f1

As title really, went to CostCo and got me a couple of nice new Chamois', so we all wash our cars with the best stuff, but how do we clean our Chamois' ??? Just wondered 'cos when mine get too bad I just chuck 'em !!

Chip

I just rinse mine in clean warm water after every use and during use.

Chip

Chris_

I just chuck mine too. To make them last, keep them moist by sticking them in a plastic bag after use.

scoobyvirgin

I've got a couple of Flunky leathers. Usually stick them under the windscreen wiper and pressure wash them with warm water. They Come up a treat and it's not even wrecked them.

Redkop

Rinse them out, then do same as Chris, keep them in a polythene bag.

john_s

iTrader: (1)

Just had to sling mine, it was falling to pieces.

Uh-oh.... going to have to go to halfords!

John.

Fulham71

I would suggest drying your car with an old bath towel
Wash it first without conditioner & you will be amazed how much water it can pick up !
NO more standing there & squeezing out
I guarantee it will reduce your drying time considerably & will dry even better
Then when you have finished wash it again & it will be free of dirt & grit for next time

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Are the posts about keeping your chammy wet, serious?


If it's a real chammy, not a fake, it'll rot if you don't let it dry out, and if it's in the car, it'll stink, big time.

Alcazar

brickboy

Cleaning a chamois is like making love to a beautiful woman ... first make sure it's good and wet, then knead it gently to get rid of any grit and dirt. Then squeeze it firmly. When you've got rid of all the drips, make sure you spread it out to dry or it'll start to stink.

Karl 227

PMSL@ brickboy

ajm

Yeah, I rinse mine in fresh water then spread it out to dry. If you let it dry all scrunched up you will fray it next time you use it because they go like cardboard and water won't be able to get to the centre to soften it before you start trying to unfold it.

r32

Dont put them away wet, they will rot and fall to pieces, they will also cover you motor in tiny bits of Chamois.
Just rinse in clean water, any addition of soap will hasten its demise slightly, it really shouldnt get dirty, you should only be picking up clean water off your motor. It will get black marks off your seals and things but these dont affect its function. Spread the leather out and let it dry out, no radiators.
Also do not wring out a leather but squeeze it to remove the water, wringing will stretch the chamois and make it go thin. Buy a quality chamois like a Pittards.
STEVE, from the society for the protection of chamois leathers!

CrisPDuk

I also use the Fulham71 technique

STi-Frenchie

I wash with a Chamois (rinse it out leave it flat over the bucket to dry), hose the car down with a power washer, waterblade off the excess water and dry down with an old terry towel. Beautiful results every time

Tiggs

use a water balde on the bmw and the tvr prior to that....wouldnt go near them with some old bit of leather that takes ages to do the same job!

i could dry the tvr in 30secs!

NotoriousREV

I clean mine the same way I clean other members of the gazelle family, hose pipe and a stiff brush

Nigel H

Another vote for the Fulham method

I use a water blade first and then polish it off with an old muslin square which are really abosorbent. Cheaper and better than a chammy IMHO

carl

Tried the water blade + towel but it didn't work too well, so move on to water blade + chamois. Seems to do the trick, but some of the curves on the TVR and the CC are a bit much for the blade so require use of the chamois.

Fulham71

Carl did you wash the towel with conditioner ?
if so that could be your problem !
nothing safer than a towel as you can wash it after each use to ensure no deposits are left in it !

StickyMicky

never liked the real ones

always preferd a flunkey
my method is to preasure wash them if the gear is out or run them under a warm tap and rinse (not half as good)

Fat Boy

I find if I give it a good wipe down with a damp chamois it comes up a treat.

Nigel H

I found that the type of towel used makes a big difference - I must have tried about 10 before I found the muslin squares. If the towel doesn't absorb well its a complete waste of time

Alan C

Back to the original question

Lay it flat on the ground and jet wash it.

Brings out the ingrained dirt a treat. It also lifts and fluffs up the outer 'skin' to give a better surface area..

A tip from mate of mine who used to run ahand car wash in Cyprus.. a pro you might say..