Best car wash equipment?

Do not use dish (or any other) detergent on your car--it will damage the paint. I use Zymol Clear, but there are lots of choices at the local auto parts store.

I use a sheepskin mit to wash:
Sheepskin Dust/Wash Mitt - Cleaning Tools - Car Washing - Car Care - Griot's Garage

And a natural chamois to dry:
Stay Soft Chamois - Drying - Car Care - Griot's Garage

 

I know you said no waxes...but I think you should consider it. Waxes/sealants really help make the basic car wash a lot easier. Dirt and build-up will come off a lot easier and you'll less likely have water spots.

A little over budget...but has the basics...

Klasse kit

If not...just get a new car was mitt/sponge, chamois or something similar for drying, and microfiber cloths or use old soft towels for the windows/interior. As far as car wash...mothers or meguire's...the cheap stuff is fine.

 

People are very focused on this issue.

You are going to get advice all across the spectrum. From relatively expensive show car waxes and sealers, to combinations of grit guard buckets and Micro-Fiber wash mitts...

You "sound" like your commitment level isn't that high? If it's not...then my recommendation at the level you seem to be wishing to obtain, would be a trip to your local Big Store...

The minimums I would use would be New, Clean wash mitt. Some real Car Wash...( I really like Turtle Wax ICE car wash...but any will do, and it's NOT too expensive) .

You can debate what to use to dry, but in general you want something that will remove moisture, but obviously not scratch or streak.

I've never been a fan of "Lamb Skin" or chamois to dry a vehicle, even though some people recommend them.....

When I was younger I was obssesive about keeping my vehicle clean, and spent too much money and time....even though I enjoyed it and it probably was worth it...

Today? I'm embarrased to admit to it in certain circles, but I really like Turtle Wax Ice....I use the PASTE polish, the wash, and inbetween the spray on Polish detailer...it's all relatively inexpensive, easy to obtain, and IMO really does an excellent job at keeping the vehicle clean and protected.

If your standards are higher? Zaino and other products can offer better overall results...

But my vehicle is parked outside and black...so whatever I do? It's not going to stay showroom clean very long....

I find commiting to a good coverage of wax or polish, and then simple occasional maintenance in the form of quick and frequent washing...is a good compromise.

 

Forgot to mention:

Try going to the care & maintenance sub-forum--you'll get lots of info there.

Also, I've found there's an inverse relation between the length of the response post, and the usefulness thereof.

 

I'm hurt. I could write 8 paragraphs explaining why I'm hurt. I could even throw in an ancedote about my childhood and a rollercoaster....

But you wouldn't read it anyway.....

 

You really might want to try a product like Optimum's No Rinse:

Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine: clay lubricant, optimum rinseless wash, no rinse car wash, optimum detailing products

Little fuss, works great, very safe for the car. Living in SanFran you don't have a whole lot of nasty weather to worry about, this is what I would (and do) use.

For washing with this product I like Microfiber Sponges:

Carrand Microfiber MAX Premium Wash Sponge, car wash sponge, microfiber sponge, micro fiber car sponge

For normal washing with traditional soaps I like chenile microfiber pads:

Micro Fiber Wash Pads, Set of 2 - Griot's Garage

For drying, I like waffle weave microfiber towels, I'd buy at least 3:

MICROPAK 24" x 36" Waffle Weave Micro Fiber Towel

Car wash soap is not all that exciting, you can pretty much buy whatever you like at PepBoys thats on sale...

Hope that helps!

 

Your best bet is to find decent answer is to go to a auto detailers furum. Any detailer who knows his stuff will tell you that regualr dish soap does serve an important role in a car detailing cycle. Dish soap will remove old wax and grease from the car. Wax buildup on any material is bad including your car. One of the very first things I do with a brand new car is give it a good bath with dish soap and then take a clay bar to the car. The clay bar will remove the rail dust from the paint and the other impurities from the surface. Once I am done with that, thats when I start adding a good high quality coat of wax and polish. If you have swirl marks, address those before you start putting on the wax if possible.

 

I've heard it said that the wash process is where you most likely will put scratches into the car.

Call up Griot's Garage. Doubt they'll recommend you use dish soap!

Wash - Any good car wash soap will. I like Meguiar's. Easily availlabe. Currently using the yellow stuff with car wash and some wax properties built in

Get a new mitt. Why not order a $16 genuine sheepskin or microfiber from Griot's?

Drying towel - Well, I'm using a $10 waffle weave microfiber from Autozone although not completely confident in it. I'm sure Griot's towel is better. Don't work for Griot's, but they do answer the phone and help. Meguiar's helps too.

