How do you clean your car?
 

As the title says. Hand wash only with pure filtered bottled water? Pay and spray? Drive through car wash?

The downside of my black car...impossible to keep clean. Do any of you have some fancy tips for keeping a black car clean(er)?

I'm a detailer... Nuff said.


It's not only about washing. It's about how you wash, how you prevent unnecessary friction on the surface on the car, how you polish it, what products you use, what formulas, what combinations, etc etc etc.

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Click LEARN, read....

I don't go through the drive through machines or use a pay and spray because my paint is weak in some spots and those will most likely chip it.
I just use a garden hose and a bucket of soap water. Once every six months I use the Mothers claybar kit and Zymol wax. I've never cleaned the inside of my wheels before so I just bought Mothers wheel cleaner, hopefully that gets rid of the break dust easily.

Pay and spray. I don't have the ability to clean my car well....so I just take it and pay 4 bucks to clean it. Not bad for a once a month thing.

drive through touchless wash top and underneath. For 7 bux it's cheaper than wasting an hour or two doing it myself.

idk yet, I really need to wash my '7 for the first time... I'll probably hit up a cheap carwash though and detail by hand sometime later, specifically when I go to repaint/touch up areas and prep for winter

I usually take it to my dads car wash (lucky me :P ). But I'll hand wash it now and then.

i wash my car thoroughly then proceed to use rubbing compound then give it a good waxing ! im anal i know but i sure do love my 7!

Well I just took mine to the Pay and Spray and I'm very pleased with the results. The car just SHINES now. And for 5 bucks it saved me over an hours work to wash the car like I used to.

Mr Clean carwash kit every 3 weeks; spot free and I can finish in 20 minutes setup to cleanup. Zaino wax every 6 months. Also have fancy car cover to deal with morning dew and to keep it cleaner (cheap cover dissolved in sun). With that and the wax, my car is just a little dusty when I get around to washing it. Might extend to every 4 weeks, as long as I promptly deal with the bugs, sap and bird droppings. That stuff hardens & ruins your paint, which is why you're supposed to wash every 1-2 weeks.

Pay and spray all the way! Easiest way to get er done. I really like washing my car though so I wash it pretty near close to once a week. (I probly would of put this in lounge or polls though.)

Aw man you're right. I moderate on another forum and it just completely slipped my mind this time.

Mods, feel free to move this thread and I'll offer an apology.

Nice to see other Autopians on here.

Since my car is silver now, I'm a real lazy ass when it comes to washing these days, but I still use two buckets, and separate mitts for top and sides of the car, and another sponge for wheels + brushes and degreaser for rims, tires, wheel wells and my exhaust.

I hit it with the pressure washer every week before the weekly meet in my area. Wheel cleaner on the wheels, I use their brush and soap and hit the car with that and then hit it with my own mitt to get those special areas. Usually stays clean for a while, I try not to let too much dust buildup on the vert wheels cuz they're a bitch to clean. If I'm in a hurry I'll use glass cleaner on the wheels and take it through the "works" wash at a gas station.

Too loow for tha car wash and f dat I take pride in my car wash it my damn self nuff said

agreed man Ive only had my 7 for a little over 3 weeks and already washed it 4 times

whenever it rains...is when its washed.....i love my car but theres no point....my paint is shit, scratches, baby chips, fadded, a little tar(go figure)

and all from previous owner (you suck whoever you are(dealer bought))

Original color= saphire blue
color now= Ive been in the sun way to friggen long kill me

i sell that by the can by the way incase anyone was wondering

I wash it probably every two weeks. Since the paint is black, I refuse to drive in the rain. After every time I drive it, I use a detailer spray to get the spots/dust. I wax it a minimum of once a month. Usually Ill do the waxing in different sections, whenever I feel its needed. I have claybared my car a couple times, but it never gets dirty enough to have the need. Youll never see my car dirty, lol.

i dont

JasonDowney how well does that clay bar stuff work? Does it help lots with minor scratches and what not? And any one got tips on how to prepare small rock chips on my paint before winter comes around?

The clay bar removes extra film over the painted surface (oxidation, tree sap, etc). You really think normal washing is cleaning the car until you clay bar it. ;) Clay barring does not remove scratches or swirls.

It depends on the weather at the time. Due to the scorching +100°F on my driveway during the summer, I usually utilize one of the local pay-n-sprays this time of year. I get to wash her in the shade, and I'll be done in 5-10 minutes.

If the weather is pleasant, I'll go ahead and hand wash her in the driveway. Also, I make sure I get her waxed at least once a year.

:icon_tup: Was getting into detailing until I opened my tinting shop, so I know where you are coming from.


Clay bars are a must for that perfect shine. Wash your car and then after it's dry, run your hand over the paint....it's rough isn't it. That's what the clay bar is for, then you can start with your polish and then your protectant wax.....and no, polishes and waxes are not the same.

Other:

Always a hand wash. Spray down first, then wash. Another spray down, wash. Wheels (rinse, simple cleaner applied, another rinse, then deep clean into the smaller spaces, and another rinse) claybar or wax depending.

Then move to the interior. Pretty simple....vacuum, check for grease and spots on seats, door handles, e-brake, steering wheels. Clean dust off dash. Windows usually come last.

I pay and spray (minus spray on wax), hand dry or use free blower, then wax. Clay bar about every two months or so. Makes waxing or polishing much easier and when you run your hand across the paint and it feels like silk... mmmmmmm.