jono400

seriusly, what is the correct method off hand washing a car ?? as whenever I do mine, although it looks shiny and clean at the end off it all, on close up inspection you still see dirty water marks, any tips from the valeters out there!!
regards,
john...

gossythevaleter

the chances are its the water in your area being so hard however when i wash a car i rinse it first Then i wash it with car shampoo then i rinse it again then i water blade it these can be bought from most good car motor factors then chamois using a synthetic one not a real one as those smear IMHO I use a lambs wool mitten to wash the car with by the way

jono400

Thanks for the double quick reply mate !! advice apreciatted, so you deffo recommend these water blade type thingies then ?? father had one, and ended up taking his back after a few uses as he never found it to be much effective ??
thanks again,
john...

gossythevaleter

oh yer makes the dryig time so much quicker then just go over it with a chamois

WREX

Try not to wash your car in direct sunlight.Rinse your car first,then wash half of it,then rinse,then do the other half,then rinse again.Blade the water off then leather it.Leather your windows first as they are the quickest to stain.Don't use washing up liquid as this is midly corrosive and will cut through the polish quicker.

Dxx

I'm afraid i must disagree. I've used one of the blades and i wasn't impressed. Didn't properly dry car, streaked, and worst of all, if while using it you get a speck of dirt/ grit in it - BIG SCRATCH!! Took mine back 2 days after getting it. Chamois is the only way to go - yes it takes a little longer... but isn't your pride and joy worth it??
Dxx

Dunc20

Always clean it in the shade.

Rinse first.
Soap up roof and windows then rinse.
Do bonnet and bumper then rinse.
Do one side and wheels then rinse.
Do other side and wheels and rinse.
Do rear and rinse.
Keep ur car wet while you fetch you chamois.
Then chamois the car keeping chamois well 'drained'.

Dunc. (Ex-mobile valeter).

scooby_si

i just use the towels (cotton?) that came in swissol starter kit after a rinse, wash, rinse, thing (+wax every month) then wipe with towels & jobs a good un all dun & dusted, may need to just give a quick wipe in certain areas if i missed but generally does the job 4 me.
Si (professional retard in most things but this works 4 me)

j_p_h

I love the auto glym blade ive just bought. It saves so much time. Dosent streak or nothing. Best bit of kit ive bought in a long time.

TaviaRS

1/2 bottle of Fairy per bucket of water.
Wash the whole car, starting with wheels and bumpers
Rinse thoroughly
Allow to drip dry to avoid smears
Get a big tub of turtle wax, apply
Rub off with a towel

Sorted!

Failing that, get someone else to do it( ) or just lob it through a car wash.

[Edited by TaviaRS - 3/25/2003 10:33:49 AM]

STi-Frenchie

Wash in the shade. Do the wheels first, rinse the car, wash starting with the roof and working downwards till done. Rinse again, water blade and then dry with a clean terry towel (old ones are better as there are less loose threads).

Clay bar if necessary with wax every two washes (obsessive?) and do the pre-wax cleansing every 6 months.

Anyone want to tell us how to clean the engine bay? I'd like to do mine but don't have enuff info to get started.

Echo

Dunc - the bit you missed out was:

Following rinse take for long blast to dry off (not on dirty country lanes though!)

:-)

That's the best bit for me!

Mike

lucky_strike

Rinse, wash (in stages and rinsing as I go), then rinse. Not sure on this water blade thing. Notice a neighbour across the road has one but I would be worried about scratching what appears to be quite soft paint on the Scoob (happy to stick with a few water marks), and then a final rinse.

As above, the key to it all for me is the final stage. A quick blast to finish off the drying and get a few smiles whilst my blue/black WRX is clean for a few hours before it rains again!

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Nothing wrong with the water blade if you wash your car correctly and clean the blade with water from the hose pipe (ie dont put it on the ground )
Myself, i follow the wax wizard instructions, so soon, when the weather is really nice ill do the full wax treatment (clay block, the works )

Tony

Mr.M

Best thing i ever bought is a rotary brush connected to hose pipe.

Keep going over car with plenty of water with brush running.

This dislodges any dirt that could possibly cause scratches.

I do this twice before applying any shampoo. I have a lambs wool glove in warm water and shampoo. Rince off and repeat exercise.

