What do you wash your car with? 

"cnessel27" (cnessel27) 05/06/2015 at 19:08 • Filed to: None

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What is your favorite implement to scrub your (or other people’s) vehicle with?

Wool mitt?

Hand gripped soft bristled brush?

Brush on stick?

Classic sponge?

Bare flesh?

Some one else?

I am what you might call, well actually should call, a slob. It’s now past the point that I should wash the vehicles that my wife and I own and I’ve done so with such irregularity that I have not found a preferred method of scrubbing away the scum. Now some might say regular light washing will prevent scum, and to that I say your probably right, so help me pick the implement.

Also any tips on soap, greatly appreciated, unless this has all been asked before.... multiple times.... in which case I will understand your silence and will shun my self appropriately..... Shuuuuunnn.

-your fellow opponaut, chuck.

jkm7680 > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 19:10

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Eagle feathers, Panda bear fur and the blood of my enemies.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 19:12

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my penis.

but it REALLY depends on the car

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 19:13

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Brian, The Life of > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 19:15

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I live in CA. We’d get arrested for doing that!

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 19:15

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Sandblaster

cnessel27 > jkm7680 05/06/2015 at 19:15

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YES! Nothing like vanquished foes to get the tar off.

dogisbadob > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 19:18

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a garden hose, or the rain

aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 19:19

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a moist towelette

jj > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 19:21

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Microfibre towels

cnessel27 > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 05/06/2015 at 19:22

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Not a good selection buuuuut

95 Bronco

05 Focus wagon

08 Matrix

Your choice.

It's a "Porch-uh" > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 19:23

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Acetone and steel wool.

cnessel27 > Brian, The Life of 05/06/2015 at 19:24

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Right? How’s that going by the way?

GeorgeyBoy > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 19:25

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Burn that thing.

Wool or microfiber

sausagefingers76 > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 19:28

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Bewbz.

cnessel27 > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul 05/06/2015 at 19:31

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And after that a nice waxing of dot•3 that to bring out the wrinkle?

Brian, The Life of > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 19:33

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I’m thirsty.

Kailand09 > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 19:33

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Meguiar’s G7164 Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo & Conditioner - 64 oz. by Meguiar’s

Mothers 07240 California Gold Clay Bar System by Mothers

Optimum (SW2008P) Car Wax - 17 oz. by OPT

Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant by MrZAccessories

Mothers Genuine Lambswool Wash Mitt by Mothers

AES Industries 10-1/2” Automotive Cleaning Brush w/ Dense Solvent Resistant Hog Hair Bristles by AES

The Grit Guard Insert (Red) - Fits 12 inch Diameter Bucket by Grit Guard

cnessel27 > dogisbadob 05/06/2015 at 19:36

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That’s what I have been using but now my wife’s white matrix is a neat yellow/green. Maybe not neat.

cnessel27 > aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe 05/06/2015 at 19:38

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That would be one WIPED out towelette. Yuk Yuk.

cnessel27 > It's a "Porch-uh" 05/06/2015 at 19:41

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I would do that to if I had a carbon fiber body panel covered in paint.

Sam > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 19:47

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High pile wool mitt and a pressure washer.

Money Hustard > Kailand09 05/06/2015 at 19:47

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The only helpful comment on the entire article.

It's a "Porch-uh" > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 19:48

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Sadly, this is down to the weave because somebody poured paint thinner (or something nasty) all over the car.

cnessel27 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/06/2015 at 19:49

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The scum doesn’t stand a chance.

Svend > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 19:50

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The thing I really recommend against is a regular cloth or regular sponge as a regular sponge is an open-cell sponge in that it has been cut to size rather than formed (like a closed-cell sponge that you’d use for grouting tiles) so you have ‘foam bubbles’ which have been cut open, these will trap grit and other contaminants and rub against the vehicles paintwork. A wool wash mitt of microfibre wash mitt/wash pad will lift the grit away from the paintwork and greatly reduce any swirls or marring. Its also best to use a two bucket method in that one bucket will contain shampoo and water while the second will contain just water. The idea is that when you wipe your mitt over a section of car you will rinse the mitt/pad in the water before placing the mitt/pad back in the shampoo before reintroducing it to the next part of the car. So you first want to put the mitt/pad into the shampoo and wipe an area (ie the top of the car as this area has the least dirt), rinse in the water, place in the shampoo and do the next section down and continue round the car. Most shampoos will do the job adequately but unless your using a wash’n’wax product you want a ph neutral car shampoo with no gloss enhancers. A good way to dry the car is by either draping a large microfibre towel onto the car and patting the area causing the towel to absorb the water on to take a corner in each hand and gently pulling it across the surface. You can buy drying aids that you’d spray onto the car before drying. This will as the name implies aid drying the car but also and a nice sheen and a degree of protection to the paintwork and aid washing in the future.

A wool wash mitt can take a little care to keep it in a good condition while a microfibre mitt/pad can be thrown into the wash with other microfibres cloths on a 40 degrees Celsius cycle with a non-bio wash media.

