Pressure Washer Cause Problems?

[lancerplayer]

During the summer I am detailing cars for some extra cash. I would say 90% of the cars I detail have been neglected since day one. I mean maybe 3 washes per year, never clayed, never waxed, etc. Because of this there are some tough spots of road grime and various tar, bugs, rocks, etc that a wash will not get out (using wash mitt, garden hose, and GC shampoo). I was thinking of using a pressure washer on these types of cars simply because the high pressure will get most of the road grime off better than a garden hose and because they have been neglected it's not like im stripping off waxes and such. However, will the high pressure just embed the grime even more and make it even harder to get out? Help me out guys? How do you go about detailing neglecting cars?

[AeroCleanse]

Re: Pressure Washer Cause Problems?

Have you tried pre-soaking the area before the general wash?

[lancerplayer]

Re: Pressure Washer Cause Problems?

I did not try that. What sort of products/procedure should I use/follow when pre-soaking?

[AeroCleanse]

Re: Pressure Washer Cause Problems?

I did not try that. What sort of products/procedure should I use/follow when pre-soaking?

Depends on the nature of the "soil". I have used APC and before that just soaked a wash mitt in the wash solution and held it in place for a minute or two. For the APC I spray it on and let it soak while I wash the rest of the car. Basically you want the soap or cleaner to be "soaking in" rather than just wiped over.

Also make sure your diluting the car shampoo correctly. I found via trial and error that if you don't use enough shampoo, it doesn't work as well. So now I measure it.

[maarten22]

Re: Pressure Washer Cause Problems?

Isn't apc dangerous for the paint?

[Jeepster04]

Re: Pressure Washer Cause Problems?

^I wouldnt think so unless you cut it to strong or let it dry on the paint.

I would NOT use a pressure washer to remove anything from paint. Its ok to use the pressure washer to rinse the car off but if a mitt and GC will not remove something, I wouldnt try to actually 'pressure wash' the car.

I just spent two days 'pressure washing' our deck and I can tell you, it would remove paint if you got close to a chip.

There is a difference in 'pressure washing' and just spraying the car off with the pressure washer.

Isnt this was 'body solvent' is for?

http://www.autodetailingsolutions.com/Meguiar's%20Detailer%20Line%20Prices.htm

[lancerplayer]

Re: Pressure Washer Cause Problems?

I have some GC Bug and Tar Remover, but I never really tested it on other areas of the car besides bumpers/wheel wells. Would it be worth a shot to try it on some of these stubborn spots that I can't seem to get out with GC Shampoo and mitt before ordering the Body Solvent? Or even try diluted Simple Green? Although, that would be a last resort.

[AeroCleanse]

Re: Pressure Washer Cause Problems?

Isn't apc dangerous for the paint?

No if you cut it according to the directions.

[jlgrrt]

Re: Pressure Washer Cause Problems?

You know I have read that Joe from Superior Shine has added APC+ to his wash soap several times on really dirty vehicles like the school buses he did. I don't recall him sharing his ratio though.