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I agree. I did this tonight and start to finish was 1 hour.
TIP: always do the wheels first
If you want the definitive documentation on this subject, search the C7 General section for the GlenE method. He's done an awesome job of writing it up.
We have pretty hard well water here in central Texas. I started out with softened water which wasn't much better, added DI and that really helped but not very cost effective. Last year we added a rain water catchment system that collects water off of the roof. Now I can wash my cars on a nice sunny hot day with no water spots. I use a pressure washer on minimum pressure and blow off with compressed air. Works great. I only do a complete wash 3-4 times a year. The rest of the time wipe it down with a duster and then wipe it with detailer or wet cloth.
Some of the car washing processes you guys have posted are quite interesting to say the least. I gave my new Z06 (with Xpel front wrap) its first wash yesterday. Very involved. Bucket of clean warm water with Griots Classic Car Wash, lamb's wool mitt and two fluffy bath towels. Took 45 minutes and it came out perfect. Didn't notice any difference in drying the areas with Xpel to the areas without Xpel.
It takes me damn near 2 hours to wash and dry the car, I am major OCD when I clean it. I recently had a water softener installed at our home, what a huge difference with no water spots. One trick I use to get most of the water off the car is my leaf blower , it only takes one microfiber cloth after that to completely dry it.
I completely second the LEAF BLOWER. It blows all the residual water out of the lugs on the wheels, every vent, the grill, and the mirrors!!! Works like a dream.
I paid $580 for a year of 5 washes a month. More than worth the hassle braving the winter and wasting time doing it myself. I drop it off at the mall where they wash it in the garage and I get my haircut or do some shopping and it's done in 30 mins.
Love Xpel Ultimate Wrap with an Opti Coat Plus, some bucks yes, but 15 minutes to wash/dry, (1 ounce of Opti Wash/Dry, 2 gallons water, wipe/dry, done!! no scratches, in fact just had a large rock hit the roof on the expressway and nothing!!
I second the use of Adams detailing products. The car wash soap and detail spray are awesome. Adams also has a wheel cleaning tool that allows you to access the inside of the barrel and also the caliper. While the car is still wet, I apply the detail spray then micro fiber towel dry. This eliminates all water spots and leaves a great shine.
I use Adams products the same way and this method is the quickest and best I've seen in my many years of owning and showing Corvettes.
The first time I used their products on my 10 year old bright red Mercedes CLK I was absolutely blown away with the results I achieved in 30 minutes using the above procedure. The key is the big microfiber drying towel. Use it first on the glass,no need to seperatley clean and dry the exterior windows!
Go to their website [http://adamspolishes.com] for outstanding videos on every aspect of detailing a car.
Xpel Ultimate is amazing. You won't have to wax and will never see swirls appear from simply wiping it off. 2 coats of cQuartz Finest on top of the XPel is wicked...but short of that, I think many would be just as happy with a much cheaper self application of Blackfire crystal seal.... very simple, self-leveling and it lasts.
I have never waxed my car in two years. Up until last fall, I never touched it with anything other than a hose and towel. I use Chemical Guys Super Suds Grape now. I also use Blackfire Wet Diamond Polymer spray every now and then. This is her after 40000km/26000 miles...
I paid $580 for a year of 5 washes a month. More than worth the hassle braving the winter and wasting time doing it myself. I drop it off at the mall where they wash it in the garage and I get my haircut or do some shopping and it's done in 30 mins.
Thanks for this suggestion! I found something very similar, and based on your description it's likely the same place.
Conveniently close to home too.
I paid $580 for a year of 5 washes a month. More than worth the hassle braving the winter and wasting time doing it myself. I drop it off at the mall where they wash it in the garage and I get my haircut or do some shopping and it's done in 30 mins.
I enjoy washing mine and I know I'm not going to swirl it up.
Use caution when washing/cleaning near the air intake openings over the rear wheels. I wedged the tip of my left pinky finger in there two months ago while wiping polish off and broke it at the last joint. It tore off a piece of the bone and the tendons attached to it. Hand surgeon said it was inoperable, spent 6 weeks in a splint and am left with a partially frozen finger. I'm not complaining....... just a word to the wise. At least I can still hold onto a golf club.
Use caution when washing/cleaning near the air intake openings over the rear wheels. I wedged the tip of my left pinky finger in there two months ago while wiping polish off and broke it at the last joint. It tore off a piece of the bone and the tendons attached to it. Hand surgeon said it was inoperable, spent 6 weeks in a splint and am left with a partially frozen finger. I'm not complaining....... just a word to the wise. At least I can still hold onto a golf club.
Damn, that's brutal man. I think I'll leave my vents dirty from now on.
Naysayers will be naysayers...and will believe wet washing a car is bad for it. Haven't got a single car that doesn't get wet washed regularly...and oddly enough, they still all look great and run perfectly.
When the paint starts to show wear...I get it glazed and polished.
Naysayers will be naysayers...and will believe wet washing a car is bad for it. Haven't got a single car that doesn't get wet washed regularly...and oddly enough, they still all look great and run perfectly.
When the paint starts to show wear...I get it glazed and polished.
The End
Glaze and polish just fills in the scratches. And then it washes out and you're back living in swirltown. I prefer not to have them at all.
It really depends on the color. If your car is white or silver, you can wash it with a brillo pad and it'll still look decent. But if it's black, that's a different story.
I've got 5 black vehicles (though I've never had a black Vette), and they run the spectrum from "Never been washed in 10 years, only dusted" to "Daily driver that I take through the drive-through carwash".
If you parked them next to each other it'd be obvious which is which, except maybe during the week after a good cut and polish. But 2 weeks in it'll be apparent.
So I agree in fact, but not in principle :-)
I paid $580 for a year of 5 washes a month.
I like that idea - if the car came with an "Always clean" option for $75 a month, I would have taken it.
I opted to buy a detailing blower that blows filtered air so there is less chance of sandblasting the car... is it necessary? Probably not, but I feel better about it and it works awesome!!! Other than that I recommend a two bucket wash and a strainer at the bottom of your bucket.
02-22-2017, 10:16 PM
, it only takes one microfiber cloth after that to completely dry it.
