Washing the Car

[89240sx]

Seriously, when is the last time you washed your car?

I think my car (originally silver) is now almost black :ylsuper

And what kinds of soap would be ideal for a seriously dirty (older) paint job?? I have no oxidization (sp?) the paint is still in good condition except the bumper where it is fading.

What do you guys use or recommend and when was the last time you washed your car? The question about soap has probably been asked a million times however I was more interested in knowing how bad everyone is about neglecting washing the car or if it's just me

[Axel Grungy]

when i have my car out in the summer i wash it once maybe twice a week, depending on how much i drive. if simply washing your car doesnt take all the grime off, try mothers claybar. it makes a world of difference.

[Bubba1]

Since the highway depts use so much dang salt up here. I wash my cars every few weeks. I don't think they do that in Georgia. Bear in mind if you use too strong a detergent to wash, you may strip off the wax or damage the clear coat. That's where you may run into problem later with paint fading.

[Dano]

use a good cleaner wax b4 using a finisher wax, then finish up with a claybar, try using a finisher wax with carnuba

-Dan

[Axel Grungy]

arent you supposed to claybar before waxing?? to strip off all the grime and old wax before applying new??

[Dano]

your right, i apologize, im feeling under par today and didnt reread b4 i posted.

-Dan

[lookatme!]

Whats a claybar? I just washed my car three days ago...

[AZhitman]

Search on clay bar.

Wash with Dawn dishsoap.Claybar entire car.Apply a good synthetic sealant (wax is SO 1980's) like 5Star, Zaino or Lex.Rinse periodically (like weekly).

[Bunta240]

About 1 week ago. Used some of that good ol Five Star. Its too bad I didnt see that discount thing on the ad.

[blink0r]

Last week of August for me.

[-HyJynX-]

I last washed it....3 months ago, then it went under a tarp and is still clean.

[krazy skwerel]

Yesterday, Try and keep my car looking clean, even if it is busted.

[AZhitman]

I wash mine twice a week.

Once a month it gets a full detailing.

[hudy]

Car gets washed about once a week. Easy to do when you work at a dealership. Nice to be able to clean car in the warm shop!

[TachyonS14]

I wash my car every friday. I clean and armor-all the inside, and really scrub the outside. Usually takes me 90 mins. I don't mind doing it because I love my car so much :-P

[Nismo270RRRRR]

Anyone know how to get baked egg off a car??

[StrangeLove]

Once a week

But I have yet to detail it at all, water sticks to my war... seriously

[daniel240]

i detail cars at work and when i drove my 240 everyday i would wash it sometimes 3-5 times a week, because i was bored and getting paid to do it. i waxed it once a week. now it stays in the garage and i only drive it on nice days so i dont wash it near as much anymore

[AZhitman]

Armor-All is the DEVIL!

If you're still using that crap, STOP NOW!!!

Scrub your entire interior with 409 immediately and wipe down with a wet rag, and DON'T put any more shiny crap on it. You'll thank me later.

[hudy]

amen

[krazy skwerel]

I use ye olden black magic on my car yep yep.

[fiznat]

Armor-All is the DEVIL!

you know, Ive heard this from a lot of people - even some professional auto detailers I know, but I've never heard any real reason for it... whats so bad about armor-all?

[krazy skwerel]

If you stop using it, it will dry out your interior quicker and crack it. Thats what I was always told.

[C-Kwik]

I'd refrain from using any dishsoap. Dawn is probably the mildest, but it's still not designed with keeping wax on the car in mind. It may contain too much lye. Car wash soaps are better. Unless you intend to wax your car after every wash. Dishsoap is great if you want to strip your wax.

[89240sx]

I usually wax after every wash but I do not wash that often unless it is summer. I just washed and waxed the car it looks great now (aside from clear coat on the nose and faded paint on back bumper)

Anybody know if those auto car washes just have an underbody wash option?

Thanks for all the tips,

I'm going to have to check out that clay bar soon before that 1989 paint goes to hell, at the moment it still looks good everywhere but the back bumper is fading and the nose the clear coat is going bad.

[MetaOrbit]

If you stop using it, it will dry out your interior quicker and crack it. Thats what I was always told.

Yeah! I armorall'd a vinyl armrest in my last car (which was in perfect condition) thinking I was protecting it. The next day I left the car out in the school parking lot with the interior sunroof panel open letting the sun shine in on the armrest. When I got back to the car at the end of the day it was nice and cracked. Pissed me of soo bad. I'll never use armorall again.

[89240sx]

ya same thing happened to my dashboard, the person who owned the car before me always used that crap and now I have three GIANT cracks in my dash.

[Altiman94]

It's been a long time since I last washed my car. The snow is melting here so there is no reason to

[Altiman94]

actually the whole point of using dish soap before waxing your car is to remove the old coats of wax before you apply any new coats. Sorry for the double posts.

[rydwhite]

I put 5-star on my car back in august or something and I haven't actually washed the car since. I take it once a week, sometimes twice a week and use the power sprayer at the self serve car washes. I power spray it and all the dirt and grime just comes right off, then I use the spotless spray to rinse the car off again and dry. It carries a shine like it's just been waxed. No soap, just two spray bathes, a power rinse and a no spot rinse.