Washing - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

AznBen51 · 01-10-2010, 06:15 PM

How do you guys detail your cars and what materials do ya'll use? I am terrified of using the foam brush at the car wash. So I usually soak and dry off with a microfiber cloth...what's ya'lls recommendations?

TommyTSquared · 01-10-2010, 07:50 PM

Hello fellow Lubbock-ian! It's crappy weather around here to hand wash which is the way I'd go. I do take it to the coin-opp for a rinse/vacuum every now and then though, but nothing more. I can't remember where the video is about touchless vs coin-opp (with brush) vs people washing (where they use a squeegee to remove the water) and shows the cons of all three. Basically you should hand-wash it yourself. Coin-Opp brush left tremendous damage as did the squeegee dry to the paint, with the touchless being 'best' at a rating of 5 out of 10 with 10 being the worst.

With that said, Lubbock water sucks and will leave terrible hardwater spots. Get a filter system if you're going to use hose water. Check the dedicated forum for specific products here. As for drying, I always use a genuine leather chamois (be sure to get it completely soaked, then ring it as dry as you can before usage and just lay it on the car and pull one direction).

bdsnooks · 01-10-2010, 10:05 PM

Hi AznBen51,

Take a look here---
http://www.autopia.org/forum/index.php

LOTS of good advice!

AznBen51 · 01-11-2010, 08:28 AM

Thank both of you. Tommy, appreciate the advice. I went to the carwash on 66th and Homestead ish. I didn't use the foam brush, just the soap from the gun. I presoaked, soap sprayed and then rinsed and dried myself with a microfiber towel. All went well until I saw closely like water marks or soap stains on the paint, so it took a little harder touch to get those out. So I just don't want that again.

jtzako · 01-11-2010, 10:46 AM

I wash mine in the driveway. As long as it is in the mid 40s+ it works fine. I get a bucket of hot water and roll up my sleeves a bit. Basically make sure nothing but my hands gets wet during the process.

SWHCPA · 01-11-2010, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TommyTSquared

As for drying, I always use a genuine leather chamois (be sure to get it completely soaked, then ring it as dry as you can before usage and just lay it on the car and pull one direction).

+1 ... no other way to go in my opinion. A quality shamois is expensive to get the size you need; but, worth every single penny. Treat it like a good woman and it will last you forever.

TommyTSquared · 01-11-2010, 12:27 PM

Oh yeah, and you will eventually need to wash it. But never, EVER use soap. Just put it through a wash/rinse cycle and then air dry in the sun. I don't know if that is the 'proper' method for cleaning them, but that is what I've always done.

llevan22 · 01-11-2010, 12:46 PM

I take mine to the wash on 4th and 289. I bring my own soap and towels...all I use is their water.

WhyMe · 01-11-2010, 09:30 PM

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31056 Click on this lnk. More info than you can read in a week on how to properly wash, clay bar, polish, and apply sealant / wax to your car.

01-10-2010, 06:15 PM	#1
AznBen51 Drives: Inferno Orange Metallic LT 2 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 42	Washing How do you guys detail your cars and what materials do ya'll use? I am terrified of using the foam brush at the car wash. So I usually soak and dry off with a microfiber cloth...what's ya'lls recommendations?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
pressure washing	noisemker	Cosmetic Maintenance: Washing, Waxing, Detailing, Bodywork, Protection	5	09-23-2009 11:49 PM
Car Washing question	ElAntonius	Cosmetic Maintenance: Washing, Waxing, Detailing, Bodywork, Protection	15	07-21-2009 02:24 PM
Just Finished washing my car and....	Jarvis59	Cosmetic Maintenance: Washing, Waxing, Detailing, Bodywork, Protection	1	07-18-2009 07:21 PM
Decided to take the SIM out this afternoon after a good washing for some photos.....	DCJ	Camaro Photos \| Spyshots \| Video \| Media Gallery	27	07-13-2009 10:02 PM
Washing your car without scratching it?	Ant	Cosmetic Maintenance: Washing, Waxing, Detailing, Bodywork, Protection	4	07-09-2009 08:55 PM

01-10-2010, 07:50 PM	#2
TommyTSquared Drives: RSSS Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: DFW Posts: 2,492	Hello fellow Lubbock-ian! It's crappy weather around here to hand wash which is the way I'd go. I do take it to the coin-opp for a rinse/vacuum every now and then though, but nothing more. I can't remember where the video is about touchless vs coin-opp (with brush) vs people washing (where they use a squeegee to remove the water) and shows the cons of all three. Basically you should hand-wash it yourself. Coin-Opp brush left tremendous damage as did the squeegee dry to the paint, with the touchless being 'best' at a rating of 5 out of 10 with 10 being the worst. With that said, Lubbock water sucks and will leave terrible hardwater spots. Get a filter system if you're going to use hose water. Check the dedicated forum for specific products here. As for drying, I always use a genuine leather chamois (be sure to get it completely soaked, then ring it as dry as you can before usage and just lay it on the car and pull one direction).

01-10-2010, 10:05 PM	#3
bdsnooks Drives: 2010 RS Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Gilmer, Texas Posts: 5	Hi AznBen51, Take a look here--- http://www.autopia.org/forum/index.php LOTS of good advice!

01-11-2010, 08:28 AM	#4
AznBen51 Drives: Inferno Orange Metallic LT 2 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 42	Thank both of you. Tommy, appreciate the advice. I went to the carwash on 66th and Homestead ish. I didn't use the foam brush, just the soap from the gun. I presoaked, soap sprayed and then rinsed and dried myself with a microfiber towel. All went well until I saw closely like water marks or soap stains on the paint, so it took a little harder touch to get those out. So I just don't want that again.

01-11-2010, 10:46 AM	#5
jtzako Drives: 2010 IBM Camaro SS Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: DFW, Tx Posts: 1,157	I wash mine in the driveway. As long as it is in the mid 40s+ it works fine. I get a bucket of hot water and roll up my sleeves a bit. Basically make sure nothing but my hands gets wet during the process.

01-11-2010, 12:27 PM	#7
TommyTSquared Drives: RSSS Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: DFW Posts: 2,492	Oh yeah, and you will eventually need to wash it. But never, EVER use soap. Just put it through a wash/rinse cycle and then air dry in the sun. I don't know if that is the 'proper' method for cleaning them, but that is what I've always done.

01-11-2010, 12:46 PM	#8
llevan22 Drives: SIM 2LT/RS Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 103 View My Garage	I take mine to the wash on 4th and 289. I bring my own soap and towels...all I use is their water.

01-11-2010, 09:30 PM	#9
WhyMe Drives: 2010 Summit White Camaro 2SS Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Alamo Heights Texas Posts: 114	http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31056 Click on this lnk. More info than you can read in a week on how to properly wash, clay bar, polish, and apply sealant / wax to your car.