Drive-Fi related: Car wash/wax?

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

OK, now that we all know how you roll, how do you keep your hoopty clean? Zaino, Meguir's, Griot's, Eagle One, Dawn Dishsoap, Turtle Wax?

Inquiring minds want to know!

 

[Homeless]

My mind wants to know what a hoopty is...?

anyway, I go to a self wash that's just around the corner from me, it's awesome, but can get pricey if you take too much time and use all the options on the dial...

 

[pne]

i just use the looney wash too. Their foaming brush is much faster than washing it at home with a sponge. Once or twice I'll detail the cars at home and give them a really thorough wash, followed by meguiers polish and wax. I used to spend a lot of time detailing cars, I could spend an entire day on a car, but after awhile I realized how pointless it was. Now it just takes 3 loonies at the pay n spray.


btw, don't know if you know this but dishsoap cuts the wax on your paintjob so you'll have to rewax after using it. I'm using some fancy car soap with teflon additives, but dishsoap really cleans well.

 

[lini]

I'm a firm believer in high altitude water condensation combined with gravity (vulgo: rain).

Grinnings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[Absorbine_Sr]

I use Zymol Carbon wax and Zymol car wash on the Cooper S. I also use a variety of Griot's products, especially their clay bar and Speed Shine.

A_Sr.

 

[HiWire]

Liquid Turtle Wax. I can't wait to try out my clay bar.

 

[NightWoundsTime]

All about the Eagle One Nanowax. Anyone that can install little tiny robots on my paint job to keep it in top form gets my vote.












Ok ok I know nanotech isn't actually concerned with little robots but I'm more into science fiction than actual science. Then again nanotech applies equally to the art of little robots reconstructing molecules as it does to a can of car wax.

 

[JMT]

I think the time and effort spent on maintaining the finish of your automobile is directly related to whether you see exterior maintenance as a "chore" or an "activity." Personally, detailing my car is something that I look forward to so it is not a one hour deal. Additionally, there is no way in hell that I would let my car anywhere near Mr. Kelly's Car Wash (old fart's reference to a toy available in the early 1970's),

I wash my car with Zaino Z-7 car wash and dry it with a Toro electric leaf blower. I then wipe off the remaining water droplets with a microfiber drying towel. I then mix some Zaino Z-2 Pro (or Z-5 Pro) with some ZFX Accelerator and apply with a microfiber applicator. I let it cure for about 2 hours while I am treating the leather with some Z-10 and the tires with Z-16. After removing the Z-2, I apply a coat of either Z-6 Gloss Enhancer or Z-8 Grand Finale sealant.

Every six months, I claybar the entire vehicle before the above process.

All of this takes me about 4 hours, but the results are well worth it. More importantly, I enjoy doing it.

 

[Absorbine_Sr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMT /img/forum/go_quote.gif I think the time and effort spent on maintaining the finish of your automobile is directly related to whether you see exterior maintenance as a "chore" or an "activity." Personally, detailing my car is something that I look forward to so it is not a one hour deal. Additionally, there is no way in hell that I would let my car anywhere near Mr. Kelly's Car Wash (old fart's reference to a toy available in the early 1970's), I wash my car with Zaino Z-7 car wash and dry it with a Toro electric leaf blower. I then wipe off the remaining water droplets with a microfiber drying towel. I then mix some Zaino Z-2 Pro (or Z-5 Pro) with some ZFX Accelerator and apply with a microfiber applicator. I let it cure for about 2 hours while I am treating the leather with some Z-10 and the tires with Z-16. After removing the Z-2, I apply a coat of either Z-6 Gloss Enhancer or Z-8 Grand Finale sealant. Every six months, I claybar the entire vehicle before the above process. All of this takes me about 4 hours, but the results are well worth it. More importantly, I enjoy doing it.

Though my routine is a little less elaborate, I usually spend a couple of hours a weekend washing, drying, treating etc. And I agree as to looking forward to it. I've begun to refer to it as my weekend therapy session. Helps clear the mind and calm the soul.

A_Sr.

 

[gshan]

What kind of applicator/brush do you guys use to wash the car? My Scion (Toyota) seems to take scratches very, very easily so I'm thinking about switching over to one of those wool mits from Autopia or Griot's. Maybe I'll even have a separate bucket with just water to rinse the mit between soaks to be safer about debris?

 

[SayNoToPistons]

www.autopia.org .... End thread.

 

[pne]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gshan /img/forum/go_quote.gif What kind of applicator/brush do you guys use to wash the car? My Scion (Toyota) seems to take scratches very, very easily so I'm thinking about switching over to one of those wool mits from Autopia or Griot's. Maybe I'll even have a separate bucket with just water to rinse the mit between soaks to be safer about debris?

you are probably not doing a thorough enough rinse before you soap. Do you use a pressure washer or just the garden hose? A brush will scratch less than a mitt or sponge, and can be kept clean easier. Presoaking the car and letting it sit for a bit will also loosen up the grime and it will let go of the finish easier.

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gshan /img/forum/go_quote.gif What kind of applicator/brush do you guys use to wash the car?

I use common cotton mitt for washing car. I am thinking of getting Griot's broar-hair brush, because it looks cool.

Really the darker the car the easier it will be to see clearcoat swirls.... best not to buy a black car.

 

[vaper]

nothing, I mean nothing does it like Zaino. Their products are amazing.

http://www.zainostore.com/

 

[YamiTenshi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lini /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm a firm believer in high altitude water condensation combined with gravity (vulgo: rain). Grinnings from Munich! Manfred / lini

That's what I do too. Except in the summer it's me standing out there with a hose, sponge and towel (no soap).