time in between hand washes.

If there were droppings all over, a wash makes more sense.

 

[skysailor]

My Emira was ppf’d with the track pack and ceramic coated. So far it has only been hand washed using Griot’s products. Pictures show products used and I am reasonably happy with results. I do air dry with leaf blower before toweling. Only improvement that might be considered would be to use deionized warmer for rinsing. May need to find a touch less car wash to use in winter.

 

[hoho]

Not my own setup, it's my roommate's setup, but It's what I use to wash my car.

Car is self PPF'd.

All steps are done with a 1800psi pressure washer
1. Koch Chemie active foam (HEAVILY diluted) as pre-wash foam gun with softened water (car + wheels)
2. Full Rinse off with softened water
3. Meguiar's Gold Class (mild dilution) with a cap of ONR as main Foam wash foam gun with softened water (car + wheels)
3a. Microfiber Sponge to agitate foam on body (no pressure applied, just gentle once over)
3b. Separate Sponge to wash wheels if i feel like it or if it's extra grimed up, otherwise I don't even touch
4. Full Rinse off with DI water
5. Dry with 70/30 twisted loop giant towel on body

car washed usually every 2 weeks, 3 weeks max.

 

[GreyGhost_1776]

Kranzle K1122TST Pressure Washer

Auto Wash Process:

Wheels – Clean single wheel per time.

1. P&S Detailing Brake Buster
2. EZ Detail Brush – Wheel wells & barrels. This is stiffer bristle so if wheels are subject to abrasion go with Microfiber
3. Microfiber Madness Incredibrush – To be used for more delicate wheels
4. Detail Factory Tire Brush – tires only to clean off residual tire shine
5. Spray Hydes Rustopper Serum on wet calipers. Optional as this is NOT a fix all brake dust solution

Rinse Vehicle

1. If extremely dirty would use Griots Foam Cannon w/ Bilt Hamber Touch-less prior to initial rinse. (Let soak 3-4 min & rinse)

Wash Process

1. Griots Foam Cannon w/ Koch Chemie GSF (Gentle Snow Foam)
2. Using two bucket method (Wash & Rinse) Top to bottom. Microfiber Madness Incredipad softly over each panel
3. Deionize rinse for garage queen, typically skip for daily vehicle as our water is decent

Drying
a. Blow vehicle dry
b. P&S Detailing Bead Maker - Lightly mist each panel and use two towel method to dry
>Heavier 900 GSM for initial wipe
>Lighter 550 GSM for buff / final wipe
>Wheels / Door / Hood / Trunk jambs last. I will typical use designated towel for this

Other

1. Bilt Hamber Trace-less window cleaner – as needed
2. Griots Interior cleaner – as needed
3. CarPro pearl tire dressing – as needed

 

[seriously]

Would be interesting to know how long these wash routines take also.

Even excluding beer breaks some of these sound quite involved.

 

[Beachbum]

Would be interesting to know how long these wash routines take also.

Even excluding beer breaks some of these sound quite involved.

Mine takes less than 90mins, or its not worth it my opinion
I know others take hours and enjoy every minute of it, but thats just not me

 

[GreyGhost_1776]

Would be interesting to know how long these wash routines take also.

Even excluding beer breaks some of these sound quite involved.

On the daily vehicle (GMC 1500 AT4X) I can knock out in an hour. The garage queen (GT4RS) takes an 1hr 20min typically as I integrate my wheel/caliper cleaning process and are more cautions in general.

 

[Sanguineous]

Would be interesting to know how long these wash routines take also.

Even excluding beer breaks some of these sound quite involved.

Unfortunately the Emira have tendency to flood the car when it gets wet, mainly the rear booth (after opening) and the inside door so it does require a couple more minutes then my daily...

I would say:

• Preparing the driveway for car cleaning - 10min
• Wheels (wash+Ironremover+Wetcoat) - 4*5min=20min
• Foam - 5min
• Buckets wash - 10min
• Air drying - 5min
• Towel drying - 10min
• Booth and door jam - 10min
• Window - 5min
• Finition - 5min
• Tire dressing - 5min
• (Optional) Wax or Ceramic spray - 20min
• Buffer for in-between beer sips (10min)
• For inside, well it goes from 10min to like about 1h

So adding all up make it about 95min or 1.5h.

• Quick wash = 1h
• Wash with protection = 1.5h
• Add quick interior +30min
• Add full interior +1h.

