1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Best car wash equipment?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by macmaster05, Jan 15, 2011.

  1. laplante236

    laplante236 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2010
    54
    3
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I use windex and a towel to keep it clean between heavy washings. and the Duster too. Ocassionally I use car wash soap & hose with rag or sponge when it really needs spiffing up. Works good & did the same on my previous car (Avalon-what a difference) for 8 years & no paint problems.
     
  2. twittel

    twittel Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2010
    1,605
    148
    0
    Location:
    Mt. Pleasant, SC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I do similar, but I don't use windex. I use a damp cotton cloth to wipe down the car every day; rinsing out my cloth a couople times. Actually, I feel like I'm saving a ton of water by cleaning this way. Seems to do an excellent job of keeping it clean and shining. I will use hose and sponge every couple months especially if I've been on muddy roads.

    As a quirky aside, if I've used hose and sponge, I will use my electric yard blower to dry the car. This really works well.
     
  3. SW03ES

    SW03ES Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2004
    2,480
    176
    0
    Location:
    Gaithersburg, MD
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    You CAN NOT use Windex on the paint of the vehicle. Windex is actually a pretty harsh chemical, in the very best scenario it will strip the wax, worst case scenario is it will cause paint etching over time.

    As for using a damp rag, the issue there is marring. By doing that you are without a doubt causing marring of the paint, because there is nothing that is lubricating the friction between the towel, dirt & paint...

    Bad idea.
     
  4. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    730
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I think I'll stick to conventional car washing and waxing. The only other 'rinse' I know is legit is Optimum No Rinse. But there's something I love about getting up at 6:30am once a month on a saturday to wash my car.

    By the way my car is clean and waxed as of this weekend. I'd post pictures but I'm trying to keep a lower porofile these days. Google already has a ton of pictures of my car, it's scary. F*** Google!
     
  5. twittel

    twittel Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2010
    1,605
    148
    0
    Location:
    Mt. Pleasant, SC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Geez Mac, you get up at 6:30am; doesn't your back hurt laying in bed that long? lol
     
  6. sipnfuel

    sipnfuel New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2011
    1,080
    174
    0
    Location:
    So. Cal.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    What's a good wash mitt that I can buy from Pep Boys, Kragen/O'Reilly, Walmart, (local establishment).?
     
  7. stream

    stream Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2008
    2,977
    452
    14
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    2 people like this.
  8. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    730
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    This is the mitt I use - it's really great.
    http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-X3002-Microfiber-Wash-Mitt/dp/B000RXKR6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1302646899&sr=8-1

    I like it more than the sheepskin mitts. I don't trust sheepskin. Microfiber is the only material to ever touch my car.
     
    1 person likes this.
  9. sipnfuel

    sipnfuel New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2011
    1,080
    174
    0
    Location:
    So. Cal.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    ^^ I'll check it out

    I'm tempted to use the remainder of this car soap I have. Is Krystal Kleer a good brand?

    There's a pack of microfiber towels at Costco that I want to pick up. I'm hoping it's better then these cheap ones that still leave a lot of lint. I use them to dry the car.

    Windex isn't working too well on windows. Am I doing something wrong?
     
  10. Econ

    Econ Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2009
    329
    26
    14
    Location:
    East of the Berkshires - MA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Well, with a good waxed finish, I use my leaf blower. Start at the top and work around.
    What color is your Prius?
     
  11. Econ

    Econ Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2009
    329
    26
    14
    Location:
    East of the Berkshires - MA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Five
  12. briank

    briank Solar Powered

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2011
    51
    5
    0
    Location:
    Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Anyone use the Mr Clean carwash system? That thing is great. No drying required and no water spots.
     
  13. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    730
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I'd quit the Windex and switch to soap and warm water, again gently applied with a Microfiber cloth. Costco mf towels work well, but most all mf cloths will work fine. microfiber is microfiber. I have a pack of mf towels from walmart (really cheap) and I use them for spot waxing or detailing, or interiors/windows.

