Car wash?

[Five0GT]

How do you wash your mustang? By hand or at a car wash? I was told bringing it to a car wash would scratch and make swirls in the paint. Is that true?

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[whokilledkaji]

I'd avoid automatic car washes or using those soap brushes at quarter joints, but that's just my opinion.

I usually take a bucket, sponge, soap and drying towels to my local quarter wash. I shoot off the debris and bugs with their high pressure water, fill up the bucket slowly, add soap and wash the car by hand. Then, I use their air dryer and follow up by drying the car with my towels.

If the car wash is busy, it may not be the best solution, but until I get a power washer and foam cannon for home, it's the best way for me.

 

[fionic]

2 bucket method for normal washing.

1 clean water bucket (with grit guard)
1 soap water bucket (with grit guard)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TTL0TE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

for wash mit.

waffle weave for drying with microfiber to finish up with detailing spray/sealant.

absolutely no auto-washes that touch your car (touch-free only).

I also use my local quarter wash, but around midnight. Use their water and pressure washer.

 

[Nazgul]

Touch less car washes when it's too cold. Hand was when it's warm.

 

[u8mylunch]

It depends on your thoughts of your vehicle. If it is just something your drive and has four wheels, then washing the car is a bonus to it. Do it where ever its convenient for you. Next level is you understand what you have is new and you want to maintain it, then do what whokilledkaji suggests, its a good approach. Next level you take pride in ownership, you purchase all the appropriate car care products, maintaining the interior and exterior, to a point where you it might take several steps to get the shine just right. Final level, professionally maintained, money no object. It sounds like you want care a bit OP, so you might fall in-between the second and third level. NOW this is in good fun and just thrown out there because there many ways to maintain a shine. Don't kill the message... thanks

 

[99gtp]

Avoid the brushes at self washes at all cost! I am a victim of it, never again.

 

[wildsailor]

...Snip

but until I get a ... foam cannon for home...Snip

Sounds like the ideal thing for home defense!

 

[Mr Monte]

If you care about your paint stay away from any car wash. They can do a number to your paint & the harsh chemicals will strip your wax.

My Stage 1 wash:
1. pre rinse - 2 min
2. foam cannon whole car leaving 1/3 mix in bottle - 2 min
3. let car soak - 5 min
4. re-foam cannon car with remaining mix - 1 min
5. wash car - 10 min
6. rinse car - 10 min
7. dry car with electric leaf blower - 10 min
8. detail spray whole car including door & trunk jams - 10 min
9. detail/condition tires - 10 min

Total time = 1hr



Many great products out there but here is what I am happy with now:

foam cannon - Chemical Guys EQP300 MTM Professional Foam Cannon
soap - Meguiar's D11101 Shampoo Plus
buff - Meguiar's M2 Mirror Glaze Fine-Cut Cleaner
sealant - Chemical Guys WAC_118_16 - JetSeal Sealant and Paint Protectant
wax - Chemical Guys WAC_300 - Pete's '53 Black Pearl Crystal Polymer White Carnuba Paste Wax
detail spray - Chemical Guys WAC808 Hybrid V7
tire & trim detail - Chemical Guys TVD10716 V.R.P. Super Shine Dressing
interior - Chemical Guys SPI993 Nonsense Colorless and Odorless All Surface Cleaner - !!! This stuff is a must have !!!
glass - buff with Meguiar's M2 then use Rain-X
fabric guard - Chemical Guys SPI21016 Fabric Guard Interior Protector Shield

 

[fionic]

If you care about your paint stay away from any car wash. They can do a number to your paint & the harsh chemicals will strip your wax.

