So, after reading the thread about the $8800 car wash, I wanted to know...

[CPA]

what are the steps and products you guys use to wash your car? Oh, and how long does it take you to normally wash and wax your car?

My steps are:

1. Run down to the local Mr. Bubbles for the full treatment.

 

[notfred]

Depends on whether I want to do a really nice job, or jsut a mediocre job.

The "really nice job" has like a million steps, two washings, claybar-ing (which takes hours), waxing, etc. It pretty much takes all day.

The mediocre job takes about 15 minutes.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: notfred
Depends on whether I want to do a really nice job, or jsut a mediocre job.

The "really nice job" has like a million steps, two washings, claybar-ing (which takes hours), waxing, etc. It pretty much takes all day.

The mediocre job takes about 15 minutes.

give me the really nice job steps and products.

 

[Electric Amish]

I haven't washed my car in 2 years.

 

[Feldenak]

I wait for the rain.

 

[theknight571]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
I haven't washed my car in 2 years.

LOL... I was gonna say: "You're supposed to wash your car?"

 

[poopaskoopa]

When I fill up the tank, I select the premium wash while paying for gas and drive my car through the machine.

 

[imported_Phil]

Usually an hour or two.
That's a wash (with Turtle wax), leather off, vacuum out, clean the windows.
The vacuuming takes the longest time because I use the brush attachment and clean out all the little nooks and crannies, like the air vents.

 

[captains]

Originally posted by: poopaskoopa
When I fill up the tank, I select the premium wash while paying for gas and drive my car through the machine.

i select rapid..i dont want their crappy wax, waxing the dirt on to my car... i get it detailed prolly twice a year though

 

[HN]

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1845772&enterthread=y
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1845771&enterthread=y
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1845805&enterthread=y

rain

 

[zanieladie]

Originally posted by: Feldenak
I wait for the rain.

:thumbsup:

My thoughts exactly!

 

[mrchan]

Wash. Cleaner Wax. Clay Bar. Polish. Finishing Wax.

 

[Aharami]

takes me a whole weekend to wash my car properly

 

[KLin]

1. Fill up my tank at the local chevron.
2. Buy the car wash
3. drive to car wash.
4. key in code
5. get car wash
6. go home.
7. ...
8. PROFIT (err, LOSS fscking $3.16 at the local chevron for 87 octane.)

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: notfred
Depends on whether I want to do a really nice job, or jsut a mediocre job.

The "really nice job" has like a million steps, two washings, claybar-ing (which takes hours), waxing, etc. It pretty much takes all day.

The mediocre job takes about 15 minutes.

give me the really nice job steps and products.

Alright.

1) Wash the car like normal, but use dishwashing soap instead of carwash soap. The idea behind the dishwashing soap is to strip off old wax. Make sure you do a decent job and dont miss spots. Dry the car thoroughly with a clean cotton towel.

2) Get a clay bar and some quick detailer stuff. The Mother's brand detailer in that last link is fine, or anything else that's similar will work, too. Clay the whole car. This takes a little bit of practice, and it takes a long time, but once you know what you're doing you get *AMAZING* results from this. Your paint will feel smooth as silk, and shine more than the last time you waxed it, even without waxing it.

While you're doing the clay-ing, have a toothbrush handy. Use this and the quick detailer spray to get in cracks and crevices around things like emblems, seams bewtween body panels, or anywhere else that you can't get with a bigger tool. It's also good for getting dried on wax off of rubber parts.

3) Once you've clayed the whole car, wash it again. I use carwash soap this time, but you could probably use dish soap again, I don't think it'd make much of a difference. Dry the car thoroughly with a clean cotton towel again. You don't want water spots. Also, make sure you clean the wheels and tires, and exhaust pipe. Details are important.

4) Wax the car. I use Meguair's Gold Class paste wax. I've always been perfectly happy with it. Some people will recommend other things. A lot of people will recommend a product called Zaino, that requires about three applications, one of which requires waiting for it to dryovernight. It's also only available via mail order, and costs about $75. I don't think it looks significantly better than my method.

When you wax the car be sure you get all the wax off after it dries. this requires more arm-tiring rubbing.

That's about it for the outside of the car. It takes hours, but your car witll shine like a mirror when you're done.

Edit: I once did this to a friend's older Honda Accord. The car had, up to that point, been washed "normally". After this process, my friend took the car to his brother's house, and his brother asked him if he had bought a new car.

