How do you wash your car

[Conradv2]

HI Zed people.
Apart from my introductory post this is my first in the 'real' forum. I brought home a cracking wee Z4 yesterday and love it already.

The problem is , it's boggin out there and I want to keep it clean. I'm thinking of investing in a small pressure washer that can rinse down the bodywork 2 or three times a week and give the wheels a good blasting now and then. Generally I'm a bit wary of putting one of those anywhere near a car but I need an easy way of cleaning it or I will soon slide out of the habit.

Apart from that its bucket and sponge or cold water hose.

How do you keep yours shiny and salt free.

 

[Paul Rice]

I only use the pressure washer on the inner arches and underneath.
Have a good hose attachment so a good rinse then Shampoo (Maguires Gold plus my preferred choice), rinse then towel dried before a wipe with quick detailer.
Do claybar twice a year and use a good quality wax (Dodo) A smooth paint really aids cleaning.

 

[hard top]

Link:- https://zroadster.org/threads/cleaning-guide-this-is-how-i-do-it.14538/#post-234019

 

[Conradv2]

There's a lot in that link. I thought I was asking an easy one but it looks like this is a science. I'll read it all and get the elbow grease out.

 

[GazHyde]

There are as many ways to wash a car as there are products these days. You can put as much or as little effort into it as you want, but you may find it gets a little addictive (and expensive)!

Pressure washers are fine as long as you don't get too close with them.

NEVER use the word sponge again in the context of car cleaning though. Throw them all out, or ideally burn them. Get yourself a good quality microfibre wash mitt at the very least...

 

[Grumps]

I have a Nilfisk 130bar jet washer.

I jet it off to remove all the grit.

Spray non chemical wheel cleaner on the wheels. Adjatate if necessary.

Spray snowfoam all over.

Use a microfibre mitt and wash it all over top to bottom.

Jet everything off

Leather off and go get a brew.

Grumps.

 

[andyglym]

And don't forget the underside and engine bay and treat all rubbers such as the roof and door seals with a good rejuvenating fluid such as Gummi Fledge.

Happy cleaning

 

[t-tony]

You cant just say you brought home a wee Z4 and leave it at that Conrad. What motor is it, what colour etc.

Tony.

 

[Conradv2]

Hi Tony . Man blue 2.5 2003. Srry too busy driving it. I've been down to the shop 3 times for milk. Actually I think we're short of hair clips. ... and probably tomatoes.

 

[Jjim]

Welcome from Mansfield.

Look forward to seeing some pics.

Agree with the microfibre mitts to wash. One of the best things I bought for cleaning.

As soon as it’s clean, enjoy some top down driving with a huge grin on your face . Then, this time of year, get back and start cleaning it all over again

 

[Tracy Dee]

Snow foam with snow cannon on a pressure washer first let it dwell for 3 to 5 mins depending on weather don't let it dry on if sun's out. Whilst that's dwelling take a clean bucket or buckets with grit guards a nice PH balanced shampoo warm water not hot use a wash mitt lambs wool or micro fibre ( No Sponge )
Now power wash the snow foam off to remove loose grit and debris.
Take you mitt work from the top down in straight lines even consider a different older mitt for bottom half of car and wheels.
If the alloys really need it use a non acidic wheel cleaner but once perfectly cleaned and sealed shampoo should suffice.
Power wash off paintwork and wheels then take a plush drying towel to dry down you can use a detailing spray to aid in drying and to lube the paint over the wet paintwork as you towel down.
This should cut down the risk of marking the paint.
Key thing is keep your wash tools clean after and before washing.
Hope that helps.
Cliff.

 

[Mac Romans]

Hello and welcome. I’m a keen amature (but quite successful) detailer and it’s my write up HT shared for me. There are quite a few like me on this forum that’ll be only too happy to help. Where you based?

 

[t-tony]

Hi Tony . Man blue 2.5 2003. Srry too busy driving it. I've been down to the shop 3 times for milk. Actually I think we're short of hair clips. ... and probably tomatoes.

Great looking car Conrad, I imagine there will be many runs to the shop before the fun starts to wear thin, then the local shop won't have what you need, Oh Bugger, you'll have to go further afield Enjoy.

Tony.

 

[ZTec]

Hi Tony . Man blue 2.5 2003. Srry too busy driving it. I've been down to the shop 3 times for milk. Actually I think we're short of hair clips. ... and probably tomatoes.

Looking good, especially the wheels, MV1’s, but I am byest.

 

[Madtoady]

This is method I use when doing a full detail but always open to new ideas and products:

- Pre clean with 'Citrus Power'.
- Spray on 'Imperial Wheel Cleaner' and let soak in and then disturb with an ' Auto Finesse Hog Hair Brush'.
- Snow Foam using 'Bilt Hamber Auto Foam'.
- Rinse off with jet washer.
- 2 bucket clean with 'Lather Car Shampoo' and and a lambswool mitt.
- Rinse off with jet washer.
- Decontaminate using 'Iron Out' or 'Dragon's Breath' and 'Oblitarate'.
- Rinse off with jet washer.
- Clay the car using 'Auto Finesse Clay Bar and Glide Lube'.
- Rinse off with jet washer.
- Dry the car using 2 x 'Auqa Deluxe Drying Towels' (1 to pick up most of the water and the other to finish off.
- To polish the car I use 'Meguiars MT320 Dual Action Polisher' and 'Auto Finesse Revitalise Kit'.
- I finish off the car using 'Dodo Juice Supernatural Hybrid' but recently bought 'Auto Finesse Spirit' which I'll try in the spring before the show season.

I also use:
- 'Auto Finesse Mint Rims' to protect the wheels.
- 'Autosol Metal Polish' to clean the tail pipe.
- 'Auto Finesse Satin' to clean up the tyres.
- 'Auto Finesse Dressle' to clean up the engine bay.
- On my Z3 I use 'Auto Finesse Rag Top Cleaner and Rag Top Protector' on the soft top roof.
- 'Auto Finesse Vision and Crystal' for the glass