Wipe dry with chamois before applying polish to paintwork.

Toothbrushes are excellent for wheels!

Duraglit on the 'zorst before hand polishing to a brilliant shine.

The wife thinks i'm barmy, as i can spend anywhere between 3 - 6 hours cleaning the car on Sundays depending on how dirty it is.

SiPie

Tavia

<John McEnroe mode on>

You cannot be serious

Fairy eats paint, although soft on yer hands

Oh and yup...start with the wheels and wipe all that brake dust over the rest of your car

WREX

Dxx said- " I've used one of the blades and i wasn't impressed"."Didn't properly dry car,streaked,and worst of all,if while washing it you get a speck of dirt/grit in it"."BIG SCRATCH"!!


If you had read my posting correctly then you would have seen that i did say "Blade the water off then leather it"
This would prevent your car from streaking, as it is a much quicker way of getting all the water off.As for the blade scratching,all you have to do is wipe it with clean water and a cloth,every time, before it is used.

trugoy

Internet + alcohol = silliness, I woke up the other day to find a print out for the Swissol samuri starter pack I obviously ordered the night before, while drunk. What is this I ask myself? At only £123.00 it must be a fairly special purchase, I would reflect and guess. I find the details on said print out send me to scoobyworld, ahhh, in my drunken wisdom I have bought another mod for my superb car, I think with delight, what could it be???? F*cking car cleaner! That's what, a full set of shampoo, degreaser and wax all specially designed and hand made for Subaru paint. So, in answer to your question, when cleaning my car I use really expensive stuff because I get drunk and buy things on the net, I cannot tell you how good it is though as it is a special order item and will take 7-10 days to arrive from Switzerland. I must say though, I have heard of this and checked a few search threads while sober and believe I'm in for a rather shiny car when it does arrive, bit steep for a clean car though!

bug-eyed wonder

ROFL @ trugoy!

Usual washing procedure is drive to car wash,sit back and let them get on with it but I too have been tempted by this Swiss stuff so might have to actually do something other than hand over £3.50 this weekend!

scooby_si

auto car wash the arch enemy of subaru paintwork. Wood also say the swissol kit will last u years so in real terms it's a bargain dont worry (&give us a beer u tight wodlol)
Si

Scooby555 2

Plug in the Karcher and away we go
Cleans well round the corners

Editted cos i catn spall

[Edited by Scooby555 2 - 3/25/2003 8:26:23 PM]

Mikey Ace

iTrader: (1)

STi-Frenchie....
"Anyone want to tell us how to clean the engine bay? I'd like to do mine but don't have enuff info to get started. "

yep - try some good motorbike cleaner... stuff like 'pro clean' available from all decent bike shops- spray all over engine, hoses, fittings whatever really... wait 2 mins, 'agitate' wiv one of those little brushes that come with the dreaded wonder wheels acid.... then rinse with a hose - no high pressure involved, no acid, it just works bloody well.


Mikey

Buzzer

Got to agree with following

Wash down with hose (fairly high pressure but not pressure wash)

Wash with clean sponge and a bucket of water with McGuires body shampoo (use a different sponge for below wheel arch level)

Wash off with clean slow flowing water

Dry with real chamois leather

And for that special finish use McGuires high resin polish, not only will your car look brand new, it will smell nice and you wont get that white streaky wax sh1te on the black bits coz McGuires doesnt go dusty and leave marks

Honest just try it


Pete

STi-Frenchie

Mikey Ace - Thanks! I'll get myself off to the nearest bike shop and get some cleaner and give it a go this weekend if the weather holds up. I'd not thought of bike cleaner - logical when you think about it !!! Just call me buckwheat

Mark Underwood

AVOID AT ALL COSTS A DRIVE THRU CAR WASH...YOU'LL REGRET IT.

when washing you have dry the car as fast as possobile. I always use a water blade and an old bath toewel. I scoob should take just under 5 mins from start to finish and be ready to work on. Why use an old bath towel? It will absorb water far quicker than a chammy and does not require to be rinsed and wrung out repeatedly and is soooo soft it will not scratch yer paint.

Ensure you dip the blade in some water to ensure no dirt is on it b4 you begin.