How do you wash your car?

justincredible Honorable Admin

37,969 posts 250 reps Joined Nov 2009

Mon, Jun 5, 2023 12:17 PM

Curious how everyone takes care of keeping their ride nice and shiny.

I typically take the Outback thru a Mike's or other similar place.

I don't trust taking my truck thru one of those so it's currently dirty as hell. I'd like to build up a car washing/detailing kit so I can start washing cars at home.

Anyone take their car washing super seriously and do it yourself at home?

Devils Advocate Brudda o da bomber

4,899 posts 101 reps Joined Nov 2009

Mon, Jun 5, 2023 12:35 PM

When it’s cold and nasty I will go to the wash and blast it off. If it’s decent outside, I wash by hand in the driveway. I am particular about my windows and I find that when I wash and dry a vehicle by hand that I tend to keep better overall care of it.

Verbal Kint Senior Member

1,062 posts 16 reps Joined Jul 2017

Mon, Jun 5, 2023 12:40 PM

Monthly subscription with local automatic

iclfan2 Reppin' the 330/216/843

9,465 posts 99 reps Joined Nov 2009

Mon, Jun 5, 2023 12:45 PM

By hand, but not often enough. When I had a boat I’d wash it after washing the saltwater off the boat, but sold that thing. My FIL is super into it though, clay bar detailing and the works.

friendfromlowry Senior Member

7,778 posts 87 reps Joined Nov 2009

Mon, Jun 5, 2023 1:35 PM

Mike’s Car Wash, but only a few times a year.

Ironman92 Administrator

56,729 posts 168 reps Joined Nov 2009

Mon, Jun 5, 2023 1:40 PM

Wash it myself…..windex on front bumper and lights and side mirrors, this makes the bugs easier to remove. Spray top, hood, trunk…..wash all then do driver side then passenger side, dry off windows first then car. Wheels get cleaned last.

Sometimes a quick $3 in quarters in a car wash bay to get the main stuff off if weather is meh or car is super bad

Verbal Kint Senior Member

1,062 posts 16 reps Joined Jul 2017

Mon, Jun 5, 2023 1:54 PM

Also don't know who Mike is 24 Of The Best Breaking Bad Quotes | Bad quotes, Breaking bad quotes, Breaking bad

MontyBrunswick Senior Member

1,065 posts 17 reps Joined Mar 2015

Mon, Jun 5, 2023 2:06 PM

posted by Verbal Kint

Also don't know who Mike is

MontyBrunswick Senior Member

1,065 posts 17 reps Joined Mar 2015

Mon, Jun 5, 2023 2:08 PM

In regards to OP: I let my car get dirty until it gets into embarrassing territory and then I take it to the automated no-touch wash. It does a shitty job, but normally takes it from a 2/10 to a 7/10 which is good enough for me.

once in a blue moon I will swing by the manual bay at the carwash and do it myself

Automatik Senior Member

15,737 posts 98 reps Joined Nov 2009

Mon, Jun 5, 2023 2:12 PM

Prefer to wash at home, if not go to an old school bay or full service place.

I don’t really like the auto drive through car washes.

justincredible Honorable Admin

37,969 posts 250 reps Joined Nov 2009

Mon, Jun 5, 2023 2:22 PM

I forgot to post this in the OP because I got distracted. I went thru Mike's this morning and the car in front of me, I think it was an Explorer (older model), got their front wheel stuck on the wheel brushes at the very end of the line, and went off the belts and was stopped completely. The belts were still going so my car wasn't stopping so I was sweating a bit for a second. Luckily I wasn't right on their butt, the belt stopped in a few seconds and the person figured it out. Don't let them stack you too tight the next time you go, make sure you give plenty of space between you and the car in front.

justincredible Honorable Admin

37,969 posts 250 reps Joined Nov 2009

Mon, Jun 5, 2023 2:23 PM

I'm contemplating this kit at Chemical Guys. Anyone use their stuff? Seems to be well reviewed.

https://www.chemicalguys.com/all-season-arsenal-builder-kit/HOL340.html

MontyBrunswick Senior Member

1,065 posts 17 reps Joined Mar 2015

Mon, Jun 5, 2023 2:24 PM

posted by justincredible
I'd like to build up a car washing/detailing kit so I can start washing cars at home.

i have two products on-hand that were absolutely worth the money:

1. chemical guys quick detailer

2. meguiars cleaner wax

chemical guys has another product for general cleaning that i use to wipe down the inside of my car but i find myself using it around the house too. might be worth picking up.

there's links to the aforementioned products in my post but the clueless webmaster apparently doesn't have hyperlinks underlined for some reason so now i have to type a paragraph explaning that my post contains hyperlinks.

justincredible Honorable Admin

37,969 posts 250 reps Joined Nov 2009

Mon, Jun 5, 2023 2:33 PM

posted by Verbal Kint
Monthly subscription with local automatic

I think I'm going to do this for my Outback. A place right down the road has the following plans. I know I've had it washed twice in the last month and it needed at least 3x as many washes as that given our dust situation.

Ironman92 Administrator

56,729 posts 168 reps Joined Nov 2009

Mon, Jun 5, 2023 5:55 PM

posted by justincredible
I think I'm going to do this for my Outback. A place right down the road has the following plans. I know I've had it washed twice in the last month and it needed at least 3x as many washes as that given our dust situation.

Interesting

justincredible Honorable Admin

37,969 posts 250 reps Joined Nov 2009

Mon, Jun 5, 2023 6:10 PM

posted by MontyBrunswick
there's links to the aforementioned products in my post but the clueless webmaster apparently doesn't have hyperlinks underlined for some reason so now i have to type a paragraph explaning that my post contains hyperlinks.

Ok I fixed it.

MontyBrunswick Senior Member

1,065 posts 17 reps Joined Mar 2015

Mon, Jun 5, 2023 7:09 PM

posted by justincredible
Ok I fixed it.

MontyBrunswick Senior Member

1,065 posts 17 reps Joined Mar 2015

Mon, Jun 5, 2023 7:11 PM

posted by justincredible
I'm contemplating this kit at Chemical Guys. Anyone use their stuff? Seems to be well reviewed.
https://www.chemicalguys.com/all-season-arsenal-builder-kit/HOL340.html

you can buy chemical guys stuff pretty much anywhere, including locally if you wanted to piece meal something together. i know meijer carries their products, as does most auto parts stores. amazon as well.

Laley23 GOAT

33,369 posts 133 reps Joined Nov 2009

Tue, Jun 6, 2023 1:36 AM

Whichever gas station is giving the most off per gallon at the time. And probably only a few times a year. I’ll get the salt off in winter if it’s warm enough for them to be open. That is about it unless it gets closer for some reason during the spring - fall months.

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