Car wash: A survey

[Friggin Idiot]

I tend to hand wash throughout the year. Hand wax in spring and fall. Less washing going on in summertime though, I like to drive 60+ through moderate to heavy rain and call that a powerwash. The thunderstorms of Oklahoma were always good for that. Although now I have to worry about salt from the roads here in Ohio so I'll be washing more often than previously in winter.

As for what to wash with, I use Dawn concentrate. I figure if it's good enough for baked on crud, it's good enough to remove dirt, road grime, grease, tar, and bug guts. I occasionally have to let a wet rag sit and re-hydrate the bug guts before wiping them off, but that's easier than scrubbing away. I've also noticed it's much easier to clean the area of my 3M clear bra than the rest of the truck.

Wax is always old school Karate Kid style, it's how I learned, and the only way I know how to do it properly. It takes me about 5 hours if I work at a relaxed pace, 3 hours working harder assuming I don't need to lift anything heavier than a beer the next day. I've recently been using Rain-X Liquid Wax sadly no longer available. It's more protective and last longer than Zymol, but not quite as nice of a finish.

 

[Dalko43]

No "nervous nancy" here, just prefer doing my own detailing. Much of the enjoyment of owning a vehicle is having pride in it's appearance no matter how much we "enjoy" it off roading. Whether one goes to a detail shop or does it themselves. To each their own methods.
Thought I read on here sometime back about a dealer that forgot to close the sunroof before sending it thru for the "free" wash.

I too take pride in maintaining my vehicle and keeping its appearance somewhat presentable...but due to where I live and how I use my 4runner, its bound to get dirty.

I prefer to wash my own vehicle when I can (2 bucket method) and I normally wax and clay bar on my own, but when its 5 degrees outside or when I am simply too busy to clean it myself, I'll take it to a local car wash for $9, and I don't feel at all bad about that. So long as there is some sort of wax/protective layer over the paint and rust is being mitigated, I'm happy.

When I owned a BMW, I enjoyed washing it and getting a good wax shine, but I also fretted over it whenever there was mud or bird crap on the paint. I always had to be careful I wasn't curbing the wheels when street parking, I had to put a windshield sun deflector up to protect the leather seats, I meticulously cleaned the interior....it was a great car to drive, but a total PITA to maintain and keep clean (as I felt compelled to do). By comparison, I'm perfectly okay with letting my 4runner sit out in the elements and get a little dirty and I have no problem tracking some mud into it or having my dog's fur get all over the seats....I sold my BMW and bought a Toyota so I wouldn't have to worry as much about such things.

IMO, a luxury or sports car deserves the OCD treatment, while a BOF SUV warrants nothing more than utilitarian and functional cleaning/maintenance. But I realize everyone has different opinions on this sort of thing.

 

[Lexusbstrdchild]

I tend to hand wash throughout the year. Hand wax in spring and fall. Less washing going on in summertime though, I like to drive 60+ through moderate to heavy rain and call that a powerwash. The thunderstorms of Oklahoma were always good for that. Although now I have to worry about salt from the roads here in Ohio so I'll be washing more often than previously in winter.

As for what to wash with, I use Dawn concentrate. I figure if it's good enough for baked on crud, it's good enough to remove dirt, road grime, grease, tar, and bug guts. I occasionally have to let a wet rag sit and re-hydrate the bug guts before wiping them off, but that's easier than scrubbing away. I've also noticed it's much easier to clean the area of my 3M clear bra than the rest of the truck.

Wax is always old school Karate Kid style, it's how I learned, and the only way I know how to do it properly. It takes me about 5 hours if I work at a relaxed pace, 3 hours working harder assuming I don't need to lift anything heavier than a beer the next day. I've recently been using Rain-X Liquid Wax sadly no longer available. It's more protective and last longer than Zymol, but not quite as nice of a finish.

Dawn is awful for your car's finish. Unless you're using it to remove the old wax, to put a new coat of wax or sealer...

 

[Friggin Idiot]

Dawn is awful for your car's finish. Unless you're using it to remove the old wax, to put a new coat of wax or sealer...

Yes, I only use dawn before hand wax, the rest of the time it's whatever car wash solution I have that was on sale.

 

[eliminator]

Not a "nervous Nancy" just take care of all of my stuff this way. Moreover, I tend to keep vehicles for 5-8 years. Every time I've sold my outgoing vehicle I've always gotten top dollar partly due to the excellent exterior condition alone. "Pride of ownership" I suppose.....I work hard for my money.

 

[Hapa DC5]

Meh with the drought, the truck gets washed maybe twice in the three months I've owned it. I have washed off bird poop that I catch otherwise she stays pretty dirty and full of dog hair lol.