So in-between 1h to 3h

 

[jamesgareth]

Curious to learn more about how everyone is maintaining their cars in between visits to a detailer? Is it a run through an automated wash, something more involved, or are you entirely DIY for detailing?

I'll get us started. I had my Emira paint corrected, full body PPF, then ceramic coated to limit the amount of damage I can do between detailing. I'm resorting to a rinseless wash every 2-3 weeks with spot cleaning in between as needed (experimenting with both Armour Supply Hero and Feynlab v3). My options for washing are limited given HOA rules, but so far am enjoying the results I'm getting from the rinseless especially with the Feynlab dealing with the brake dust being generated

We're supposed to wash them?

 

[Orchardbike]

On a similar subject, has anyone found a really good wheel brush that they’d recommend. I’ve tried a few, but not that impressed with any of them!

 

[ADC]

On a similar subject, has anyone found a really good wheel brush that they’d recommend. I’ve tried a few, but not that impressed with any of them!

I use this nice woolly one (doesn't take more than soapy water to wash my wheels with the ceramic coating on)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07N9C7MGG

 

[TonyV6-UK]

On a similar subject, has anyone found a really good wheel brush that they’d recommend. I’ve tried a few, but not that impressed with any of them!

The Meguiars “Woolly One” that ADC replied with is a perfect fit for cleaning the barrels on my Emira and I use a size small Original Wheel Woolly from Yumcars.co.uk to get behind the calipers when the Meguiars won’t fit in.
Any good detailing brush and a soft wheel mitt for the wheel faces.
I only use Yum products on my cars - for the wheels I use 4 items:
Undress ~ tyre & rubber cleaner
Wheels ~ 2 in 1 Wheel cleaner
Wheel Foam (in foam cannon) Absolute game changer - keeps from drying out too quickly, especially in the Summer
Dress V2 ~ Rubber & trim moisturiser

Products are a bit more expensive than others but end results are really worth it and there’s superb online instruction videos from hugely supportive UK founder.

 

[Wusah]

I just go to a carwash and have them hand wash it. $50 near my place and they do a good job at it imo.

 

[GreyGhost_1776]

On a similar subject, has anyone found a really good wheel brush that they’d recommend. I’ve tried a few, but not that impressed with any of them!

Just need a solid microfiber brush and hand wool mit to get the job done. Microfiber madness & Detail factory are both good options here in US.

 

[Orchardbike]

Thanks. I have a wash kit that I’m happy with, but struggled finding a brush that works, they’re either too thick to get between the spokes or too thin that it takes ages to do everything. I’ve ordered the Maguires one that was mentioned in an earlier post, so will see how that works.

 

[Beachbum]

Thanks. I have a wash kit that I’m happy with, but struggled finding a brush that works, they’re either too thick to get between the spokes or too thin that it takes ages to do everything. I’ve ordered the Maguires one that was mentioned in an earlier post, so will see how that works.

Let us know. I'll be interested in the feedback

 

[Beachbum]

The Meguiars “Woolly One” that ADC replied with is a perfect fit for cleaning the barrels on my Emira and I use a size small Original Wheel Woolly from Yumcars.co.uk to get behind the calipers when the Meguiars won’t fit in.
Any good detailing brush and a soft wheel mitt for the wheel faces.
I only use Yum products on my cars - for the wheels I use 4 items:
Undress ~ tyre & rubber cleaner
Wheels ~ 2 in 1 Wheel cleaner
Wheel Foam (in foam cannon) Absolute game changer - keeps from drying out too quickly, especially in the Summer
Dress V2 ~ Rubber & trim moisturiser

Products are a bit more expensive than others but end results are really worth it and there’s superb online instruction videos from hugely supportive UK founder.

I have used their Foam & Foam+ products. The Foam+ has been excellent, however the standard Foam I have only used once and found it too thin, and flowed off the car too quickly. Will try a higher content on the next attempt.
If that still doesnt work, then likely to give Bilt Hamber Touch-Less a try and it receives consistently good reviews

 

[Orchardbike]

I have used their Foam & Foam+ products. The Foam+ has been excellent, however the standard Foam I have only used once and found it too thin, and flowed off the car too quickly. Will try a higher content on the next attempt.
If that still doesnt work, then likely to give Bilt Hamber Touch-Less a try and it receives consistently good reviews

I use Bilt Hamber Touch-less. It’s the best snow foam I’ve ever used. Takes over 90% of the dirt off before a contact wash.

 

[Av8tor2]

Here is a visual