Hand Wash VS Power Wash

[STINGER BEE]

I have always used the leaf blower since day one to blow dry the car rather than having to chamois it,but my marks is coming from the wash job.

Originally Posted by Nessal

Use a leaf blower to get the most of the water out. Make sure you hit the fog lights and other small nooks that the water pools in. Then take a LARGE waffle weave towel and PAT DRY the water. Even with a microfiber waffle weave, I never "scrub" dry.

[Nessal]

Originally Posted by Swacer

Really? Spraying the detailer on the water? Seems kinda like a waste to me. Am I wrong? How does that help the car dry? And do you recommend a certain type of drying towel? How do you recommend taking care of the towels afterward? Clothes washer?

Ya, leaf blower isn't an option right now.

If you can't do a leaf blower then get a LARGE waffle weave microfiber towel. They are only like 15 bucks or something. You can wash it in the washer and dry in the dryer. Just make sure you do it with like-kind items and NO COTTON. To be safe, only wash that alone and dry it alone.

[Swacer]

Originally Posted by Nessal

If you can't do a leaf blower then get a LARGE waffle weave microfiber towel. They are only like 15 bucks or something. You can wash it in the washer and dry in the dryer. Just make sure you do it with like-kind items and NO COTTON. To be safe, only wash that alone and dry it alone.

Will one be able to do the whole car? I assume you're using the waffle to get the major water off? How does this work for the entire car before its entirely soaked and useless?

What do you use to finish off the car?

Any certain brands/links you recommend? I"m going on a buying spree today.

Then I get to figure out how to remove all the swirls :-/

[Nessal]

Originally Posted by STINGER BEE

I have always used the leaf blower since day one to blow dry the car rather than having to chamois it,but my marks is coming from the wash job.

Then you probably need to go back and look at what is going on with the wash job. I use a two bucket system. Two buckets of CLEAN water...no soap. Then I use my foam gun to apply the soap on the car. Then I hit it with a microfiber mit. I rinse the mit A LOT. When I rinse it in the buckets, I push it to the very bottom where the grit guards are and I run it back and forth until I'm satisfied that I got the grit out. Then I do the same thing again on the second bucket to ensure all the grit is out.

[XQIZT]

Originally Posted by Swacer

Really? Spraying the detailer on the water? Seems kinda like a waste to me. Am I wrong? How does that help the car dry? And do you recommend a certain type of drying towel? How do you recommend taking care of the towels afterward? Clothes washer?

Ya, leaf blower isn't an option right now.

Check out the Adam's videos...I'm not saying you have to use the products (I do with flawless results), but the techniques will REALLY help you.

[Nessal]

Originally Posted by Swacer

Will one be able to do the whole car? I assume you're using the waffle to get the major water off? How does this work for the entire car before its entirely soaked and useless?

What do you use to finish off the car?

Any certain brands/links you recommend? I"m going on a buying spree today.

Then I get to figure out how to remove all the swirls :-/

With no leaf blower, you're going to need more than 1 large towel from my experience. I can dry like 80% of the car before it no longer dries well. So the leaf blower is so handy because it gets most of the water off first and one towel does the job. I finish my car off with Carnuba wax. I apply it with a microfiber pad. I let it dry to a haze and then I have another microfiber cloth that I use to buff it off. JUST DON'T GET IT ON BLACK PLASTIC PARTS! You'll never be able to get it off!

I get most of my products from a company called Chemical Guys. Their soaps are really good as long as you use a foam gun. I bought mine in a 1 gallon container and you only use like 1-2oz per wash...so it will probably last you the life of the car.


Oh yeah...it takes me about 5-6 hours to fully wash and wax the car....so you want to make sure you don't have anything planned.

[Swacer]

Originally Posted by Nessal

With no leaf blower, you're going to need more than 1 large towel from my experience. I can dry like 80% of the car before it no longer dries well. So the leaf blower is so handy because it gets most of the water off first and one towel does the job. I finish my car off with Carnuba wax. I apply it with a microfiber pad. I let it dry to a haze and then I have another microfiber cloth that I use to buff it off. JUST DON'T GET IT ON BLACK PLASTIC PARTS! You'll never be able to get it off!

I get most of my products from a company called Chemical Guys. Their soaps are really good as long as you use a foam gun. I bought mine in a 1 gallon container and you only use like 1-2oz per wash...so it will probably last you the life of the car.

