Washing your car

[Oversize]

In an ideal situation (with plenty of time to spare) I'd use two sets of buckets with sponges and brushes on a vehicle that's used daily. One set for the cleaner areas towards to top of the car (turret, windows, bonnet, boot and the top half of the doors). The other set for the remaining dirtier areas. From then on I'd never mix the sets. With each set I'd wash the clean areas first, otherwise you risk spreading grit and creating scratches.

So has anyone discovered any better products that they now use since this thread was started?

 

[260ebenz]

What are your guys thoughts on washing your car with a sponge or a wash mitt?

 

[Tony66_au]

No Sponge!

Only clean microfibre mitts.

I prefer sheepskin mitts or brushes.

 

[Tony66_au]

2 buckets definitely, Separate kit for wheels inc wheel brushes.

Wheels get done last.

Once every few months remove wheels one at a time and clean properly then detail and wax inside and out.

 

[E200K]

If you have a sponge then burn it and get a sheepskin mitt. And if you have a chamois, burn that too.

 

[BenzBoy]

Lambswool mitt, loads of clean microfibre cloths, a silicone curved scraper to remove excess water, compressed air for the nooks and crannies and a nice clean towel. Followed by a good Single Malt.
I notice Michel has not replied...guess he has staff!!
Regards,
Brian

 

[Tony66_au]

Lambswool mitt, loads of clean microfibre cloths, a silicone curved scraper to remove excess water, compressed air for the nooks and crannies and a nice clean towel. Followed by a good Single Malt.
I notice Michel has not replied...guess he has staff!!
Regards,
Brian

Staff?

Minions I believe.......

 

[Tony66_au]

I found an old bottle of Morning fresh in my wash cupboard this afternoon while I was looking for rags to use with the Leather food.......

It had written on the side "I will not use Dam water" lol

THAT was a disaster.....

 

[BenzBoy]

I found an old bottle of Morning fresh in my wash cupboard this afternoon while I was looking for rags to use with the Leather food.......

It had written on the side "I will not use Dam water" lol

THAT was a disaster.....

Yeah sure - you put the car in the sink? Man - you truly do have OCD.
Regards,
Brian

 

[Oversize]

Reasons for no sponge??? I must admit the synthetic ones aren't a patch on the natural ones (which it seems you can't buy anymore)....

 

[Michel]

I notice Michel has not replied...guess he has staff!!
Regards,
Brian

I did wash the Magna on the weekend...

But you are right Professor...

Jerry is such a nice man.

 

[BenzBoy]

Reasons for no sponge??? I must admit the synthetic ones aren't a patch on the natural ones (which it seems you can't buy anymore)....

A sponge with large air cells has the potential to trap grit that does not wash out and you end up scratching the paint. Mind you, I've used plenty of sponges and it has never happened - yet. I do agree the potential for damage is greater than with a mitt or cloth.
Regards,
Brian

 

[BenzBoy]

I did wash the Magna on the weekend...

But you are right Professor...

Jerry is such a nice man.

And does a bloody good BBQ to boot.
Regards,
Brian

 

[Oversize]

A sponge with large air cells has the potential to trap grit that does not wash out and you end up scratching the paint. Mind you, I've used plenty of sponges and it has never happened - yet. I do agree the potential for damage is greater than with a mitt or cloth.
Regards,
Brian

So is that the same reason I should burn my chamois?

 

[BenzBoy]

So is that the same reason I should burn my chamois?

Well, I don't really know. I kind of like a chamois but it seems they aren't pc these days....
Maybe someone with greater experience can advise us?
Regards,
Brian

 

[Tony66_au]

Yeah sure - you put the car in the sink? Man - you truly do have OCD.
Regards,
Brian

I have an old locker that I keep poisons, car wash and detail products in.

If I get a car that is fairly chalky with oxidised paint I usually give it an initial wash with plastic scourers and dish detergent.

I have 2 water sources, one being rainwater tanks and the other a large Dam.

I no longer use Dam water because the end results are awful even with a filter.

As I forget this from time to time or feel the water looks ok to use I left myself a note on the bottle.

Simple!

 

[Tony66_au]

Well, I don't really know. I kind of like a chamois but it seems they aren't pc these days....
Maybe someone with greater experience can advise us?
Regards,
Brian

I didnt know Chamois were on the naughty list, I still use Enkafil synthetic chamois and if I could find a nice real Chamois id use it no probs.

So is it a PC issue or is there a real reason to not use them?

I have used the scraper blades and find they are fine for large areas but I still dry with a Chamois or 3.

 

[Oversize]

I can't see why a chamois wouldn't be ok as they shouldn't trap any grit. I certainly hope they're not endangered!! I usually chamois as much as possible followed by a 100km/h drive to dry everything out thoroughly

 

[BenzBoy]

A genuine chamois is made from the hide of a Chamois goat - or a sheep. I think all that happened is that when manufacturers found microfibre they began to tell us how poor a chamois is for the job simply to boost the sales of new products.
The point is that chamois (what the plural?) had been synthetic for years. I recall the Meguiars salesman telling me that a chamois was bad for the paintwork but he never gave a reason - probably because there was no reason.
Regards,
Brian

 

[Michel]

A genuine chamois is made from the hide of a Chamois goat - or a sheep. I think all that happened is that when manufacturers found microfibre they began to tell us how poor a chamois is for the job simply to boost the sales of new products.
The point is that chamois (what the plural?) had been synthetic for years. I recall the Meguiars salesman telling me that a chamois was bad for the paintwork but he never gave a reason - probably because there was no reason.
Regards,
Brian

Probably cos Meguiars didn't sell any 'shammys'....

Nothing wrong with a good old chamois, provided it's a decent quality.
Alas, there are no real natural chamois sold in Oz.

Last time I was in Beirut I bought a natural one for US$25 (in those days, a US$ was worth much more than now), however, Jerry and I both found wringing it was a nightmare as it was so think.
One needs an old washing machine roller-wringer apparatus, and that would be the ultimate.