What's your car wash routine?

[Chiclet]

Originally Posted by schwantz1

Use regular car soap to clean and I've had good luck with a brand of car polish called Zaino.

+1 for Zaino. That S6 looks great!

[Manofsteelpt]

Originally Posted by masterserg

Sweet looking rides everybody!

Any experience with waterless wash sprays (like Meguiars Ultimate Wash & Wax Anywhere) in between washes to remove light dust? Thanks!

I use a duster for the daily dust. Spay wax every once in a while.

[93 Turbo]

Originally Posted by beshannon

Adding images

Not too dissimilar to the advice given by Junkman2000, google this guy for an in-depth overview of how to maintain your vehicles clear coat for years without damaging it through cleaning.

He gives in-depth explanations as to why he dose what he dose and the reasons for this. May be a little long winded, but I'll never put a chamois on my exterior paint work again. J

[Manofsteelpt]

Originally Posted by Abdullasaif

There's this detailing place next to my house where I ceramic coated my car from the outside doesn't need a wash for a few months


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Ummmmmmmmmm... Is that a S65 Brabus Rocket???

[Brenngun]

Don't wash mine. I like the patina.

[Knappo 1307]

This is one thing I pay to have done. One of my least favorite things to do....

[BuffWatchman]

My 911 (summer drive), which I own outright, gets hand washed by a local service. My Macan (winter drive), which I lease, goes through the Delta Sonic mechanized car wash. I keep my summer car a lot cleaner than the winter one (it's Buffalo, what choice do I have?!)


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[BNA/LION]

Thanks Guys! Some really great ideas here.

Since I got my new car I have not washed it myself. I do kind of miss that connection you get with your car when you really give it a good cleaning yourself. I am going to have to wash her up myself sometime soon.

[Dr.jay]

Big fan of Carpro products. All of my cars are coated with Cquartz UK, once a week they get a 2 bucket wash method with Carpro Reset and topped with Carpro Reload. Before coating I always do a full correction if needed. They are always dried with a metro vac. Interiors get the Carpro treatment also with perl on interior plastics and tires.

[VICI]

Car wash for the most part. When I have time and there's absolutely nothing better to do, I'll hand wash and wax it.

[singe89]

Have a mobile service come by the house to detail the cars on Friday afternoons. I've used the guy for 3 years now and does a full detail for $20 on my car and $25 for the wife's SUV. He does an amazing job! Uses deminerialized water pressure washer, leather conditioner, tire/wheel cleaner, spray wax to repel dust and even soft brushes for the air vents and buttons. It's not even worth me trying to clean my wife's suv with our 2 year old and 10 month old. They destroy the interior with all their snacks and fingerprints. Few of my neighbors use him now so the guy can make some good money going into the weekend.

[MitchSteel]

Nice rides, fellas.
I haven't washed my truck in 3 years.

[VICI]

Originally Posted by MitchSteel

Nice rides, fellas.
I haven't washed my truck in 3 years.

That watch fund must be pretty nice about now

[rr-nyc]

There are no good places to wash your car in NYC so I'm stuck going to a car wash and paying for a hand wash that is mediocre at best.

At my building in Miami, as with most high end buildings in southern FL, I just call down to the valet and they have the car hand washed every week. The guys do an amazing job getting behind the spokes of the wheels and inside of the wheel well. Once a month, a wax and every few months a clay bar treatment.

[77T]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

...and every few months a clay bar treatment.

Excellent thing to do.
That is the most important thing most people skip. This will keep the clear coat free of abrasive debris. Even before clear coats, clay bars helped keep the top color coat intact.

[winchman]

I wash mine the day before I advertise it for sale

[BrazenC5]

Originally Posted by schwantz1

Use regular car soap to clean and I've had good luck with a brand of car polish called Zaino.
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Zaino is good stuff...alot of the corvette guys use it.

[droptopman]

Interesting thread. Some beautiful cars here. I thought I had the OCD bad...

My first business when I was a kid in the 80's was a small car lot with a small shop connected to it. Mostly did restorations on muscle cars to sell. So I learned how to do some detail work. Did a lot of car shows back then. Maquiars was king of auto care products in those days.

I have tried to use local detail shops and a couple of mobile guys but they never seem to meet my expectations so I end up doing our cars myself. Use the two bucket method for the paint and a separate two bucket method for the wheels. I do the wheels first. Keep plenty of good mits around and wash them in the clothes washing machine occasionally.
I try new products all the time, but lately have been using Jorgens which Costco was selling for a while. Good products. Really like their white carnuba wax. I wash my car once a week. Usually wax it at least twice at month and clay bar every few months. I use micro fiber towels to dry. I have mainly had black and red cars over the years which are much more difficult to keep up. Last couple rides, I went with silver which is much easier to maintain. I leave the top down for weeks at a time, so the inside needs a good scrub down fairly often. Use a combo leather cleaner/conditioner that I mix up myself from a few different products. I like invisible glass for window cleaner and Jorgens multi purpose protectant for tires and rubber trim. Not a fan of the tire gels or petroleum based tire shines.

This was taken on Sunday after about 3 hours of work.

[lhanddds]

I've got to try this water blade.

[lhanddds]

Originally Posted by Brenngun

Don't wash mine. I like the patina.

That's good

[Dyim]

You guys put me to shame.

I try to drive mine thru touchless wash once a month.

No time and bad back.

I do keep the wash receipts and have gone as long as 6 months (parked during winter for 3) between washes

[JayB]

Gets washed when in for a service

[Dr.Brian]

Step one- don't even consider a black vehicle.
Once a year get it detailed at the place in Bryn Mawr.
Once a month, go to the BP in Wayne and go through the wash.
Sometimes I go to the place in Haverford to mix it up.
Looks OK to me. It gets me to work downtown and dah'n da shore in style, it's not destined for the Concours d'Elegance. ;)
I went through yesterday. It looks great.
I take better care of the Benz, but not much.