"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
04/29/2016 at 11:31 • Filed to: None
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"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
04/29/2016 at 11:31 • Filed to: None | 0
| 42 |
I should wash my car today, but this is my first time washing a car that actually has paint worth taking care of. I’ve taken it through an automatic car wash once already, so I could do that again, but I understand they’re not great for the paint. My other readily available option is the car wash stuff at work. That includes an old brush that gets used for wheels and body, and falls on the ground a lot. And golden wash/wax powder or something. What do you all think is worse for my paint?
Alternate option - I suck it up and buy my own car washing supplies.....I have to get a good nozzle for the hose, too
Phillipsaur
> gmctavish needs more space
04/29/2016 at 11:38 |
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You already know the answer you just want us to validate your purchase :P
If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
> gmctavish needs more space
04/29/2016 at 11:38 |
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Simple Green is the shit. Use that.
Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever
> gmctavish needs more space
04/29/2016 at 11:43 |
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Automatic car washes are OKish, as long as they’re the “touchless” kind. The regular spinning brushes kind of flail the paint on the car, and if someone came through with a filthy, muddy mess just prior to you...
Or you can use the work stuff, but bring your own soap and a good wash mitt. Leave the brush at work for wheels/tires/rocker undersides/wheel opening (fender liners) only.
Snazzy Suby, by the way. I usually hate pearl paint, but it looks nice on that wagon :)
Nisman
> gmctavish needs more space
04/29/2016 at 11:45 |
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Dude, all you need is a big bucket and some name brand car wash. Dilute it correctly and use a microfiber wash mit. Rinse mit often, rinse bucket optional (unless you have perfect paint). Viola! No swirls. Also, air dry with leaf blower.
DynamicWeight
> gmctavish needs more space
04/29/2016 at 11:45 |
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I’ve always used automatic car washes and always parked my cars outside... AND driven down dusty trails waiting weeks to wash them after and taken them to the snow and salt. The paint has been fine. You know what killed my old cars paint? My sister took it to Albuquerque, New Mexico for a summer. The paint was instantly destroyed.
SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> gmctavish needs more space
04/29/2016 at 11:50 |
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You’re just going to get it dirty at the next rally, so why not just let it wear the dirt with pride?
Ross Kraz
> Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever
04/29/2016 at 11:52 |
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Touch-free uses some pretty harsh chemicals. Too many washes can ruin rubber bits, strip clear coats, and cause plastic to fade. If it is set up correctly, it shouldn’t be a problem and should give a quality wash.
Most friction machine brushes are pretty soft and give a better clean, but you are definitely right that if there is debris is them, it can cause scratches. They also eat license plates and antennas sometime. Most places will reimburse for damages, though.
Either way, always spring for the more expensive wash packages.
Future next gen S2000 owner
> gmctavish needs more space
04/29/2016 at 11:53 |
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Bucket, hose - nozzle not required, good mitt and car washing soap. Don’t use dishwashing soap. Then use a shammie thingie and you are down.
d15b
> SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
04/29/2016 at 11:58 |
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No matter how old your car is, there is something nice about having a clean car for once, especially the cabin!
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d15b
> gmctavish needs more space
04/29/2016 at 11:59 |
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Buy your own kit and enjoy the process of washing your car!
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gmctavish needs more space
> Phillipsaur
04/29/2016 at 12:01 |
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Haha maybe....I am hoping to hear that car washes aren't that bad for your paint. That would allow me to be lazier
Steve in Manhattan
> gmctavish needs more space
04/29/2016 at 12:02 |
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Somewhere on the internets I saw the tips and tricks of a master detailer, including the best way to wash. If you google a bit, you can probably find it or something similar. These guys charge thousands, but they get results.
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gmctavish needs more space
> Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever
04/29/2016 at 12:03 |
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Thanks! The one near me isn't touch less, so I should probably go with the better option, instead of one of the okay options :p I don't usually like it either, but it was a pleasant surprise on this one
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gmctavish needs more space
> SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
04/29/2016 at 12:04 |
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Haha I don't quite have the ground clearance for rallying....but the next time I'm on a dirt road, I'll get it looking like a proper Subaru
Logansteno: Bought a VW?
> gmctavish needs more space
04/29/2016 at 12:10 |
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Get a microfiber wash mitt and towels and some car wash specific soap. I got my microfibers at the dollar store and they work just fine. A thing of car soap is a few bucks. That’s really all you need honestly unless you wanna wax it and restore the plastic trim or whatever else. Then it starts getting a little expensive. You don’t even need a hose nozzle really. I hardly ever use one at least.
BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
> gmctavish needs more space
04/29/2016 at 12:12 |
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You’ll learn that Subaru paint is basically the same thickness as fingernail polish and held on by unicorn tears.
Car washes are not great for it.
E92M3
> gmctavish needs more space
04/29/2016 at 12:13 |
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Touchless car washes use very harsh chemicals. I use them in a pinch, but they’ll remove any wax/protection on the paint in most cases.
vicali
> gmctavish needs more space
04/29/2016 at 12:14 |
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Like the others said you don’t need much; wash mit, pail, some mf towels to dry with. Once in awhile after a good clean you should throw a wax on there.
If you want to fix what the auto-wash has already done then you start into the fun stuff.
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gmctavish needs more space
> If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
04/29/2016 at 12:18 |
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I used to use that for cleaning cnc machines, it worked really well
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gmctavish needs more space
> Steve in Manhattan
04/29/2016 at 12:19 |
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I think jalopnik did a piece on the AMMO guy, or maybe I'm thinking of the Drive videos
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gmctavish needs more space
> BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
04/29/2016 at 12:24 |
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Oh good....I shall keep that in mind
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SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> d15b
04/29/2016 at 12:36 |
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No matter how old your car is, there’s something nice about seeing the sides covered in dirt and knowing why they are.
nermal
> gmctavish needs more space
04/29/2016 at 12:37 |
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My take:
The most important part is to select some good tunes to listen to. I prefer extremely angry and aggressive tunes, as it helps to put a little extra oomph into scrubbing off those nasty bugs and stuff.
