I probably will hand wash my rex for awhile but I know eventually I will want to bring it to a car wash.

There is one in my area that is a professional car wash and detail and they use cloth brushes in their drive through. They will let me run my car through the car wash without getting the detailing for $6 and I have not had a problem. There is also a new do it yourself car wash around where I live and they use horsehair brushes and they work great. You have to be careful though and check out the brush before you use it.

The “touch-less” or “brush-less” carwashes suck. They never get my car clean.

Torch.

The safest carwash you can do is the one you do with your own hands. So long as you do the 5-6+ hour wash, wax and polish once every 4 months, you can get away with the 1/2 hour express washes every other week.

It's cheaper and let's face it... no one will take more care of your car than you!

One thing is for sure, I'll never take my car to one of those "touchless/brushless" car washes. My grey honda got all swirled mark and dull after a couple of washes. :mad:

If you have to have someone else do it for you, I would only trust a handwash and hand wax.

i agree. you are best off washing it yourself...

always use a clean wash mit or glove...

and i recommend using a car wash that is "ok" or "safe" for clear coats...

Jamie
www.subiegal.com

Originally posted by topcover
The safest carwash you can do is the one you do with your own hands. So long as you do the 5-6+ hour wash, wax and polish once every 4 months, you can get away with the 1/2 hour express washes every other week.


Polish? Could you elaborate? I wash and wax every 6 months, but I would not polish that often, because it takes paint off. I painted one of my older hot rods myself for fun and I polished at the end before applying the wax. I have never read that polishing that often is a good thing.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks,
Torch

but isn't there some kind of clear shield? From 3m or something? I saw it on a forum a while back. Any ideas on prices and stuff? Thanks.

washing your car yourself is definitly the best. i love to sit back when im done washing/waxing and just admiring my hard work. it really pays off.
polishing takes off the paint??? are you serious? i would like to read some more info on this.
:D

Originally posted by ScoobyBoy
washing your car yourself is definitly the best. i love to sit back when im done washing/waxing and just admiring my hard work. it really pays off.
polishing takes off the paint??? are you serious? i would like to read some more info on this.
:D

I am really not an expert on this but polishes are liquid sand paper. They are the last step in a paint job, and are usually done ocasionally to remove small scratches and just basically polish up the car. In doing so it removes a very small amount of the paint. Wax is a completely different story.

Again, I am not an expert and would love if someone educated in this would confirm or correct me.

Thanks,
Torch

Sorry, but I am the only one who puts soap/wax/polish/clay bar on my WRX.
I wash my WRX every Saturday or Sunday
morning at 4:30 in the AM. Yep, rain or
snow, (it's always dark at first) I am
out there. The coldest it has been with
me washing my WRX was 7 degrees. Now if
that ain't love, I don't know what is.
Takes 4 to 5 hours every time and I love
it! Maybe in a few years I will let someone
else wash/wax my WRX, but I doute it.

Go to autopia-carport.com and you'll never want to use a car wash again! It's a very educational site with people who post like here, but some of them are professional detailers who really know the scoop. And some people who just love to wax their cars as often as they can, whether it needs it or not--yes, this type does exist I have learned.

I would worry about the type of soap used in a car wash and how harsh it is. Why should they use the same mild and expensive soap I buy at the auto parts store if they can put in something cheap and harsh that strips your wax???

And what guarantee do you ever have that everything on a particular car wash will work up to par and gets checked and fixed if things are wrong?

Not my car, brother!

hrm...thanks for the info torch. guess i should cut back on polishing my car.
i am the type who loves to wash their car. its very rewarding to me at the end.
simple things make me happy. like the shine of a car.
:D

how the hell does it take you 4 hours to wash your car? do you only have 1 arm?

4 hours is reasonable. washing is 15-30 mins, drying takes awhile, gotta get every nook and cranny 30-45 mins. then if you polish the entire car 45- 1 hour . then wax 1 hour. and clay bar will most likely take awhile 1 hour.
so yeah 4 hours is about right.

Originally posted by True06
how the hell does it take you 4 hours to wash your car? do you only have 1 arm?

Easy, 1 hour to rinse/wash/rinse again. 1 hour
to completely dry. Then 2 to 3 hours either
waxing, using instant detailer and cleaning
the inside. Boom, 4 to 5 hours later I am
done. Spraying down and washing just ain't
enough for me, it's all about the details.
I definatly don't consider it any waste of
my time.

True or false:

Cleaning / Drying your car with newspaper is the best because you don't get any scratches?

Don't wanna seem like an idiot and start washing my car with newspaper unless its actually good :D I use a SHAMMY :D

Derek

Er, I've heard of cleaning your windows with newspaper (actually works really well). I wouldn't do it on the paint of the car though. I think it works so well on windows because it's slightly abrasive; this would be bad if you rubbed it all over your paint.

To wash by hand I use one of those lamb wool pads, with long think fibers, to pull dirt and crap away from the paint. To dry I use "The Absorber" which is one of those synthetic chamois. It works very well, you just have to make sure it's clean before wiping down the car with it. 100% cotton towels are supposed to work well too, but they need to really be 100% cotton, since synthetic threads can scratch car paint.