Alright, then is there a certain brand of towel? A certain towel to be more precise? And is there a recommended way to dry with it? Because if you're just dabbing it on the car, you're going to spot it, how do you get the smooth clean finish?

I have MacGuire's 2.0 Wax that I was going to put on the car after polishing the swirls. I was going to use my microfiber pads for both applications (separate ones of course). That sound appropriate?

Please let me know because I'd really like to order everything today so I can try to clean the entire car up this weekend.

[Nessal]

Originally Posted by Swacer

Alright, then is there a certain brand of towel? A certain towel to be more precise? And is there a recommended way to dry with it? Because if you're just dabbing it on the car, you're going to spot it, how do you get the smooth clean finish?

I never had a problem with spotting from blotting but you might have hard water where you live so it's causing that. The one that I use is on the link below, but I'm sure there are plenty of good ones out there.

http://www.chemicalguys.com/Gray_Mat...mic_781_01.htm

I heard that Adam's Great White microfiber is as good as it gets. I never used it before so I can't comment on that.

Oh, btw the reason that I don't like to drag even microfiber towels across paint is because I don't even want to run any risk causing more swirls. So after hitting it with the leaf blower, there really isn't that much water left. You can probably get away with a much smaller towel. With wax on it, the water beads off really well on the next wash so it makes it even easier.

[CamaroDreams07]

Originally Posted by Swacer

Really? Spraying the detailer on the water? Seems kinda like a waste to me. Am I wrong? How does that help the car dry? And do you recommend a certain type of drying towel? How do you recommend taking care of the towels afterward? Clothes washer?

Ya, leaf blower isn't an option right now.

The detail spray does three things. One, it adds lubricity for when you're lightly wiping the car dry. Two, a good DS is hydrophobic, meaning it pushes water away from it. Spray a little on a wet car next time and watch. Three, it helps to eliminate the possibility of water spots.

As far as the specific towels, you can get Adam's if you have unlimited wealth, but these are every bit as good for almost half the price. I've used about every towel on the market, and if the more expensive one was better, I'd tell you that too. I buy $200 waxes, I wouldn't skimp on towels if it mattered.

I recommend using two to dry. The first one, go over the flat surfaces that hold more water (hood, trunk, roof). Get the majority of the water off. Then using the dry towel, go around the whole car drying to perfection. If the car was sufficiently cleaned during washing and your drying towels are clean, you shouldn't run into a problem while drying unless you're really pushing on the paint hard.

Caring for towels is easy. Wash them in hot water gentle cycle with a dye-free, scentless detergent. Use just a few drops of detergent. You can air dry or tumble dry low with no fabric softener.

[SSMickey]

Swacer, I highly recommend you go to the Adam's website and look at the video's Adam, Dylan and The Junkman have on there. Don't get all caught up in the Adam's line of products. Don't get me wrong, there a very well thought of product line, but what you need to pay attention to are the techniques that are being used to wash and care for the car as well has the order that they are being performed. Hope this helps. Good luck and damn that a nice looking ride.

[chevy 3]

I use my pressure washer for soaking the car and rinsing. I hand was with two buckets and two mits. I MIT for the top of the car and one for the bottom foot and a halph of the car.

[Swacer]

Originally Posted by SSMickey

Swacer, I highly recommend you go to the Adam's website and look at the video's Adam, Dylan and The Junkman have on there. Don't get all caught up in the Adam's line of products. Don't get me wrong, there a very well thought of product line, but what you need to pay attention to are the techniques that are being used to wash and care for the car as well has the order that they are being performed. Hope this helps. Good luck and damn that a nice looking ride.

Thank you. Will do.

Just ordered

2 Mits
2 grit guards
2 waffle rags

Gonna run to home depot to get some 5 gallon buckets ($2.60/ea)

Then gonna sit down and watch some videos.

Then need to figure out the best way to polish the car. I have some Maguire's polish that I may try on the car. But I think some "proper" TLC and wax will help her feel new again. Which is sad...because I only took possession last week ha

Thank you for all your help and information everyone!

[Nessal]

Originally Posted by chevy 3

I use my pressure washer for soaking the car and rinsing. I hand was with two buckets and two mits. I MIT for the top of the car and one for the bottom foot and a halph of the car.

Yup! that's the way I do it too! One mit for top half, other for bottom half. I also have another mit just for the rims and another for the undercarriage. I'm just super anal LOL.