For water, I use a $100 cheap-o pressure washer from Lowe’s / Home Depot / Etc. Not powerful enough to do any real damage, but a smidgen more pressure than just the hose.
For towels, several cheap-o microfiber towel bundles from the auto parts store. Separate bundle of specific glass ones for glass and mirrors.
Spray down with water, towel off, repeat 2 or 3x until shiny and all dirt is gone.
Then use a clay bar kit. I prefer Meguiar’s.
After that, finish with quick wax:
For the wax, I spray on then wipe off. Afterwards, take a clean towel and litely wipe down the whole thing again.
Total time to do my truck is about 3 hrs, after that it’s good for another month or two.
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gmctavish needs more space
> nermal
04/29/2016 at 12:41 |
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Holy crap, a month? That's fantastic, what's the weather like where you are? Where I work, there's non-stop dump trucks going by that kick up all of the dust in the world, and it usually rains at least once a week, so there's barely any point in washing anything. The yard with the trucks finally put a hose out spraying them as they leave, hence actually washing my car today since it might last for once
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d15b
> SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
04/29/2016 at 12:44 |
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If that is the case (that you are proud of your vehicle), wouldn’t it be ideal to give it a wash to maintain the paint and let it continue on as if nothing out-of-the-ordinary ever happened?
I get what you’re saying, but it’s way more awesome to me is to have a really clean car....then get it dirty with abandonment of all inhibitions when the time and need arises.
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gmctavish needs more space
> E92M3
04/29/2016 at 12:45 |
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That’s ironic, since they claim to wax and protect the paint. I’m getting a resounding “buy your own stuff", which isn't was I was hoping for, but I basically knew it would happen. I think that'll be my purchase of the day
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SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> d15b
04/29/2016 at 12:58 |
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Charlie don’t buff.
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d15b
> SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
04/29/2016 at 13:01 |
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I’m referring to a pedestrian vehicle as the OP mentioned.
If you’re talking about a racecar, then yeah, all it needs to be is mechanically maintained.
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SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> d15b
04/29/2016 at 13:05 |
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I know. I was just being silly.
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d15b
> SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
04/29/2016 at 13:06 |
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You got me though! :)
FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
> Nisman
04/29/2016 at 13:25 |
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It has honestly never occurred to me to air dry with my leaf blower and I’ve never heard that tip before. Thanks!
Svend
> gmctavish needs more space
04/29/2016 at 13:44 |
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Use the washer at work. Buy a bucket and a wash mitt from Walmart (or similar), you should have access to a tap (faucett) on site. Fill the bucket with water and sit it to one side.
Use the spray lance to take off the excess debris, now holding the brush lance away from the car body, drip the foam onto the car, now using the wash mitt soak it in the water in the bucket and then go from top and round to the bottom gently wipe over each panel rinsing the mitt after each. Now using the pressure washer rinse off the car and dry.
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gmctavish needs more space
> Svend
04/29/2016 at 13:50 |
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Oh I wish we had stuff like that....it's just a hose with a nozzle, a long brush, and a bucket. I can go the gist of that, just not with the nice equipment
Mr. Plastics powered by GreyGoose
> gmctavish needs more space
04/29/2016 at 13:58 |
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Check out where the touchless places are near your work/home. They use water jets only.
Also, buy a bottle of spray wax, and and keep a microfiber towel in your car for bird droppings, or other random stuff that gets on it.
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Svend
> gmctavish needs more space
04/29/2016 at 14:05 |
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In that case. Hose off excess, fill two cheap buckets with water and put car shampoo in one, inexpensive microfibre wash mitt (just checked, Walmart have them for between $5 and $10) in the shampoo bucket first, wipe a top section and rinse the mitt and then lifting it out squeeze the excess water out and then place in the shampoo bucket and continue round the car, rinse off the car and then dry.
If you have some quick detailer can be used as a drying aid in place of drying or after drying to remove waterspots and give the car body a nice sheen.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Meguiar-s-Microfiber-Wash-Mitt/29221700
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Quickie-Round-Bucket/37520541
$15 altogether.
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Nisman
> FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
04/29/2016 at 14:15 |
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It works great! More so if the car is waxed.
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If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
> gmctavish needs more space
04/29/2016 at 14:51 |
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They make a car-specific one. Purple Power is pretty good too.
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E92M3
> gmctavish needs more space
04/29/2016 at 15:28 |
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The rainbow colored foam it sprays on your car is a just a gimmick. There’s zero protection provided. Think about it, it’s not even on your car for more than 5 seconds before being rinsed off.
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gmctavish needs more space
> Svend
04/29/2016 at 15:32 |
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Thanks for all the tips!
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gmctavish needs more space
> E92M3
04/29/2016 at 15:33 |
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Oh I assumed it was a gimmick, I just thought it was funny that not only does it not work, it does the opposite of what it claims to do
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E92M3
> gmctavish needs more space
04/29/2016 at 15:36 |
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Just making sure. Lol. I’m saddened by the number of high end cars I see utilizing the monthly subcribtion one around here. They think they are doing the right thing by getting a wash every 2 or 3 days/once a week, but it’s quite the opposite.
Unfortunately the hand wash places around here do even more damage.
You know the saying, “If you want it done right...."
BJ
> gmctavish needs more space
04/29/2016 at 16:54 |
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You may never escape, be careful in there: /r/autodetailing