What is the BEST way to wash a WRX, without leaving any swirls behind? Anybody know the ideal way? What do I use and what brushes if any. Give me the exact directions. I am retarded. Thx.

LOL@ "I am retarded"

Try this:
Use some carwash solution(not much..little goes a long way) and a scratch free sponge(like $5 at discount auto parts)

Then, rinse it down, start from the top and work your way down the car so all the dirt runs down it.

After its all wet, wash it with the sponge lightly, working from the top as well. Then, rinse from the top again to get the soap off.

after that..dry EVERYTHING.

I have a "California Water Blade" that i got at Wal-mart for 20 bucks..works wonders and doesnt scratch at all

Its really not that complicated :lol:

I like to use synthetic chamois for drying. They leave no swirl marks or water spots.

and doesnt scratch at all


Would you like to see the scratch it left on my car?:monkey:



Use a synthetic chamois.


Claybar the car when before you wax it, and use the good stuff!

You just need to be careful with the water blade, and wipe it with your fingers after each stroke to clear it of any grit it may have picked up.

My washing ritual.

1) pick a nice and cool day. make sure your car has had adequete time to cool down, especially the brakes.
2) rinse off the car from top to bottom.
3) mix up some soapy water in a clean bucket. don't use dish washing soap unless you want to strip off all the wax. I use Meguire's soft soap.
4) scrub the car off lightly. no hard scrubing yet. I use a wool wash mitt.
5) see #2
6) mix up more soapy water in a rinsed bucket. make sure you wash off your wash mitt with the hose to get rid of dirt from step #4.
7) scrub the car off lightly where it tends to get dirty most. if something doesn't come loose, scrub lightly for a long time in that area. the dirty areas are usually everything except the doors :p. no hard scrubbing yet.
8) see #2
9) using the soapy water from step #6 I clean the wheels. I use a green scrubby pad and apply light pressure.
10) see #2, this time take off the nozzle and let the water gush out freely. Go over your car throughly. the water will pool naturally and most of it will run off.
11) rinse out your bucket and fill it with clean water.
12) dry off the car's major surfaces from top to bottom. make sure to rinse out your chamios often in the bucket. this will get rid of any dirt particles and reduce your chances of making swirl marks. I use the absorber synthetic chamois and it works great.
13) open the doors, trunk, hood and fuel door. dry off these areas.
14) slam the doors and trunk. slamming the fuel door and hood won't help you too much. :p Dry off dribbles.
15) drive around the block. makes some sharp turns and brake semi-hard.
16) rinse off your chamois in the bucket of clean water and rinse off any dribbles you see.

All done! That's right, no hard scrubbing. Anything that needs hard scrubbing is better served by stripping the wax and using polishing compound. Then comes the 35 step waxing ritual. :lol:

Regards,
Bernard

What I needed to wash my rex:

$1.75
2 towels
ambition to drive a few miles to the powerwash(let me add i never needed ambition...i would rather be behind the wheel of a WRX then anywhere else, except in bed with a supermodel. i cant smoke at my parents house so i would go wash the car if i had a craving)

What kind of wax do you guys recommend. Also, I have been cleaning the car with cotton towels. Thats ok, right?

Originally posted by WRX_man20
What kind of wax do you guys recommend. Also, I have been cleaning the car with cotton towels. Thats ok, right?

Cotton is ok for buffing the wax, I use towels with the Cannon brand name. Zaino products look really good, I just don't have that much time to put into washing and waxing my car right now.

I hear cloth diapers are great for drying off your baby's behind (and front and top)

I would always just use whatever wax my dad had in the garage. But when I get a new car, I'll probably look to Zymol or Meguiar's. Check out this Zaino test:

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/gheumann/zaino_test/

Oh, and I've heard chamois (synthetic or real) is not the best for drying. I've always used cotton towels, and will continue to do so.

Or you can do like my father.... He tells me I can have the car for the night if I wash it:rolleyes: needless to say the car is always clean!:cool:

I recommend Zaino. Takes forever the first time and the first few coats but it looks great :cool: Hella deep shine and color

Originally posted by T-polerex
I hear cloth diapers are great for drying off your baby's behind (and front and top)

Terry is better. Diapers don't have the cotton nobbies, so any dirt you pick up on the surface of the diaper with be applied directly to the surface of the car.

Use clean terry cloth towels. Don't use fabric softener, as it impedes absorption.

And you gotta use two buckets: One for soapy water, and one to rinse your mitt/sponge EVERY time you go back for more soap.

Once you take dirt off the car, don't put it back on!

I like to take it for a spin in the rain... nice and clean for ya

but i like to

1. Rinse from top to bottom
2. Wash with sponge in up & down motion (not swirls)
3. Rinse from top to bottom
4. Clay bar if needed
5. Wax in up & down motion (not swirls)
6. Let sit for maybe half hour while I take in a beer
7. Buff out the wax in up & down motion (not swirls)

8. Then I put 2 coats of Meguires High Gloss tire shine stuff.

Good suggestions all. My .02 I use a sheep wool mit instead of a sponge. I think it is softer. I use a water blade then I use a real chamois instead of synthetic. It doesn't cost that much more but is softer and more absorbent.

100% cotton, no polyester. don't use a anti-static/fabric softner in the dryer, it will scratch. sun reflects off a scratch at a 90degree angle, so if you wash/dry in a circular pattern you'll have more chances to see scratches (made by wash/dry) - hence, wash/dry/wipe in one direction.

Originally posted by Skylab



Would you like to see the scratch it left on my car?:monkey:



Use a synthetic chamois.


Claybar the car when before you wax it, and use the good stuff!


Hmm, oh well. Guess I dont notice as much cuz my car is white.
My friend used it on his IS300 and it works w/o scratches too. But then again, we both wipe the blade after every swipe on the car.

Absorbers take too long to use and i HATE wringing them out:lol: