Car washing for the regular guy, what to use? How to dry?

[4A Play]

My Audi is pretty much the first car I have ever bought used that didnt already have beat paint and/or swirl marks.

I want to wash it but just wanted to hear how you guys wash your cars. I really dont want to sound like an ass and I respect all the work that goes into detailing, I just never got into it.

I know NEVER:
Take the car to a drive through.
Never use the commercial self-car wash.
Never use Dish soap because of the ammonia in it.
Never wash the tires with the same sponge as the car.

So basically just wanted to make sure that buying a car specific wash/ wax and using a regular sponge is fine and dandy with a terry cloth dry off.

Thanks guys!

[Twista616]

My Audi is pretty much the first car I have ever bought used that didnt already have beat paint and/or swirl marks.

I want to wash it but just wanted to hear how you guys wash your cars. I really dont want to sound like an ass and I respect all the work that goes into detailing, I just never got into it.

I know NEVER:

Take the car to a drive through.

This is True.

Never use the commercial self-car wash.

This is True.

Never use Dish soap because of the ammonia in it.

This is true in some aspect. When people use dish soap, like Dawn, they either dont know what they are doing, or they do. "Dawn Washes" are used in the detailing world to remove any wax or sealant coat that was previously applied to the car. It makes the car a clean slate...ready for polishing, waxing or sealing.

Never wash the tires with the same sponge as the car.

Oh boy is this true!!

I feel some good OTC (Over the Counter) products are as follows:

Wash Concentrate-Meguiars Gold Class
Degreaser: Purple Power(Diluted Properly)
Window Cleaner: Stoners Invisable Glass
Tire Shine: Since they dont sell water-based applications over the counter, next best thing is silicone based...which I dont use...but Meguiars Hot Shine Is good.
Wax/Sealant: Meguiars Tech Wax 2.0<---Great stuff right there!
For your Spong/mit...any Lambswool mit will do.

Hope that helps...

[Tiesto]

Not that I advocate it but my dad used regular dishwasher soap on his old car for 8+ years (never waxed), it's not show quality but it looks better than most other 8 year old cars.

[EuroA4]

Just use a good car wash soap like Adams or P21S. Use two buckets, one for soap, one for rinse with just water. Wash wheels completely seperately (I prefer before the car itself). Use a clean lambs wool mitt, schmitt mitt, or Microfiber mitt. Wash from the top down...rinse as you go, then dry with a MF waffle towel and detail spray. Obviously you can expand from there, but that's the basics.

[4A Play]

Excellent, thanks a ton guys, Ill swing by the store tonight after work.

Any Detailers in the Allentown/ Bethlehem area who need an apprentice or free help for their next job just to learn the ropes?

[zims666]

I know NEVER:
Take the car to a drive through.
Never use the commercial self-car wash.

oh shit! ive been doing this for the last 3 months!!
in my defense, ive been living in an apartment complex with no hose. move into my new house this week. time to pick up some Meguiars Gold Class...

my car had swirls when i bought it. have commercial washed done me damage, or made it worse?

[tike0rz]

I've taken my car through the drive throughs a few times! But it does come out looking good as hell!

I like to use "The Absorber" and "Eagle Ones Wax-as-u-dry" to dry the car.

I do the top down, and wheels last with my crappy mitt. I also like to double wash my car. Like, soap/scrub the hood, rinse, and soap/scrub again, rinse.

[SlappyB6]

Never wash a hot car. Either leave it in the shade, or hose it down until it's cooled off. Wash fast, never let the water or the soap dry on it.

Lamb's wool is the way to go for sponges.

If you use wheel cleaner, follow the directions! These are not dangerous IF USED PROPERLY! Don't leave them on your wheels for 30 minutes thinking it will get them cleaner.

Here's a tip I learned about a year ago that works very well. I use just a normal garden hose to wash my car (never had a need to pressure wash my car). As a final rinse, take off any nozzle you might be using, and just let the water run down over the entire car. It will help the water sheet off and spot less.

[97ss10]

What's the purpose of drying with quick detailer? Same principle as the "Wax-As-U-Dry" stuff?

[Twista616]

What's the purpose of drying with quick detailer? Same principle as the "Wax-As-U-Dry" stuff?

Yep...People use quick detailers for all sorts of reasons...most important is doesnt leave water spots behind when you dry...and also leaves the surface very clean to see and swirls/scratches... there are other reasons as well!

[4A Play]

Terry cloth, Meguiars Tech Wax 2.0, Meguiars car wash concentrate. All purchased from Wal-mart for about $20. Thanks a ton guys! I washed her under an Apple tree and promptly moved her when I noticed that apples were falling from the tree lol.