 

[mcvickj]

Head to Southland Auto wash and hand over $12 for the "complete package"

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Big Meguiars fan:

Hand wash using Meguairs soap
Dry with 100% cotton towels
Normal wax = Meguairs Gold Class Paste

For 3-step I use:
Meguiars Paint/Body scrub Cleaner
Meguairs Polish
Meguairs Gold Class Paste Wax

Stoners for windows
Tire Gel for shiny sidewalls

Wheels = a large sponge that fits in all the grooves, no special cleaner

 

[Ryan]

I alwqays use carnuba wax. It takes me a good 5-6 hours of cleaning to do a really good job on cleaning my car. Once a year I'll spend a whole day on the car with a clay bar, then wax it twice for a good layer of wax.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: CPA
what are the steps and products you guys use to wash your car? Oh, and how long does it take you to normally wash and wax your car?

My steps are:

1. Run down to the local Mr. Bubbles for the full treatment.

My cars go to the car wash twice a year whether they need it or not.

 

[Maximus96]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: notfred
Depends on whether I want to do a really nice job, or jsut a mediocre job.

The "really nice job" has like a million steps, two washings, claybar-ing (which takes hours), waxing, etc. It pretty much takes all day.

The mediocre job takes about 15 minutes.

give me the really nice job steps and products.

Alright.

1) Wash the car like normal, but use dishwashing soap instead of carwash soap. The idea behind the dishwashing soap is to strip off old wax. Make sure you do a decent job and dont miss spots. Dry the car thoroughly with a clean cotton towel.

2) Get a clay bar and some quick detailer stuff. The Mother's brand detailer in that last link is fine, or anything else that's similar will work, too. Clay the whole car. This takes a little bit of practice, and it takes a long time, but once you know what you're doing you get *AMAZING* results from this. Your paint will feel smooth as silk, and shine more than the last time you waxed it, even without waxing it.

While you're doing the clay-ing, have a toothbrush handy. Use this and the quick detailer spray to get in cracks and crevices around things like emblems, seams bewtween body panels, or anywhere else that you can't get with a bigger tool. It's also good for getting dried on wax off of rubber parts.

3) Once you've clayed the whole car, wash it again. I use carwash soap this time, but you could probably use dish soap again, I don't think it'd make much of a difference. Dry the car thoroughly with a clean cotton towel again. You don't want water spots. Also, make sure you clean the wheels and tires, and exhaust pipe. Details are important.

4) Wax the car. I use Meguair's Gold Class paste wax. I've always been perfectly happy with it. Some people will recommend other things. A lot of people will recommend a product called Zaino, that requires about three applications, one of which requires waiting for it to dryovernight. It's also only available via mail order, and costs about $75. I don't think it looks significantly better than my method.

When you wax the car be sure you get all the wax off after it dries. this requires more arm-tiring rubbing.

That's about it for the outside of the car. It takes hours, but your car witll shine like a mirror when you're done.

Edit: I once did this to a friend's older Honda Accord. The car had, up to that point, been washed "normally". After this process, my friend took the car to his brother's house, and his brother asked him if he had bought a new car.

i personally find it unnecessary to to completely dry the car after the initial wash with dawn or other detergents. you'll be spraying it down again when you clay anyways. for the clay lubricant, you can simply mix car wash soap with water in a spray bottle, its much cheaper than using quick detailer as a lube. completely dry the car after the second wash. you may also want to polish the paint before waxing to add more shine. i used zaino for the first time last month. its very time consuming for the first application. but the protection is superb and subsequent applications are very simple. zaino also has an additive where you no longer need to let each coat dry overnight. it allows up to 3 applications within 24 hours. i spent over $100 for their ultimate kit, the wife thought i was out of my mind.

 

[Turkish]

The only time I'll wash my car is when a bird sh!ts on it cause the acid in the poop may actually damage the paint if it stands there for a long time, under the sun. Otherwise I just wait for the rain.

 

[DuallyX]

Green Lantern. They charge my Pontiac Vibe as an SUV though....

 

[Specop 007]

Originally posted by: notfred
Depends on whether I want to do a really nice job, or jsut a mediocre job.

The "really nice job" has like a million steps, two washings, claybar-ing (which takes hours), waxing, etc. It pretty much takes all day.

The mediocre job takes about 15 minutes.

Yep.

Zaino for wax, and Wheaties for breakfast.

Your gonna need both if you want a pimptastic shine

 

[BriGy86]

i washed my car for the 1st time last week (i will have owned the car for 2 years this june)

i live in MN too, here you need to do it to at least get all the salt off of it

 

[PAB]

I call Steve my detailer and say "Steve, do the suburban. Heres $125" and saves myself half a day of aggravation.

Note: Its easy to do a civic yourself, but when you get into the big stuff, its a pain.

Plus, pro detailers clean your headliner and get the dirt out of the door jambs and around the hinges.