 

[gman123]

Hand wash or car wash every 2 weeks.
Hand wax every 4 months.

 

[mdogg]

When I owned a BMW, I enjoyed washing it and getting a good wax shine, but I also fretted over it whenever there was mud or bird crap on the paint. I always had to be careful I wasn't curbing the wheels when street parking, I had to put a windshield sun deflector up to protect the leather seats, I meticulously cleaned the interior....it was a great car to drive, but a total PITA to maintain and keep clean (as I felt compelled to do). By comparison, I'm perfectly okay with letting my 4runner sit out in the elements and get a little dirty and I have no problem tracking some mud into it or having my dog's fur get all over the seats....I sold my BMW and bought a Toyota so I wouldn't have to worry as much about such things.

I completely agree. I switched from a mostly garaged Black G8 to the never-garaged 4Runner and it was quite an adjustment.

I went from weekly/biweekly washes to going lengthy times between washes sometimes (I think around 6 months at the longest stretch). It's an oddly refreshing feeling to just not care about the gloss and swirls and dirt and dust and mud and pollen..... I have better things to do than waste 2+ hours every weekend cleaning my car. Not to mention, this one is so much larger and a PITA. Blizzard Pearl looks fine until it's really dirty - and even then it looks fine until you accidentally uncover the true color for a portion! I just keep the windows and windshield clean and a quick dusting/wipe on on the interior on occasion and I'm set.

 

[Volumetrik]

When I first got my Fiesta ST, I would wash it every other week almost. Now that it has been a year, I wash it every 2-3 weeks.

I usually wash it by hand using the 2-bucket technique and wipe it dry by hand with damp microfiber towels.

The 4runner though, have not washed it yet ! (Owned it for a month)

 

[MSRP.]

Well since I do detailing for a side job. I hand wash only. On a schedule every Saturday or Sunday morning on all the cars. Have done that for 25+ years. Lol. Ocd a little about my stuff. My dad was the same way. I always wash after a rain also. The contaminants that come off the road ruin paint if you don't get it off. I'm a little anal about washing and detailing. I always use the two bucket method to wash. I could go on and on about detailing...

heh, I used to be the same way, then I discovered a moto, and now all my extra time (severe lack of this) goes to riding. I Collinite 476 twice a year only because I'm too cheap to use the below stuff that lasts for a few years...

This is my new technique/procedure.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ32CqvgtMA

Also, I applied CarPro CQuartz UK and wash with a sheepskin wash mitt and CarPro Reset wash.

It's cool to finally have products that ACTUALLY last more than a year, and in some cases (where applied properly), a few years. Another good one is from the guys at Optimum.

After owning sedans, I think I'll spring for Optimum's Gloss Coat/CQuartz on the 4R. Would make coin-op's/car washes/rain a lot more effective in shedding the dirt and save time.

 

[mazatal]

Sometimes, like today, the snow slides off and cleans the hood of my old beater T4R.

 

[Dalko43]

Sometimes, like today, the snow slides off and cleans the hood of my old beater T4R.

Great-looking T4R! What bumper is that?

 

[hamburglar210]

I let the rain take care of it in the warmer months but in the winter, when mag chloride is on the road, I run it through the wash weekly.

 

[mazatal]

Great-looking T4R! What bumper is that?

BudBuilt, front/rear/sliders/skids. GVW 5,900 with my fat arse included. LOL

 

[Scramble]

Brushless car wash every 2 weeks or once a week in the winter to get the salt off. Hand Wax in Spring & Fall. 16 years of ownership & it still looks great & I don't baby it.

 

[gqballa]

I hand wash during the summer and coin wash during winter. Here in Calgary though, its technically illegal to wash your vehicle with soap (drains into the sewage)

 

[jtgumy]

Hand wash only, never taken any of my vehicles in a drive thru car wash.

 

[tigger]

Windy City Hand Wash - Just saying :bathbaby:

 

[ic0517]

Hand wash with soap once a year whether it needs it or not.

Then if it rains or drizzles, I might grab a used microfiber towel and go over the 4Runner to knock off the dirt. The nastiest ones I go over the rims before tossing them in the garbage. Just can't see getting in to a fight with the missus over washing them.

Wiping a car down with a rag doesn't really work after heavy salting, to really get it clean I would have to drag the hose out, that's a pain in winter or maybe many buckets of water. The garage is detached and unheated. At least I don't have to worry with the remote start.

I have been known to say sure if the dealer wants to wash it.

 

[RoadDogT4R]

I'll take my truck to the wash at least once every 2 weeks. The place I go is only $8 and they dry it on the way out. However I hand detail my T4R every 3 months to keep it waxed and make sure the frame is clean. My 04 came from upstate NY and was half rotten when I purchased it. I am not looking to have another headache. :ranger: