Car Wash
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New Member
Joined: 12-17-07
Posts: 24
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From: Calgary
Car Wash
I did a search and i couldnt find anything here for a local point of view.
You guys using touchless car wash at all?
If so, what's the best place in town?
What about those car wash place that you clean the car yourself? What are the best facilities in town?
If you do use a self serve car wash, what products are you using to wash your car, Also where did you purchase the products?
I gota admit, my car is currently stock, no mods whatsoever. That being said i want to add mods in the near future....
Also i will be honest and i never really washed my car by hand that often and shame on me for this, i never waxed my car myself. I would like to do this this summer.
You guys have any hints or is there anyplace online where one could learn the do's and dont of car waxing?
Yeah i'm a noob!
But i wana learn and you guys i assume would know this stuff more than i!
Sorry for the many questions.
You guys using touchless car wash at all?
If so, what's the best place in town?
What about those car wash place that you clean the car yourself? What are the best facilities in town?
If you do use a self serve car wash, what products are you using to wash your car, Also where did you purchase the products?
I gota admit, my car is currently stock, no mods whatsoever. That being said i want to add mods in the near future....
Also i will be honest and i never really washed my car by hand that often and shame on me for this, i never waxed my car myself. I would like to do this this summer.
You guys have any hints or is there anyplace online where one could learn the do's and dont of car waxing?
Yeah i'm a noob!
But i wana learn and you guys i assume would know this stuff more than i!
Sorry for the many questions.
Senior Member
Joined: 04-09-07
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 0
From: Calgary, Alberta
first off id like to say welcome! you'll learn a bunch here
ive used both. touchless is great if your in a hurry, most places are similar. the ones where you pay for the water is dumb. id say, every weekend (or 2) just hook up your hose and wash it your self.
when i wash my car i usually do it as follows:
1)rinse entire car
2) have a bucket with soap (donno which brand) and i start washing the car, its pretty basic how to wash
3)then i rinse, this time more thoroughly to get all the soap of
4) lastly i will dry the car, make sure you completely dry the car as for no streaks or water spots.
then about once a month i will wax my car.
wax on/wax off, you know. i use turtle wax and its great.
ive used both. touchless is great if your in a hurry, most places are similar. the ones where you pay for the water is dumb. id say, every weekend (or 2) just hook up your hose and wash it your self.
when i wash my car i usually do it as follows:
1)rinse entire car
2) have a bucket with soap (donno which brand) and i start washing the car, its pretty basic how to wash
3)then i rinse, this time more thoroughly to get all the soap of
4) lastly i will dry the car, make sure you completely dry the car as for no streaks or water spots.
then about once a month i will wax my car.
wax on/wax off, you know. i use turtle wax and its great.
Senior Member
Joined: 03-01-07
Posts: 3,740
Likes: 0
From: Calgary/Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada
I have used MANY different products myself, as well as using the touchless washes.
A couple more hints when doing it yourself.
1) If you car is EXTREMELY dirty, best thing to do is to head to a self-serve wash bay and give the car a quick rinse to get the heavy dirt off. Once you have done that you can clean it at home and it will be a lot easier.
2) When cleaning your car by hand, it is best to have TWO wash mitts. One for the top 2/3 of the car, and one for the bottom 1/3. The bottom 1/3 is always a lot more dirty and you do not want to use the same mitt at the bottom of the car at the top of the car. You will prevent taking small dirt onto the top of your car and ruining the finish. Also make sure to have two seperate buckets when using this method, again so you do not ues the real dirty water on the top 2/3 of the car.
3) When waxing your car, make sure to do it in a shaded area. This way the wax will not setup too quickly. If you have a black car (such as I), make sure to park it in the shade when you wash it as well. The sun will dry the soap rather quickly to your paint. Trust me, it makes things a lot easier when washing it.
4) I have used the Mr. Clean No-dry system for years and have yielded great results. However, I am quite fussy and am going to be using Zaino products on the recommendation from Saunders. A little more work is involved, but I am sure it will be worth it.
A couple more hints when doing it yourself.
1) If you car is EXTREMELY dirty, best thing to do is to head to a self-serve wash bay and give the car a quick rinse to get the heavy dirt off. Once you have done that you can clean it at home and it will be a lot easier.
2) When cleaning your car by hand, it is best to have TWO wash mitts. One for the top 2/3 of the car, and one for the bottom 1/3. The bottom 1/3 is always a lot more dirty and you do not want to use the same mitt at the bottom of the car at the top of the car. You will prevent taking small dirt onto the top of your car and ruining the finish. Also make sure to have two seperate buckets when using this method, again so you do not ues the real dirty water on the top 2/3 of the car.
3) When waxing your car, make sure to do it in a shaded area. This way the wax will not setup too quickly. If you have a black car (such as I), make sure to park it in the shade when you wash it as well. The sun will dry the soap rather quickly to your paint. Trust me, it makes things a lot easier when washing it.
4) I have used the Mr. Clean No-dry system for years and have yielded great results. However, I am quite fussy and am going to be using Zaino products on the recommendation from Saunders.