    I've never heard of Krystal Kleer, but if you're not sure if you want to use it then don't bother. Soap is cheap. You can get a 64 oz jug of Meguiar's Gold Class or Mother's Car Wash for $10 anywhere. The real $$$ is spent on the waxes.

    It's magnetic gray, but I've learned a really great way to dry it without a leaf blower: take off the nozzle of the hose and have the hose drip a steady stream of water over the car. This lets the water bead up and have less surface area. It makes a huge difference when drying with my large waffle weave towel (can be found at most auto parts stores).

    http://www.amazon.com/Viking-Microfiber-Waffle-Weave-Drying/dp/B001Q8DMA0


    I've heard about this system a couple of years ago but have never tried it.
     
    1 person likes this.
  14. sipnfuel

    sipnfuel New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2011
    1,080
    174
    0
    Location:
    So. Cal.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    What do you think of applying the soap with the microfiber towels? If I replace them every so often it won't scratch the paint, I think. Or bad idea?

    I have like 30 of them so I won't run out.
     
  15. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    730
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Soap is definitely ok on mf towels as long as you wash them in the washer/dryer after each use, as you always should anyways. Just put it on a gentle cycle, small load, no bleach or fabric softener, and with no other fabrics (mf only). You can also soak the towel in a bucket of warm water for a few hours before you throw them in the wash, to let the dirt and particles loose.

    Oh yeah, personally, I wouldn't throw them out, even if you have like 30 of them. Mf towels are too expensive for me to be doing that.
     
    1 person likes this.
  16. sipnfuel

    sipnfuel New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2011
    1,080
    174
    0
    Location:
    So. Cal.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Thanks. I won't be throwing them out. I got these cheap like 30 for $8.00. I am still probably going to buy the Costco ones which are much softer & higher quality.

    I will buy a proper wash mitt. Actually I prefer a sponge, but as long as it's the proper tool I won't care.

    Ordering online will take a few days for the stuff to get here, especially from Amazon likes to take its sweet time sometimes.

    It's just the birds got to my car and I want to wash it, but I don't have all the right stuff so I have to improvise.
     
  17. sipnfuel

    sipnfuel New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2011
    1,080
    174
    0
    Location:
    So. Cal.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
  18. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    730
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Cool! As I've learned, having the right tools is everything. As an example, when I used to wash my car (which was rarely), I would dry it with a regular cotton towel, which unbeknown to me, left my car with a few micro-scratches. I knew I couldn't keep up these bad practices, so I started this thread. Now I'm never looking back. With the right equipment I feel empowered to wash/wax any time, any day. (Actually I restrain myself to once a month :) )
     
    1 person likes this.
  19. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    730
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Yeah that'll work. The truth is all shammys and waffle weave towels have about the same effectiveness. The key, and I can't stress this enough, is to use the technique of letting a steady stream of water drip from the hose over your car (top, hood, hatch, windows) after rinse/before the final wipedown. That allows less water to be picked up by whichever drying towel you're using, thus much less wringing.

    I *did not* try this technique once with my waffle weave towel just to see how good the towel was, and the result was awful. It was as soaked as any other regular towel would be.
     
    1 person likes this.
  20. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    8,245
    1,202
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I understand that microfiber mitts with the bunches of fingers work quite well. I like my genuine sheepskin from Griot's Garage.

    I'm going to tell you something that will save from marring your clear coat, so listen up... you can do the most damage marring the finish during wash process. Many think it is during drying, but typically not.

    If is important how you wash the car. Lower door panels can get very dirty. A few swipes across the door and your mitt can be filled with dirt. You don't want to continue wiping this dirt around the paint. Look at your mitt very often to see dirt. If dirty, flip it over.

    And .... you must keep another large bucket (5 gallon, I put in 3 or 4) of clean rinse water nearby. Rinse that mitt often. May need to change water once or twice while washing.

    I never expect to get car completely dry even with fancy drying towels. I finish a section with a polishing cloth dampened with a bit of Quik Wax and maybe a bit of it sprayed onto paint, but not much.
     
    1 person likes this.