How do you wash your car and what do you use?

[Nutso]

I was reading the “explosion of new local car washes” thread and I saw a lot of opinions about the touch free car washes. People touched on how they like to wash their cars…I searched the forum and found a few threads about dry washing. There didn’t seem to be a thread about just car washing tips. I have used Griot’s Garage products and like them but I am not a successful show car exhibitor, just a cruise in quality guy. How do you wash your car? What products do you recommend?

 

[Don Frelier]

I don't wash mine (hard water) and if you have a good coat of wax or better yet ceramic then just spray detailer and a good clean microfiber towel compatible with your finish.
(Besides I really really try and avoid driving them in the rain, but it happens occassionally)
If I do get it dirty because of rain I try and clean it right away while it's still wet.

 

[JJ383RR]

Meguirs products for me. I don't due soap every time.

 

[kiwigtx]

Waterless Car Wash research

 

[mmissile]

I go thru car washes. Brushless for my Hellcat and 300C, and regular ones for my daily/regular stuff.
I've had lots of cars that have only seen water in the rain, at shows.

This car hasn't been washed since 2005-2006.

This one hasn't seen a wash, either. It's gotten over 3K miles on it in 2 summers. Just not when it's wet out.

6.3K views · 11K reactions | 1970 Plymouth Cuda Convertible Classic Car Drive By Engine Sound Easy Rodders Car Show 2024 | Casey Faitel

 

[SteveSS]

I'm confused a bit on the not using water. It seems an initial rinse would remove a lot of contaminants on top of the paint. Even if your car is not "dirty" per se, I would think wiping it off with a microfiber would grind the particles into the paint. I'm talking about on a micro scale.

I rinse the whole car with a hose and maybe a nozzle. We don't have a lot of water pressure here. Then a clean rag in a warm soapy water bucket for the upper surfaces and a different rag or brush for the wheels and rocker panels. Then another rinse. Then towel dry. No power washer on the paint, but wheel wells or a greasy old engine bay from an old car I just bought.

I'm not trying to scold you, it just seems weird to me. For the cars that stay outside, I clay bar them and wax or ceramic coat them once a year. I don't scrimp on leather conditioner either.

 

[mmissile]

Cars that stay outside, are as important to me as my mailbox. They get the brush car washes, almost daily. We have a monthly plan, almost across the road from us.

 

[Dave6T4]

For my old cars, I never use the wash bucket and hose. Only Maquiers or Mothers spray detailer. My paint and body guy reinforced this, saying that most old cars that have been taken apart and reassembled for restoration or repaint seldom get put back together as sealed against water leaks as the factory did it. Case in point; my R/T was getting a small rust hole developing on the trunk floor by water gradually leaking in, and being hidden by the mat. If the car has sat for a while, I use a California Car Duster on it before using the detailer.
On my daily driver, I use the wash pail and hose, under a shade tree. Then, I use a chamois to dry it. Occasionally I use a spray detailer on it, too. If I am lazy, I will run it through the brushless automatic car wash. In the winter, I will occasionally run it through a brush car wash to remove accumulated road salt spray, that brushless will not touch. I pay the extra $1.00 for the underbody spray, too.

 

[1967coronet]

I just run mine down to the local car wash and use the hand held wand. What ever they use for soap lol,
I wax it a couple times a year with turtle wax paste.

 

[Scott Engelhardt]

Groits Garage products.

 

[copper67sat]

My wife takes her Durango to one of the local car washes and occasionally takes my Ram. I usually hand wash and clean my Ram with Chemical Bros products. Mostly because a friend gave me a gift set, but I like them and will probably continue. It has to be towel dried or the water leaves spots. My Satellite rarely gets more than dusty and a some bug splats so it gets dusted and cleaned with spray detailed.

 

[69 Sleeper Bee]

Most of the time I can use a wet micro fiber cloth for a wipe down and a dry one behind it.
Every now and then I hit the car with a light water mist and a micro fiber wipe down but for the most part being in the garage under a cover and the fact that I don't drive it on days with a chance of rain it stays pretty clean.
I have been caught 3 times now in 5 years out and about and local thunder boomer pops up but it's rare.
I do use Meguiar's wax because it doesn't leave a residue but it has to applied more often in the Florida sun during the summer.

 

[Nutso]

Waterless Car Wash research

Thanks! Very informative.

Edit: I have read through the responses and I never realized that some people don’t water wash their cars at all. Thanks for the input, I’m online buying some of the recommended cleaning products.

 

[Scott Engelhardt]

My wife takes her Durango to one of the local car washes and occasionally takes my Ram. I usually hand wash and clean my Ram with Chemical Bros products. Mostly because a friend gave me a gift set, but I like them and will probably continue. It has to be towel dried or the water leaves spots. My Satellite rarely gets more than dusty and a some bug splats so it gets dusted and cleaned with spray detailed.

View attachment 2033489

View attachment 2033490

I love the color combination on the Satellite!

 

[Dennis H]

Driven cars need a water rinse. Otherwise you’re just scratching them up. Adams among my supplies. Cool and shade conditions a must. Easy in these parts.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

Griots Garage, I prefer to flood the dirt with water/soap so it floats away rather than rubbing it into my paint...

 

[Kern Dog]

Thanks! Very informative.

Edit: I have read through the responses and I never realized that some people don’t water wash their cars at all. Thanks for the input, I’m online buying some of the recommended cleaning products.

I don't understand the dudes that claim to never use water on their cars. They must not drive on the freeway for 900 mile road trips like some people that I know. The cars are not made of paper. You can wash them, dry them and they will be fine.
Of course I wash my cars with water, soap too. It is some type of "car wash" soap, not Dawn detergent or Borax.
Wax? Sometimes but not that often.

The paint was done May of 2003. It still looks pretty good to me.

 

[Scott Engelhardt]

I drive the wheels off both of my cars and they get filthy. If I plan a trip and it is raining we still go. So i use water.

 

[icetech]

My jeep... auto wash (it's white and doesn't show dirt, i rarely wash it) My '62 i use a spray bottle and cloth and wipe it down... after all the rust repair i did i never want this thing to see water again.
the jeep soon will get claybarred and sprayed with this though.. stuff works great.

For "wash" i use this... really happy with it

 

[copper67sat]

I don't understand the dudes that claim to never use water on their cars. They must not drive on the freeway for 900 mile road trips like some people that I know. The cars are not made of paper. You can wash them, dry them and they will be fine.
Of course I wash my cars with water, soap too. It is some type of "car wash" soap, not Dawn detergent or Borax.
Wax? Sometimes but not that often.

View attachment 2033619

The paint was done May of 2003. It still looks pretty good to me.

One of the advantages of having a dirt colored car is that it really doesn't look dirty most of the time unless you look across the panels rather than right at them. I do wash it with water occasionally if it gets dirty, like getting caught out in the rain, driving on wet roads, etc. I try to minimize that since there are areas that don't drain well or can leak into the interior. I also wax it from time to time but not often because the detail spray gives it a light wax and the car doesn't spend a lot of time outdoors these days. I used to drive it, and therefore clean it, a lot more, but I have been re-restoring it as a semi-ongoing project for the last couple of years - new weatherstripping, suspension rebuild and now engine rebuild and bay cleanup - so it has been off the road more than on since about 2023.

The body and paint work (Amer-Flint outer body, lacquer engine bay, trunk and jambs) was done professionally in 1990 as part of the original restoration. It was never perfect but it has held up very well and still looks good. Haven't really noticed any issues with the paint finish from using detailer spray and wipe more than water washing. The small chips, dents and even a bit of recurring rust in the areas that don't drain well are far bigger concerns to me.