CAR Cleansing

[SARGE]

That time of year when thoughts turn to planting something or cleaning up the car. Was wondering what you fellers use to wash your car, whether it be a costly wash or doing it at home. There are products one can buy to wash and was wondering which is better. Also, if'n a car is clean but dull, what is a good product to restore a finish close to "like new"?

[Force Flow]

Turtle wax, perhaps?

[Colonel Sanders]

I use Mothers trigger wash, come in a spray bottle. Just rince the car, spray on some of the Mothers wash, scrub it with a a foam pad, then rince off.

Don't go through a automatic wash for the best results.

A good friend of mine, who also runs a body shop, has told me to avoid automatic or pressure wash systems(like what you find near an automatic car wash). You can get a lot more stuff off by washing by hand.

L J

[OOPS!]

Wash my old Jeep? It would be a sin! The only thing holding it together is the dirt:). Besides, a good coat of dirt helps protect it from the salt we use here in Minnesota in the winter:).

OOPS!

[LawyerRon]

I usually buy the Turtle Wax car wash in the big (1/2 gal?) jug. I wax with McGuires Mirror Glaze liquid in the bottle.

[superbee]

I wash mine at least once a week

http://www.geocities.com/chad_1_99/

[glc]

I always used to wash with cold water and Ivory Liquid dish soap.

Restoring a dull finish depends whether it's clear coated or not. If it's not, any good quality car polish should work with a little elbow grease - or use an electric buffer with a material designed for machine waxing. If it is clearcoated, you need to use a product that is certified safe for clearcoats.

[not important]

Wash with "mild" liquid ,such as glc uses. Do it frquently.
Use any good quality wax. The wax provides a "coating" of protection to the paint.

[juppy]

I always go to the high pressure, do-it-yourself type carwash (not the automatics - they never get it all). I don't use that brush thing though cuz if someone with a really muddy vehicle used it before you, you'll just be rubbing the dirt and sand in the bristles into your paint job. Same premise as to why I don't wash it at home; it takes alot of washing out your rag/sponge to keep the dirt out of it so you don't scratch the paint while cleaning the car.
I heard on one of those car care shows that any dishsoap (even Ivory) is hard on the paintjob (especially clearcoats). I used to use Ivory too until I heard that. Dishsoap doesn't work very good if you have a black car either (like me). On a warm day it spots the car before you can get it rinsed back off.
As for waxes, I've used most of the major brands over the years and the best IMHO is Mother's Gold. Goes on good, comes off easy, lasts a long time, and removes oxidation better than anything else I've found. Eagle One "Wet Shine" is a close second as well as Meguiar's.

[i3OSS]

Dishwater soap (not the one for the machine) for when you dont have the car washing liquids.

[Mr N8]

I use the meguir's Paint Cleaner, then Polish, the wax to get my cars back to the summer shine. The 3M line of products is comparable, but not quite as good.

BTW...if you use dish soap, be sure to wax again, as the dish soap will remove all wax.

[bailey]

are you supposed to wash thoes things ?

I always thought a good rain did that

[morriswindgate]

With the new clear coat finishes, it is not a good idea to use dishwashing soap, instead use a quality car washing soap that does not contain any silicones (Zipwax). Believe it or not dishwashing soap is stronger than carwash soap.
Also you should not use a sponge, instead use a wet towel or wash mitt, rinsing often. And finally on a clear coat finish do not wash with circular motion, instead use back and forth strokes.

[bailey]

remember all the paint on the newer cars is a water base paint, that is why the clear coat is needed, so the paint don't wash off too fast.

my old 83 ltd has real paint and just need to be rinsed once in a while to keep it luster, sorta just rinse the dust off it, still show room condition

[juppy]

Originally posted by bailey
are you supposed to wash thoes things ?

I always thought a good rain did that heheh :D
Bailey, you sound like my uncle. He used to have a light blue '70 something T-bird and that thing would just get pulled out of the garage when it rained to wash the dirt off. I think the whole time he owned it, it got washed and waxed ONE TIME, and that's when I got tired of seeing the dingy no-shine paint on it and I did it for him (I felt sorry for the car, I think :D ). That thing took THREE wax jobs to look *decent*. First one just made it have shiny swirls in between all the other oxidation. Second application got it a little better, and the third one finally made it look like it actually had a little shine to it. That was the last time I did that though cuz three wax jobs in the same day made my arms feel like mush. :D

[bailey]

yes, you cant beat the paint job on the oldes.

I know you all won't belive this, but this old car came from a old farmer in bad axe michigan, he only drove it to church on sunday, in the summer time, the rest of the time it was keep in the garage, he would run it every day so it would not get gummy, it made two short trips in its life time, and I got it from him 2 years ago for $500.00, its a ford crown vicktoriea ltd with everything you can think of to put in it. just like new.

[TimPoet]

Originally posted by bailey
yes, you cant beat the paint job on the oldes.

I know you all won't belive this, but this old car came from a old farmer in bad axe michigan, he only drove it to church on sunday, in the summer time, the rest of the time it was keep in the garage, he would run it every day so it would not get gummy, it made two short trips in its life time, and I got it from him 2 years ago for $500.00, its a ford crown vicktoriea ltd with everything you can think of to put in it. just like new. You got me droolin'

[bailey]

yes, thats what I thought when I first seen it too, I asked him what he planned to do with it, he said he thought he might sell it, I asked him how much he might ask for it, he said maybe about 500,

it took me about ten seconds to get out my wallet and give it to him, and I drove it home the next day to kansas city, got on the interstate, set the cruse control at 85, turned on the stereo, laid the seat back, and let it go. its a 1983 and had 45000 miles on it, and gets 23 mpg

[9600baud]

Although i dislike SUVs and pickups... nice job on your car there superbee... how much did it cost you to shave your moldings and what else's been done to your "car"?

[mbossman2]

when cleaning a car, make sure that you use as close to neutral pH a soap as you can find (car specific soaps are this way), most household detergents are either too basic or acidic and will cause damage to the finish that accumulates over time.

[sam21]

Nothing but Meguiars or Mothers or brands NOT sold in Wal Mart(yes I know they sell Meguiars and Mothers at Wallymart)

[sam21]

You can use dish wash detergent but be prepared to clay bar and wax/polish the car afterwards