Guide - Washing your car

JapCarForum Cars, Cars, Cars! Car Care & Detailing Guide - Washing your car

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todd
Senior Member

282

05-05-2017, 11:20 AM

Used to have my own wee detailing business many moons ago and did a few guides, hope this helps someone Smile

Incorrect washing really does make a mess of your paint so this little guide has been thrown together to help you out.

So what do I need?

2 Buckets – any kind will do, grit guard is optional
Shampoo – Your call, Megs Gold Class – Poorboys – Johnstons Baby Bath
Wash Mitt – NO SPONGES, get a quality wash mitt
Drying Towel – No Chamois please, large drying towels are better.

I'll also be dressing the tyres and cleaning the wheels and applying a sealant.

So off we go, remember this is the way I do it, it’s not perfect or the only way to do it but it’s what I find to work for me.

Take one dirty car (it's about as dirty as my car gets!)

[Image: DSCF0077.jpg]

1. Get that car rinsed off first NEVER go straight in with the washing mitt, you need to get as much grit off before you start hand washing. Use a hose and wash at a 45 degree angle, if you blast straight on, you’re just scratching the paint.

[Image: DSCF0080.jpg]

2. Now fill up your first bucket with your detergent and warm water, fill up the 2nd bucket with just plain water, warm or cold, is up to you.

[Image: DSCF0079.jpg]

3. Dip your mitt in the first bucket with the detergent and start washing the car top to bottom, do one panel at a time using a light parallel motion, after each panel, dip the mitt into the other bucket and rinse it out then load it up with bubbles again and start on the next panel.

[Image: DSCF0085.jpg]

4. Rinse the car off with the hose but you want a stream of water not a jet, this way the water will sheet off the paintwork leaving very little water to dry off.

This is what happens with a jet rinse, see how the water just sits there,

[Image: DSCF0087.jpg]

But by just using a constant stream you get this which makes it so much easier to dry off the car,

[Image: DSCF0089.jpg]

5. Get your drying towel out and pat the car down, tempting to just pull it over the paint but once again, you are running the risk of scratching the paint so no hard motions.

[Image: DSCF0090.jpg]

Just to highlight why the 2 bucket method is a must, here is the water that came out the soap bucket, still clean,

[Image: DSCF0094.jpg]

Now look what came out the rinse bucket, just remember that if you only use the one bucket, you are dragging all the grit and dirty water over the car each time you pull the mit over a panel!

[Image: DSCF0097.jpg]

Toyota Altezza Z Edition.

[Image: sig.jpg]

todd

05-05-2017, 11:20 AM #1

Used to have my own wee detailing business many moons ago and did a few guides, hope this helps someone Smile

Incorrect washing really does make a mess of your paint so this little guide has been thrown together to help you out.

So what do I need?

2 Buckets – any kind will do, grit guard is optional
Shampoo – Your call, Megs Gold Class – Poorboys – Johnstons Baby Bath
Wash Mitt – NO SPONGES, get a quality wash mitt
Drying Towel – No Chamois please, large drying towels are better.

I'll also be dressing the tyres and cleaning the wheels and applying a sealant.

So off we go, remember this is the way I do it, it’s not perfect or the only way to do it but it’s what I find to work for me.

Take one dirty car (it's about as dirty as my car gets!)

[Image: DSCF0077.jpg]

[Image: DSCF0078.jpg]

1. Get that car rinsed off first NEVER go straight in with the washing mitt, you need to get as much grit off before you start hand washing. Use a hose and wash at a 45 degree angle, if you blast straight on, you’re just scratching the paint.

[Image: DSCF0080.jpg]

2. Now fill up your first bucket with your detergent and warm water, fill up the 2nd bucket with just plain water, warm or cold, is up to you.

[Image: DSCF0079.jpg]

3. Dip your mitt in the first bucket with the detergent and start washing the car top to bottom, do one panel at a time using a light parallel motion, after each panel, dip the mitt into the other bucket and rinse it out then load it up with bubbles again and start on the next panel.

[Image: DSCF0085.jpg]

[Image: DSCF0086.jpg]

4. Rinse the car off with the hose but you want a stream of water not a jet, this way the water will sheet off the paintwork leaving very little water to dry off.

This is what happens with a jet rinse, see how the water just sits there,

[Image: DSCF0087.jpg]

But by just using a constant stream you get this which makes it so much easier to dry off the car,

[Image: DSCF0089.jpg]

[Image: DSCF0092.jpg]

5. Get your drying towel out and pat the car down, tempting to just pull it over the paint but once again, you are running the risk of scratching the paint so no hard motions.

