qship96 wrote:Handwashing car at home does a much better job than the touchless automatic, which never really cleans well and leaves a film of dirt remaining on paint and glass { notice how your windsheild is still filthy in the sun except where the wipers sweep the glass} this same amount of crap is also left on all painted surfaces--why you NEVER towel dry after one of these washes,it just grinds the dirt into the paint and leaves thousands of fine micro-scratches in paint which must be machine polished to remove
I've done the handwashing bit, but I always never get a result.I bought Automotive soap but it doesn't get sudsy like it does in the movies. Just slippery water. I put it on the car, and by the time that I'm done the back, the front has gotten all dry and nasty looking.
Plus with the current season, outdoor handwashing isn't conducive to one's health. I used to use a "Waterless Wash" that I had for my Jeep (White) on the Q after I got it, but I've run out. It's like this sort of spray on carnuba wax that you let haze and then buff. It works on paint and glass. I thought it was great until reading on the Autotopia board told me otherwise.
When the weather gets warmer, I'm going to just have the car professionally detailed. Engine bay and all. That will set my platform and I'll keep it that way.