My Stage 1 wash:
1. pre rinse - 2 min
2. foam cannon whole car leaving 1/3 mix in bottle - 2 min
3. let car soak - 5 min
4. re-foam cannon car with remaining mix - 1 min
5. wash car - 10 min
6. rinse car - 10 min
7. dry car with electric leaf blower - 10 min
8. detail spray whole car including door & trunk jams - 10 min
9. detail/condition tires - 10 min

Total time = 1hr



Many great products out there but here is what I am happy with now:

foam cannon - Chemical Guys EQP300 MTM Professional Foam Cannon
soap - Meguiar's D11101 Shampoo Plus
buff - Meguiar's M2 Mirror Glaze Fine-Cut Cleaner
sealant - Chemical Guys WAC_118_16 - JetSeal Sealant and Paint Protectant
wax - Chemical Guys WAC_300 - Pete's '53 Black Pearl Crystal Polymer White Carnuba Paste Wax
detail spray - Chemical Guys WAC808 Hybrid V7
tire & trim detail - Chemical Guys TVD10716 V.R.P. Super Shine Dressing
interior - Chemical Guys SPI993 Nonsense Colorless and Odorless All Surface Cleaner - !!! This stuff is a must have !!!
glass - buff with Meguiar's M2 then use Rain-X
fabric guard - Chemical Guys SPI21016 Fabric Guard Interior Protector Shield

i'd love that equipment, but expensive. is the foam cannon worth it?

 

[martin]

I got Green Simple All purpose Cleaner to clean the car cover. And the car I will do by hand as soon as the hose in my yard gets rehooked up for the spring

 

[EcoSwag1990]

If you care about your paint stay away from any car wash. They can do a number to your paint & the harsh chemicals will strip your wax.

My Stage 1 wash:
1. pre rinse - 2 min
2. foam cannon whole car leaving 1/3 mix in bottle - 2 min
3. let car soak - 5 min
4. re-foam cannon car with remaining mix - 1 min
5. wash car - 10 min
6. rinse car - 10 min
7. dry car with electric leaf blower - 10 min
8. detail spray whole car including door & trunk jams - 10 min
9. detail/condition tires - 10 min

Total time = 1hr



Many great products out there but here is what I am happy with now:

foam cannon - Chemical Guys EQP300 MTM Professional Foam Cannon
soap - Meguiar's D11101 Shampoo Plus
buff - Meguiar's M2 Mirror Glaze Fine-Cut Cleaner
sealant - Chemical Guys WAC_118_16 - JetSeal Sealant and Paint Protectant
wax - Chemical Guys WAC_300 - Pete's '53 Black Pearl Crystal Polymer White Carnuba Paste Wax
detail spray - Chemical Guys WAC808 Hybrid V7
tire & trim detail - Chemical Guys TVD10716 V.R.P. Super Shine Dressing
interior - Chemical Guys SPI993 Nonsense Colorless and Odorless All Surface Cleaner - !!! This stuff is a must have !!!
glass - buff with Meguiar's M2 then use Rain-X
fabric guard - Chemical Guys SPI21016 Fabric Guard Interior Protector Shield

Looks like you really give it the full Monte ;)

 

[doulos4jc]

Looks like you really give it the full Monte ;)

That's funny, I don't care who you are
I have always hand washed my vehicles. On top of potentially destroying your paint, no type of automatic car wash will really get your car clean.

 

[Mr Monte]

i'd love that equipment, but expensive. is the foam cannon worth it?

Totally worth it. It's less work and more fun to use a foam cannon. I've only washed a car once with buckets only since I bought my foam cannon.

Note just foaming a car then rinsing it off will not leave the car clean. What it does is soften the dirty & grime so it comes off with little effort thus reducing the swirls & scratches you would get under a bucket only wash. Plus who doesn't like making a foamy mess?

The foam cannon came with an adapter to hook to a garden hose what I haven't tried.

The foam cannon is $72 on Amazon or $95 with a gallon of soap on Chemical Guys website.

 

[Sasuketr]

I had a black camaro before and i would agree not to use an automatic car wash unless its touch free! Lot of swirl marks on the coat if you go with the regular car wash! The mustang i have now is Ingot Silver and doesn't show any swirl marks so sometimes i take it to a regular but experienced car wash places and detailers!

 

[eric n]

There is a hand car wash place just a couple of hundred yards from my usual breakfast joint. I drop off the car there, generally once per week for a wash. 2 per year for a full polish and once every 2 months or so for a was job.

On occasion when the weather is nice and I have the time, I will wash it myself. I never seem to do as good of a job as they do. Then again, I don't have a foam cannon!!!

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