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Washing
Living in a condo without access to a hose, what is my best option for properly washing my ride? I don't trust those ****e automatic machine washers
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The only option is to find a textile car wash.
Contact these guys in the UK http://www.wilcomatic.co.uk/index.asp
Ask them for car washes in London that is using their soft brushes.
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I'm not sure what a textile car wash is. Most weeks, I take mine to the "touchfree" automatic car wash at a nearby gas station. It cleans with only soap and high-pressure water.
Some cringe at the thought of the high-pressure water, but on the other hand many pro detailers use pressure washers, and I think it's far less risky than anything physically touching the paint and the dirt. After three months of ownership and weekly washes this way, the paint is absolutely free of marring, and the Zaino finish is holding up wonderfully. The same was not true of my previous car, which I took regularly to the (considerably more expensive) all-hand car wash, where the car was touched by umpteen mitts and towels.
A good, durable sealant and washing more often rather than less will help a lot as well. The dirt doesn't get a chance to build up, and the sealant helps allow it to come off very easily.
You can also use a product called Quick and Easy Wash, which requires only two buckets of water. One bucket has the wash solution, the other is for rinsing your wash mitt. Dip the wash mitt in the wash solution and then (gently) clean a panel. No rinse, no hose -- just dry. Obviously you do not wash a very dirty car this way, but again, sealant and frequent washes will make this a risk-free and relatively painless procedure. The product is designed to work this way and is a favorite of some members of the Autopia board (where you will find many other tips if you are truly obsessed).
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I try to minimize the damage by finding a good hand car wash that uses plenty of clean cotton towels. The most important thing to look for is if they change the towels often.
They are fairly easy to find, they do cost a little more than the drive thru places.
Washing the car yourself with quality supplies is the best solution.
| | Reply » Washing |
‘Touch less’ carwash:
Never use a car wash, period touch less or not, there are a variety of reasons: You should never, under any circumstances use a car wash that requires you to let another person drive your vehicle onto the ramps or into the wash, notice the disclaimer of ‘No responsibility for damage to customer’s vehicle.
Local by-laws require car washes to re-claim or recycle water. This means they have two choices.
a) They can collect the water in tanks and pay to truck it away to a recycling centre.
b) They can filter and then recycle the water (dependant on how often the filters are cleaned/changed) will effect how much dirt content there is. Recycled meaning re-use the same water, which may include any road dirt/grit that is not filtered out is used to high-pressure (1,000PSI) wash your vehicle (somewhat similar to sandblasting) the final rinse is usually twice-filtered re-cycled water, this is to give the appearance of a clean surface on the vehicle.
•To remove snow/sand/road dirt and grit without agitation (brushes etc) requires the use of very strong chemical cleaners.
•Probably the most important is that this type of automatic car wash use high-pressure water and strong alkaline detergent to clean vehicles that will strip the wax/polish
•You will also need to renew the vehicles sealant / wax to ensure the paint surface protection on a regular basis to counteract the effects of the harsh detergents.
•Also be aware of those that use ‘wheel guides’ as they will cause scratches / etching to the wheel surfaces, as many wash facilities will not accommodate either the tire width or the clearance, thus causing sidewall damage
•Vehicle with lower than ‘standard’ suspension (Corvette C6 and other sports cars) should also be aware the wheel guides could cause body damage
•As an alternative in colder winter months I would suggest using a waterless vehicle cleaning product Protect All’s Quick Easy Wash (QEW)
•If you get a chance, attend a car wash / wax vendors symposiums where they give demonstrations of the different soap products that these type of facilities use. You'll come away a convert to never using them again, on any vehicle.
JonM
| | Reply » Washing |
Don't you think that's all a bit alarmist?
Quote: ‘Touch less’ carwash:
Never use a car wash, period touch less or not, there are a variety of reasons: You should never, under any circumstances use a car wash that requires you to let another person drive your vehicle onto the ramps or into the wash | I drive it in and out myself.
Quote: | notice the disclaimer of ‘No responsibility for damage to customer’s vehicle. | In California, at least, no such disclaimer is valid. They break it, they pay for it. Same is true for the parking valet tickets that say they're only responsible for $100 if your car is damaged, lost, etc.
Quote: Local by-laws require car washes to re-claim or recycle water. This means they have two choices.
a) They can collect the water in tanks and pay to truck it away to a recycling centre.
b) They can filter and then recycle the water (dependant on how often the filters are cleaned/changed) will effect how much dirt content there is. Recycled meaning re-use the same water, which may include any road dirt/grit that is not filtered out is used to high-pressure (1,000PSI) wash your vehicle (somewhat similar to sandblasting) the final rinse is usually twice-filtered re-cycled water, this is to give the appearance of a clean surface on the vehicle. | This is a highly theoretical concern. I don't come out with the "appearance" of a clean surface - I come out with a clean surface! And there are plenty of detailers out there using pressure washers to do a $50 car wash or $200 detail.
Quote: •To remove snow/sand/road dirt and grit without agitation (brushes etc) requires the use of very strong chemical cleaners.
•Probably the most important is that this type of automatic car wash use high-pressure water and strong alkaline detergent to clean vehicles that will strip the wax/polish | Yup, takes the dirt right off.
Quote: | •You will also need to renew the vehicles sealant / wax to ensure the paint surface protection on a regular basis to counteract the effects of the harsh detergents. | I renew my Zaino on a regular basis -- every three months.
Quote: •Also be aware of those that use ‘wheel guides’ as they will cause scratches / etching to the wheel surfaces, as many wash facilities will not accommodate either the tire width or the clearance, thus causing sidewall damage
•Vehicle with lower than ‘standard’ suspension (Corvette C6 and other sports cars) should also be aware the wheel guides could cause body damage
•As an alternative in colder winter months I would suggest using a waterless vehicle cleaning product Protect All’s Quick Easy Wash (QEW)
•If you get a chance, attend a car wash / wax vendors symposiums where they give demonstrations of the different soap products that these type of facilities use. You'll come away a convert to never using them again, on any vehicle.
JonM | I often read these same concerns about touchfree washes -- harsh cleaners, high pressure, and this notion of "sandblasting" with dirty water. But I think it's mostly people repeating what somebody else said. I have yet to meet someone whose paint was sandblasted, just people who worry about their paint being sandblasted. Will the soap take off your Zymol Estate Glaze 63% white carnauba? Probably, but then so will a week in the sun. I am quite certain that a weekly trip through the touchfree (followed by a wipedown with a quick detailer of choice) is a lot better for the paint than letting dirt and other contaminants sit on the paint until one can find a hose and a place to wash if those aren't readily available.
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