>> Get 2 five gallon buckets and might as well order up a pair of 'grit guards'. I use them, can't hurt. One bucket for wash, one for rinsing mitt. And I change the rinse water in middle of washing.

>> careful washing the lower panels. That is by far the dirtiest part of the car. Rinse mitt thoroughly after hitting those sections.

>> I really like my genuine sheepskin wash mitt from Griot's Garage. I've heard microfiber mitts are fine too.

>> I prefer mitts over sponges for 2 reasons 1) you can feel the surface better 2) you can flip the mitt over to work another section

>> wash thoroughly cause if you don't you'll just be rubbing dirt into the finish.

>> claybar before waxing. most of the smudge will come off horizontal surfaces. Don't forget clarybar!

>> measure out your soap and water with measuring cups, why not?

>> I started off with using 2 small buckets, used $4 sponges from WalMart, didn't measure. I got some micro marring in the 2009, but believe I stopped it when stepping up the wash gear.

>> leaf blower helps get water out of some areas, but don't even expect it to dry your car. I just use it for a minute.

>> Drying will always be a pain. When it's really cold, it won't dry, the moisture just streaks. Then must try polishing cloth and maybe quick wax to get it dry. Drying is the tricky part. then again, I've got $10 AutoZone waffle/microfiber towels. Maybe some Griot's towels will help.

>> Check into Griot's garage supplies - they are very good.

 

I think the 3 best things you can do are -

1) Get 2 five gallon buckets (remember, the grit guards keep you from reaching down and picking up more grit when rinsing the mitt. I've found my wash water stays very clean using grit guards and I found buckets at dale Hardware that fit to a T.

2) Get a new, high quality wash mitt

3) Use decent car wash soap

* No easy answers on drying. It's tricky depending on temperature. Still working on it. What I do know is - don't wipe a section with one towel then try to finish it with another towel. You actually want a little moisture in the towel so it glides over surface. Don't want the towel to grab or be hard to swipe.

 

I have a Jelly Blade I used sometimes on some spots of the car. It will dry the section you swipe over, but there are so many contours. I use it somewhat, sometimes ...

It makes a squealing squeegee kind of noise that is annoying. Some will say it might scratch the paint. I was never afraid of that. I rub fingers across the blade often with water just to check it is clean.

I use it a little bit, sometimes, but not that much.

Bought an Absorber, but never tried it yet.

Leaf blower helped out, but that's some $$. I hated drying the car, then you drive and water streaks down the doors from seeping out of side mirrors. Blower eliminates that.

But the water that streaked from 2 vertical creases on rear hatch ... annoying! That would keep on running down.

 

Do you take the nozzle off to final rinse the car with a couple inch stream of water? That's a great way to get the big drops to sheet off the car.

When waxing the car, makes water bead up. Murder for drying the car, so sheet it off with no-nozzle gentle stream of water.

 

Drying is easy. I have for years used a gasoline leaf blower. On a hard clean surface like cement or asphalt , start at the top and go around. It works perfectly- especially is your in the warm climate areas. There is less webbing because you only touch the paint while your wash the finish. It does tell you also how your wax is lasting. Newly waxed it will dry very fast.
Try it.

ps I did try an electric blower years ago perhaps the new blowers are are more powerful than the one I bought. The gas powered is very strong. I think it is measured in CFM.
Good luck

 

I've owned both products...all 3 if you count a California Car Duster.

I personally didn't like the blade...it was basically a silicone squeege that you were suppose to use all over your vehicle. Maybe I'm just too paranoid, but I kept thinking about something getting trapped between the blade and the surface...there would be no second chances...so I used it once limited...then never used it again.

I also owne an absorber...it worked..but sort of like a synthetic chamoise..which I don't like either.

Drying is tricky. I am currently using micro-fiber waffle weave drying towels...and I like them....

In both cases I'll admit that residual from my youth has me more paranoid than maybe a casual "washer" might be. I can't say either product didn't work...they just made me nervous and I do think better options exist.

 

Okay, I should NOT admit this. Because I know real detailers or those more focused will tell you NOT to do this. But during the summer? I dry by quickly getting in the vehicle and proceeding as quickly as possible to the freeway...I find 10 minutes at 55+mph...usually does the trick...

However this doesn't work in the winter, when it's too cool, or it can all backfire if for some reason you are forced to drive through dust..or exhaust.

Right now, I don't know who made it, but it's just a lightweight micro-fiber waffle weave towel....I have 3. Nothing fancy, seems to work well.

I'm probably going to upset some people by admitting I dry my vehicle by driving really fast....BUT...I have a genetic hatred for leaf blowers....