How do you wash your car?
After spending a good half of today cleaning the cars (including the ZHP), I spent the second half of today watching people talk about washing their cars.
I also delved into the Obsessed Garage rabbit hole - a guy who has seemingly devoted his life to washing cars, including spending hours upon hours washing already clean cars. He's also [s]suckered[/s] countless people to part with hundreds, if not thousands, of their hard-earned dollars on pressure washing equipment.
I almost got suckered in. In fact I did follow his recommendation on pressure washers when my old one started leaking, and I got myself a Kärcher K1700 (it's decent). Except, I don't think any of this crap is necessary. Not even the pressure washer.
Does foam actually make any difference when cleaning a car? I've found no matter what I do with the pressure washer, I still have to go in with the sponge to get all the dust/dirt off. In fact I'm not even sure the pressure washer does anything for washing a car, except help distribute soap.
The only thing I've noticed that really made a difference getting a Chamois cloth and then applying wax with my little electric waxing thing. Maybe I'm wrong. Does anyone actually have an ultra-foaming machine? Does it make a difference when washing cars?
How do you wash your car?
I’ll jump in on this knowing that I’ve been a bit crazy about this.
Year 15 of my ZHP starts two weeks from tomorrow. Check the date on that!
It all starts with wetting things down with the 40+ year old Strahman Valve M-70 nozzle. Then the Griot’s ultimate car wash bucket gets rinsed out. The soap bowl in the lower grill (1” off the bottom) gets filled with Griot’s Brilliant Finish car wash. It’s then filled with water until the bubbles start popping through the 1/4 upper grill.
For the main body, I use a 10”x3” Boars’ Hair brush. I start from the bottom and move up from there. This is all due to a failed test in a auto tech class back in high school. (Reason, so you can see what you’ve washed. No soap running over what you haven’t).
Once done, I start on the wheels. Wet the wheels with the hose. Then I spray down one side with simple green full strength. In between each spoke set, heavy in the center, tire and all over once again.
First tool that’s no longer available (Griot’s 1/2” dia x 3” long sponge. Mounted on a 1/4” dowel 8” long). This is used to get between the spokes, around the lugs and into the holes between.
Second tool, is a 8” x 4” + handle rigid wash mitt material tool. I use this to wash the inside diameter of the wheel. I do use fingers to get behind the spokes.
Last tool is a simple wash mitt to get everything else.
Dry time, first, I use a water blade, to get the heave drops off. Next I dry the glass with one of two dedicated microfiber towels. Next I do a first towel on the painted surfaces. I then do a second dry with the other dryer microfiber towel.
Next is the third and smaller microfiber towel. This gets used on all the door and boot jams and everything in the engine bay.
Next is a wipe down of the interior and engine bay with Mequiar’s interior detailer cleaner and or natural shine protector. Both with dedicated microfiber towels!
The finishing touch, goes to Griot’s Best of Detailer and of course I use a special dedicated microfiber for that.
Supplies are currently low so, things may change shortly.
Not many miles this year but, hope to have it fixed shortly.
Added picture! 14 years of ownership in the books @ 160k!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...48a0661814.jpg
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