A little more work is involved, but I am sure it will be worth it.
i just saw this sorry!!!!
ok heres what u do.
washing car by hand:
well first what u should go is park in a shaded place, wrap your hand with plastic rap (yes the stuff u cover food with) and gently rub ur hand over the paints finish, if it feels kinda ruff/lumpy, the car needs a claybaring (u can buy kits) (make sure ur paint is clean before u go rubbing ur hands all over the paint!!!!!!!)
if it dosnt wash the whole car with DAWN dish liquid (yes yes...) it removes all old wax/ any other crap that was put on there (dont make a habbit of washing your car with dawn or any other dish liquid, only about once a year to remove old wax from the last year)
rinse entire car with water to remove all debris, than start sudding down ur car while its wet, wash your car in sections, start with the roof, sud down the roof, than wash off the suds right away (so they dont dry on) than sud down the windows and a pillars, than rinse that area with water right away again, than do the hood and trunk in the same way, than the fenders, top of the doors and such in the same fashion, THAN do the bumpers, and bottom of the doors in the same fashion...... (wash TOP TO BOTTOM I CANNOT STRESS THAT ENOUGH). after u have done all that remove the end off your water hose, so the water is flowing in a stream rather than a spray, and rinse the car down again this gives you a sheeting affect, and cuts ur drying time by ALOT
now its time for drying, u can use many things for drying, just pick up what u feel wont scrach your car (waffle weve micro fiber seams to work good, OR 100% cotton MADE IN THE USA large bath-towels, they should run you about 10-20 bucks a towel, anything cheaper will have polister backing and such, if u buy the towels cut off all tags and the outer seam...... or my personal faverite "the absorber")
after your all dry (again dry top to bottom) time to brake out the wax, apply a thin coat (heres a tip, on the roof hood and trunk lid wax up and down (from the top of the hood down to the bottom of the hood), and on the sides and fenders wax up and down (from the top of the body down to the ground), makes the oplaxes (spelling) in the wax shine on angles better) (dont belive that circular mototion bull ****) let it haze (turn white) put ur finger on it and move ur finger if the wax dont come off its not dry yet.
hall out those towels u just bought (microfiber) and start buffing off the wax (again top to bottom) (i use a buffer for this step) after u remove all the wax, u might have a little white dust on your car, just dust it off with a clean microfiber (i use a sheep skin buffing pad for that step) if you want some more gloss just add another coat of wax/polish.
the only wax/anything else to use is Zaino..... its pretty pricey but worth it (imo).
Good luck and i hope this helps!!!!
ok heres what u do.
washing car by hand:
well first what u should go is park in a shaded place, wrap your hand with plastic rap (yes the stuff u cover food with) and gently rub ur hand over the paints finish, if it feels kinda ruff/lumpy, the car needs a claybaring (u can buy kits) (make sure ur paint is clean before u go rubbing ur hands all over the paint!!!!!!!)
if it dosnt wash the whole car with DAWN dish liquid (yes yes...) it removes all old wax/ any other crap that was put on there (dont make a habbit of washing your car with dawn or any other dish liquid, only about once a year to remove old wax from the last year)
rinse entire car with water to remove all debris, than start sudding down ur car while its wet, wash your car in sections, start with the roof, sud down the roof, than wash off the suds right away (so they dont dry on) than sud down the windows and a pillars, than rinse that area with water right away again, than do the hood and trunk in the same way, than the fenders, top of the doors and such in the same fashion, THAN do the bumpers, and bottom of the doors in the same fashion...... (wash TOP TO BOTTOM I CANNOT STRESS THAT ENOUGH). after u have done all that remove the end off your water hose, so the water is flowing in a stream rather than a spray, and rinse the car down again this gives you a sheeting affect, and cuts ur drying time by ALOT
now its time for drying, u can use many things for drying, just pick up what u feel wont scrach your car (waffle weve micro fiber seams to work good, OR 100% cotton MADE IN THE USA large bath-towels, they should run you about 10-20 bucks a towel, anything cheaper will have polister backing and such, if u buy the towels cut off all tags and the outer seam...... or my personal faverite "the absorber")
after your all dry (again dry top to bottom) time to brake out the wax, apply a thin coat (heres a tip, on the roof hood and trunk lid wax up and down (from the top of the hood down to the bottom of the hood), and on the sides and fenders wax up and down (from the top of the body down to the ground), makes the oplaxes (spelling) in the wax shine on angles better) (dont belive that circular mototion bull ****) let it haze (turn white) put ur finger on it and move ur finger if the wax dont come off its not dry yet.
hall out those towels u just bought (microfiber) and start buffing off the wax (again top to bottom) (i use a buffer for this step) after u remove all the wax, u might have a little white dust on your car, just dust it off with a clean microfiber (i use a sheep skin buffing pad for that step) if you want some more gloss just add another coat of wax/polish.
the only wax/anything else to use is Zaino..... its pretty pricey but worth it (imo).
Good luck and i hope this helps!!!!
Senior Member
Joined: 03-01-07
Posts: 3,740
Likes: 0
From: Calgary/Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada
How about I bring some alcohol one time and you show me how to do it properly? I have the washing part down, it is just the waxing with the polisher that I never seem to get right.
One thing may I suggest is when your doing the inside of your car, a sticky lint remover is your friend (3M or something similar). That will get any hair out quicker then trying to vacuum it out.
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