BJ > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 19:53

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Reddit: /r/autodetailing

Great resource for tools, materials, and tips.

cnessel27 > Brian, The Life of 05/06/2015 at 19:59

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I hope that your thirst is quenched, and that the drought is shorter than expected.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 20:03

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And I’ll have a shiny Delorean finish when I’m done too. Instant win.

ViperGuy21 > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 20:03

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Ok, now, I could either write a long essay and scare you a little bit on the art of auto detailing, or I could just point you in the right direction and give you an email address if you have any specific questiuons. I’m gonna go with the second option....

YOUTUBE: A plethora of information, besides through experience, I have learned the most about detailing from videos from these channels...

-Chemical Guys

-Ammo NYC

-/DRIVECLEAN

-Autogeek

-Auto Fetish Detail

FORUMS: There are some super helpful ones out there, again with a plethora of information....

-Autogeekonline.net

-Chemical Guys forum

Email me at: precisionimagedetail@gmail.com and I can give you a document with the basics outlined!

If you want super ultra basic: get 3 buckets, buy Meguiars stuff. If it touches the paint its microfiber, if it touches wheels it can be a brush or microfiber. Wheel stuff and paint stuff never mix, use grit guards, be as detailed as you can be.

Also check out my post from earlier to win a polisher kit from Chemical Guys(my personal favorite company for detailing products/equipment): http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/win-a-230-da-c…

Kailand09 > Money Hustard 05/06/2015 at 20:05

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Thanks! haha

Funktheduck > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 20:10

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My face

dogisbadob > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 20:12

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clear off that pollen!

BaconSandwich is tasty. > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 20:44

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This might raise a few eyebrows, but:

- Old (clean) socks that have grown holes in them
- Dish soap

cnessel27 > It's a "Porch-uh" 05/06/2015 at 21:04

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:( I feel like I’ve seen a still shot from SAW now. THE POOR FIBERS!

cnessel27 > Kailand09 05/06/2015 at 21:13

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Thanks for the tips, I’ve been running back and forth between the note pad and safari on my iPhone just to write/comment (thanks kinja). Thought I responded earlier but I didn’t, I r baboon. Much appreciated on the info, I had feeling the wool glove would do the trick.

cnessel27 > Svend 05/06/2015 at 21:30

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Wow that right there, the two bucket technique makes total sense (seems obvious now) but thank you for going into detail on even washing the mitts. Much appreciated!

cnessel27 > BJ 05/06/2015 at 21:33

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I often forget the power of Reddit Thanks!

cnessel27 > ViperGuy21 05/06/2015 at 21:43

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With all the info I’ve been given I feel as though I’ve been missing out. I will always take a free education so expect my email and thanks for your input.

cnessel27 > Funktheduck 05/06/2015 at 21:47

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All of the cars could use some funk.

cnessel27 > dogisbadob 05/06/2015 at 21:49

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Gah I know it’s like the tree sneezed on it.

Kailand09 > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 21:52

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Yeah. I spent a shit ton of time reading and asking opinions, and ended up with that list.

Not top notch shit, but for ~$100 you can do a really good job for your car.

cnessel27 > Kailand09 05/06/2015 at 22:07

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Any leg up I can get is going to help especially now that I have some one else’s cars finish relying on me and the info is genuinely appreciated. I’m sure the shine will be a reward in and of its self

NoneOfYourBiz > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 22:40

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Foam gun, two-buckets w/grit guards for wash/rinse, micro-fiber chenille mitt, clay bar, wax.

Once this is done, you can omit the wax and clay until the finish picks up impacted debris again; every month or two.

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/happy-may-day-…

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > cnessel27 05/06/2015 at 23:40

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the Matrix!

Svend > cnessel27 05/07/2015 at 03:40

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Anytime fella. Its my little passion that keeps me sane (well helps try to keep me sane).

There is so much out there it can be a fine field and not every technique is suitable for everyone. Its finding the right one that works for you.

Check out Autogeek in the U.S. or the U.K. based Detailing World (Autogeek has a presence on there too) with 72,000 members world wide.

Kailand09 > cnessel27 05/07/2015 at 06:20

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Definitely. You can sit on forums all day debating with yourself over which product is best haha, it’s insane.

At some point I decided to go with my gut and my wallet. Unless you’re a professional, likely you won’t get the results of a super expensive product over the still very good one that costs a bit less. (That’s me, nowhere near pro detailer hah)

This is all just my opinion though, I suppose

Kailand09 > cnessel27 05/07/2015 at 06:20

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Oh, don’t forget to use 2 buckets!

cnessel27 > Kailand09 05/07/2015 at 06:56

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That seems to be the one thing evey one can agree on lol multiple buckets.

ViperGuy21 > cnessel27 05/07/2015 at 07:32

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Absolutely! Detailing is fantastic fun and incredibly interesting and well.....detailed. Shoot me some emails and I will help you out as much as I can!