[Image: DSCF0090.jpg]

[Image: DSCF0093.jpg]

Just to highlight why the 2 bucket method is a must, here is the water that came out the soap bucket, still clean,

[Image: DSCF0094.jpg]

Now look what came out the rinse bucket, just remember that if you only use the one bucket, you are dragging all the grit and dirty water over the car each time you pull the mit over a panel!

[Image: DSCF0097.jpg]

[Image: DSCF0098.jpg]

Toyota Altezza Z Edition.

[Image: sig.jpg]

DaveEdin
Posting Freak

5,657

05-05-2017, 11:37 AM

good one todd, +rep mate for the helpful guide...

DaveEdin

05-05-2017, 11:37 AM #2

good one todd, +rep mate for the helpful guide...

Sparkystav
Administrator

14,683

05-05-2017, 11:43 AM

Sparkystav

05-05-2017, 11:43 AM #3

Lexusboy

05-05-2017, 12:00 PM #4

Thanks for that Guide Todd can't wait for some more:thumbup1:

todd
Senior Member

282

05-05-2017, 01:44 PM

I mentioned a grit guard for the buckets, basically a bit of plastic that sits at the bottom of the bucket and catches all the grit that you rinse out from the mitt, not an essential part if using the 2 bucket method but if you are only using one bucket then definitely get one.

Why not a sponge? Well a sponge has a flat surface so any grit you pick up gets dragged along the paint until you clean the sponge = BAD. A wash mitt isn’t flat and when it picks up grit it gets absorbed into the mitt so you aren’t dragging the grit along the paint = GOOD

If you wash your car properly in-between polishing, you'll find the finish on your car will last a lot longer.

As a real eye opener, for 3 weeks I used the one bucket method to see the damage it would do to a perfect bonnet (crazy I know) but look at the light scratches and swirls!!

[Image: DSCF0101.jpg]

Toyota Altezza Z Edition.

[Image: sig.jpg]

todd

05-05-2017, 01:44 PM #5

Toyota Altezza Z Edition.

[Image: sig.jpg]

todd
Senior Member

282

06-05-2017, 01:03 AM

Marsdendean ^^ Is that from using a mitt in the one bucket?

Mental isn't it!

Toyota Altezza Z Edition.

[Image: sig.jpg]

todd

06-05-2017, 01:03 AM #6

Marsdendean ^^ Is that from using a mitt in the one bucket?

Mental isn't it!

Toyota Altezza Z Edition.

[Image: sig.jpg]

FirebirdPhil
Posting Freak

7,101

06-05-2017, 02:26 AM

Good post, have some +rep.

"Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways........
totally worn out and broken, shouting 'Holy ****, WHAT A RIDE!'"

FirebirdPhil

06-05-2017, 02:26 AM #7

Good post, have some +rep.

"Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways........
totally worn out and broken, shouting 'Holy ****, WHAT A RIDE!'"

E55EX_RACER
Senior Member

379

06-05-2017, 12:03 PM

Nice guide mate Smile

I've gone off mitts, I use a grout sponge now, much softer than a normal sponge and they have lots of holes for the grit to get trapped in. I also cut lines across it on both sides as well. Been using this method for a year now with no problems and doubt I'll go back to a mitt, not a lambs wool one anyway. I've also recently switched to 1 bucket for the summer months when it's mainly dust and pollen on the paint.

End of the day everything should be done with minimal pressure regardless of what you use. You will also cause some swirls over time, they can't be avoided no matter how careful you are but can be kept to a minimum :thumbup1:

E55EX_RACER

06-05-2017, 12:03 PM #8

Nice guide mate Smile

I've gone off mitts, I use a grout sponge now, much softer than a normal sponge and they have lots of holes for the grit to get trapped in. I also cut lines across it on both sides as well. Been using this method for a year now with no problems and doubt I'll go back to a mitt, not a lambs wool one anyway. I've also recently switched to 1 bucket for the summer months when it's mainly dust and pollen on the paint.

End of the day everything should be done with minimal pressure regardless of what you use. You will also cause some swirls over time, they can't be avoided no matter how careful you are but can be kept to a minimum :thumbup1:

todd
Senior Member

282

06-05-2017, 12:16 PM

Nothing wrong with mitts (good quality ones) and thumbs up for the grout sponge.

As with all things detailing wise a lot of it is personal preference.

I used super resin polish, turtle wax colour and AG final finish for years and was more than happy with the finish, it all depends how **** you want to get about it Wink