Car Washing Techniques

[HealthyCivic]

Can you guys explain how you wash and dry your car? I'm a newbie to detailing and I'd like to get it right without too much trial and error.

What I mean by this, is what area do you wash first? When do you dry it? How do you dry it? Etc...

Do you wet the entire car and then dry the entire car or do you do one section at a time? Do you clean the wheels and tires first? What methods do you use to dry the car? How many towels do you usually use and do you wash them in the washing machine after or what? Thanks.

[AeroCleanse]

Re: Car Washing Techniques

Start at the top and work down using ONR, washing and drying one section at a time with microfiber towels.

[HemiMopar]

Re: Car Washing Techniques

I start with the wheels and tires because dirt will splash on the car from them and then I do the car. Dry with a good microfiber cloth or drying towel. I use the "two bucket" method. One bucket is for rinsing your mitt and the other is for soaping it up.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Car Washing Techniques

First I would give this a quick read : How to mix your car wash soap

Next, the main idea is to start by thoroughly and carefully rinsing your cool vehicle (ie, do not start on a car that has been sitting in the sun), preferably in at least semi-shade with the water. You want to "push" the dirt and dust starting at the TOP of the vehicle DOWN and off of the vehicle.

Work your way around the vehicle and make sure to rinse off as much as you can before physically touching the paint.

Next you will want to take your soapy wash mitt and begin gently moving it across the surface of the paint, starting at the top and working your way down just like the rinse step. It will depend how hot out it is in terms of how much of an area you can do between stopping to rinse, but I typically aim for ONE panel at a time. If it is hot and sunny, half a panel may do the trick. Also pay attention to keeping the ENTIRE vehicle wet as you wash as you do not want anything to dry and cause water spots.

You will want to always put the dirty wash mitt in the plain water bucket before going back for more suds.

After you finish the wash, do a final once over rinse top to bottom, and then pull the vehicle into full shade if possible. Use the appropriate SOFT and CLEAN drying tool like a Meguiar's Waffle Weave (May need a couple) and dry in sections.

If at any point you drop any of the wash mitts, towels, or other products that touch the paint put them aside and get a new one.

I will try and write a more thorough wash guide later, but I am in the middle of preparing for a detail tomorrow morning.

Hope this helps.

[akimel]

Re: Car Washing Techniques

I have found instructive the following video:

How to Wash Your Car

[yalerd]

Re: Car Washing Techniques

I have found instructive the following video:

How to Wash Your Car

I would have to agree, see this video that will teach you the right way

[rodriguera]

Re: Car Washing Techniques

I have found instructive the following video:

How to Wash Your Car

nice video!

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Car Washing Techniques

Watch the video. It will show you the proper way to do the job. I remember when I was a rookie here, I did not think it made that much of a difference how you washed your car. Boy, was I wrong. Proper technique is everything.

[HealthyCivic]

Re: Car Washing Techniques

Thanks for response Mark and thanks for the video akimel. A couple quick questions I have after watching the video:

1. Is it OK to spray the water on the paint the way he does? My dad always acted like you should use more of a "spray" as opposed to a stream to protect the paint. I noticed he sprays it on quite hard sometimes.

2. After washing the car, do I need to throw the towels I used to dry it in the washing machine? Thanks.

[Murr1525]

Re: Car Washing Techniques

1. If your paint washes off from hosewater, you're really in trouble. I dont know how high pressure you can go with a pressure washer, but nothing from a hose will be damaging.

2. I wash my towels every time.

[HealthyCivic]

Re: Car Washing Techniques

Thanks. By the way, when you dry your wheels and tires, what is the best to use? A Terry towel? Does it need to be a good quality Terry towel for the tires and wheels?

Would something like this work or would I need to buy a better quality one?

[chessplayer]

Re: Car Washing Techniques

i give the car a good rinse first..i do the tire and wheels &rinse them really good.now the car i wash it from top to bottom...Rinse again.....then sheet the water on the car ....Drying i usually hit the wheels first so they dont spot..then the car i dry top to bottom.....As for the towels i use only MF and i wash them every time a wash my car....hope this helps

[Murr1525]

Re: Car Washing Techniques

I really dont dry my tires.... and yes, I just use terry cloth for my wheels, as well as under the hood, door jambs, etc. I try to keep my good MF's for paint/glass only.