tips for cleaning at a car wash?

[hoody979]

hey everyone. almost have had my FiST for a week now. I don't have what I need to do a good clean and wash at home so I was wondering what tips you have about going to a car wash and using their bay and equipment to give the dirty girl a wash. the one that I went to had pretty much your basic set up. if you have anything let me know.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Best advice I can give is bring your own sponges and wash mitts and bucket. When I lived in an apartment and condo I use to frequent those bay style car washes. I would pay for the rinse and soapy water but would fill my bucket and use it to wash. First I rinse the whole vehicle and then filled the buckets. Washed it all down followed be the rinse. I would use their brush for the rims and rocker panel. Which is why I never used their brush on the paint as who knows what is stuck on from the previous car washes. This way actually saved me a few bucks as I used the water more efficiently. Follow it up with a good wax at the under ground garage or a quick spray on wet surface wax.

 

[15GreenEnvy]

Avoid the jet turbine blowers. Broke a trim piece on my windshield.

 

[hoody979]

I wouldn't be using turbines for drying. the one I go to had a nozzle for high pressure, low pressure, high pressure soap and a tire/engine cleaner. I don't use the tire/engine cleaner. then they have a long handle brush that pushes out soap foam. then they have some rainx solution that comes out of a separate nozzle. having your own buckets mitts and sponges. I'll have to do that.

 

[rexdriver85]

The self washes are good as long as you DONT USE THIER BRUSH. You will induce so many swirls and scratches. Do what [MENTION=2253]CanadianGuy[/MENTION] said. I would recommend a 2 bucket method with a grit guard and bring 2 wash mitts in case you drop one, never use a wash mitt or microfiber cloth dropped on the ground, they will pickup dirt, hold it, and then you will grind it into your paint unknowingly.

There's also another way. I live in an apartment with no water access so I do a rinseless wash method developed by a professional detailer in Florida. I've been doing it for years and it cuts down on inducing swirls and scratches. Also great in the winter if you use warm water. Fast and easy. His Infinite Use Detail Juice is also considered one of the holy grails in the detailing community.

Also check out www.autopia.org for more detailing info than you could ever imagine.

http://youtu.be/ws59CEYUpC0

 

[opusmonday]

Confirmed on the No Brush guidelines. Before I got wise I used to do it to my last car, and by the time it was traded in it looked like a first gen holodeck.

 

[Boro]

Agreed, don't trust that brush. It feels so soft but it's a lie. Also bring a drying towel, it took me an embarrassing amount of time to realize 'spot-free rinse' is a bunch of malarkey.

 

[opusmonday]

Agreed, don't trust that brush. It feels so soft but it's a lie. Also bring a drying towel, it took me an embarrassing amount of time to realize 'spot-free rinse' is a bunch of malarkey.

Very malarkey. Much snake oil.

Re: Drying. I bought a really soft rubber squeegee and use that, saving cloth wiping for the weird spots the squeegee won't go. Huge time saver and as long as it is clean there wont be much of any scuffing.

 

[KKaWing]

If you do bucket @ coin-ops (not the indoor drive in and pay by time but rather pay by cycle washes) try not to go during busy hours. Might get kicked out as most places here have a no bucket wash sign. That said they leave people be if it's during quiet hours like 2/6 bays filled or smthing like that. If you end up do needing to use the brush for whatever reason, pressure rinse the crap out of it during the soak cycle before you start the foam. It helps... a bit. Oh, and do stay away from the quick dry rinse. Those tend to leave a hazy film on the car after it drys. Some sort of jelly blade or even a chammy is the better option when drying the car.