jetblast10
07-20-2007, 06:56 AM
I'm bored, figured I'd give you my ultra obsessive compulsive tips on car care.
First thing, I wash the E every weekend, it gets at least 3-5 hour per weekend to keep it sparkly. I'm not lazy and don't look for shortcuts, hard work is its own reward.
Wash with distilled water. I have 2 pressurized lawn sprayers. One contains distilled water and Meguiers carwash soap, the other contains only distilled water. I live in Florida and tap water is harsh here with high sulfur and mineral levels so distilled water is a perfect spot free answer.
Start with a rinse of distilled, work one panel at a time. Leave the water on the panel for a minute then switch sprayers and apply the soapy water. Adjust the tip of the wand so the soap suds's up.
Let that sit about 30 seconds and wash with a microfiber towel or mitt (we'll call this towel #1). Then rinse throughly with distilled.
Switch to microfiber towel #2 which is slightly dampened with distilled water and remove most of the remaining droplets.
Switch to microfiber towel #3 and finish drying off the panel.
Move on to the next panel always spraying away from the previous panel. Oh yes, MF Towel #1 is taken out of the game after each panel, it's replaced by MF towel #2, like a rotation. Don't forget to open your doors and do the jams also.
Without interruptions you should get through the car wash in about an hour. This might sound like a long time but you've gone from dry and dirty to dry and clean without a single waterspot on the car. You didn't need a leaf blower, shammy, or any other mussing about.
Now, it's wheel time. Use the same approach to the wheels. One MF towel at each of the 3 steps per wheel. You can get MF towels at Costco, like 50 for $10.00 - can't beat that.
Now, have a Dasani water and relax for a moment.
Hey, I didn't say take a nap, you're not done.
Motul wash and wax is some cool stuff. Comes in a spray can and works wonders for finishing. Start at the first panel and using a new MF towel spray a bit on the towel and a bit on the panel and give it a wipe down. Never run the towel dry over the panel, hold the motul in one hand & the mf towel in the other. Spray wipe spray wipe spray wipe and always linearly, never make a circular motion. I use the motul over every surface including the windows (keep it off your brake rotors) Don't forget to refold your mf towel a couple times per panel.
You could also use Plexus if you can't get the motul but having used both I prefer the motul.
Now, get a fresh mf towel and do a thorough walk around looking from different angles. The surface should be buttery smooth everywhere. All told you've probably got 2 hours into the job by now. The interior is next, that'll take into the 3rd - 4th hour but really should be done.
I used Zymol liquid wax 4 times per year and clay before each application, but that's a whole other thread.
In summary (if you have a solid wax base to work upon) - wash every weekend. Wash & rinse with distilled water and actual carwash soap (no dish detergent) and finish with Motul Wash & Wax. Microfiber towels are one of man's greatest creations. Even if you have 100 of them, nothing wrong with buying 100 more.
First thing, I wash the E every weekend, it gets at least 3-5 hour per weekend to keep it sparkly. I'm not lazy and don't look for shortcuts, hard work is its own reward.
Wash with distilled water. I have 2 pressurized lawn sprayers. One contains distilled water and Meguiers carwash soap, the other contains only distilled water. I live in Florida and tap water is harsh here with high sulfur and mineral levels so distilled water is a perfect spot free answer.
Start with a rinse of distilled, work one panel at a time. Leave the water on the panel for a minute then switch sprayers and apply the soapy water. Adjust the tip of the wand so the soap suds's up.
Let that sit about 30 seconds and wash with a microfiber towel or mitt (we'll call this towel #1). Then rinse throughly with distilled.
Switch to microfiber towel #2 which is slightly dampened with distilled water and remove most of the remaining droplets.
Switch to microfiber towel #3 and finish drying off the panel.
Move on to the next panel always spraying away from the previous panel. Oh yes, MF Towel #1 is taken out of the game after each panel, it's replaced by MF towel #2, like a rotation. Don't forget to open your doors and do the jams also.
Without interruptions you should get through the car wash in about an hour. This might sound like a long time but you've gone from dry and dirty to dry and clean without a single waterspot on the car. You didn't need a leaf blower, shammy, or any other mussing about.
Now, it's wheel time. Use the same approach to the wheels. One MF towel at each of the 3 steps per wheel. You can get MF towels at Costco, like 50 for $10.00 - can't beat that.
Now, have a Dasani water and relax for a moment.
Hey, I didn't say take a nap, you're not done.
Motul wash and wax is some cool stuff. Comes in a spray can and works wonders for finishing. Start at the first panel and using a new MF towel spray a bit on the towel and a bit on the panel and give it a wipe down. Never run the towel dry over the panel, hold the motul in one hand & the mf towel in the other. Spray wipe spray wipe spray wipe and always linearly, never make a circular motion. I use the motul over every surface including the windows (keep it off your brake rotors) Don't forget to refold your mf towel a couple times per panel.
You could also use Plexus if you can't get the motul but having used both I prefer the motul.
Now, get a fresh mf towel and do a thorough walk around looking from different angles. The surface should be buttery smooth everywhere. All told you've probably got 2 hours into the job by now. The interior is next, that'll take into the 3rd - 4th hour but really should be done.
I used Zymol liquid wax 4 times per year and clay before each application, but that's a whole other thread.
In summary (if you have a solid wax base to work upon) - wash every weekend. Wash & rinse with distilled water and actual carwash soap (no dish detergent) and finish with Motul Wash & Wax. Microfiber towels are one of man's greatest creations. Even if you have 100 of them, nothing wrong with buying 100 more.