I started to take mine to this automatic washer where you pay $5.50 and drive in. It sprays the underbody then when you get into position jets start up spraying and the mechanism goes around your car.

I took my car in there when it was CAKED in salt and dirtier than shyte. I didn't think it would come out clean but IT always comes out clean, better than the drive in cloth systems. It's Magic!!! Give em a try and if it works great, if not then do it yourself, i'm sure you won't scratch it up as much. :)

And yeah washing it yourself tends to scratch it morso than those cloth drive through systems.

I would never take any of my cars to a car wash. I like the whole soap and bucket approach. I love stepping back and seeing how great your car looks after all the work YOu put into it. It is more than worth it to me.

Originally posted by Torch


I am really not an expert on this but polishes are liquid sand paper. They are the last step in a paint job, and are usually done ocasionally to remove small scratches and just basically polish up the car. In doing so it removes a very small amount of the paint. Wax is a completely different story.

Again, I am not an expert and would love if someone educated in this would confirm or correct me.

Thanks,
Torch

Torch -

I think what you are referring to is known as "rubbing" or "polishing" compound. Those are pastes with variying size abrasives suspended within to smooth out uneveness in the surface. Rubbing brings it down, polishing smooths it out.

What I was referring to is a liquid polish made especially for clear coats made by Zaino Bros. It contains no abrasives what so ever and once applied and buffed leaves the clearcoat almost looking wet.

I would NEVER take rubbing/polishing compound on my Subie! Except when trying to remove a scratch on my bumper left by some inconsiderate, fat, sticking son of a .... sorry got a little side tracked there.

Achem.... no, nothing abrasive on my car.

Wat are some good websites to purchase car washing tools from. I heard there are special towels that should be used and different stuff along this line (ie. cleaners, waxes, polishes). Also, what about the tires? How do you get them all shiny? Thanks for the help....

websites? you can find all you need at the local target. they have plenty of car washes, waxes, polishes, tire shines. they got it all.
to get your tire shiny i recommend using black magic tire shine.
:D

JaPsiCaN: Let me repeat--go to autopia-carport.com and read up. You can also buy numerous different brands of washes, waxes, towels, etc. etc. there.

Originally posted by subymamma
JaPsiCaN: Let me repeat--go to autopia-carport.com and read up. You can also buy numerous different brands of washes, waxes, towels, etc. etc. there.



For some reason I cannot access this site :confused:

Originally posted by topcover


Torch -

I think what you are referring to is known as "rubbing" or "polishing" compound. Those are pastes with variying size abrasives suspended within to smooth out uneveness in the surface. Rubbing brings it down, polishing smooths it out.

What I was referring to is a liquid polish made especially for clear coats made by Zaino Bros. It contains no abrasives what so ever and once applied and buffed leaves the clearcoat almost looking wet.



Topcover,
If wax is a protective coating and polishing compounds are abrasive then what does liquid polish made for clear coats do? Any and every liquid that I have used that has had the word polish in it has removed paint and made the car have that “wet” look. What else would polish do?

After I take my car to one of those cloth carwashes I come home and get a 100% cotton terry cloth and wipe it down with Meguars quick detailer. And of course it rains right after that. :)

Thanks,
Torch

The only thing i use on my car is: Dry Wash-n-Guard

http://www.dri-wash.com/eti/ScriptAlias/contest.html

http://www.waterless-wash.com/

My RS is aspen white. And i have always had trouble cleaning the plastic parts i.e.....hood scoop, rear bumper, hood vents, spoiler.
There was this film of dirt i just couldn't get off. I think the other aspen white guys will know what im talkin about. Espescially above the muffler on the rear bumper. The exhaust left almost a stain on the bumper.

Correct me if i am wrong.
Dry wash and guard is a oxidizer. They way it works is it doesn't leave a film on car, like wax. It gets in the paint and cleans it.

Just like all materials need to breathe, paint needs to breathe. So when you wax you are smothering the paint which will decrease the life of it. And just seals all the dirt, that you didn't get out, in the paint.

Also it gets love bugs off and out of paint. Love bugs are terrible for paint because the have acid in them which eats at the paint.

Now what is said above is just what my friend told me who gave it to me. All i can say is its freakin awesome. Its gets everything out. All of the crap i couldn't get clean looks brand new.

What i do is i wash car with dishwashing liquid to to get all the surface dirt off. And all the mudd from rally :)
Then i go over car with the Dri Wash and Guard.
I usaully dont clean entire car with the oxidizer, just certain spots.

Ohh Yeah, for all those enviromental junkies it doesn't use areysol(i think thats how you spell it). It uses a pump to presurise it.

all i can say is try it, it works awesome.
i know it probably sounds like a info-mercial but i really like the stuff.

Originally posted by Torch

If wax is a protective coating and polishing compounds are abrasive then what does liquid polish made for clear coats do? Any and every liquid that I have used that has had the word polish in it has removed paint and made the car have that “wet” look. What else would polish do?


Torch -

I wish I can come off sounding like a materials or chemical engineer but much to my parents disappointment, I won't even try. ;)

If you go to www.zainobros.com they have a better explanation of their product (included below). All I know is that my car, down to the clear coat) looks kick arse after applying it. A number of other members also enjoy their product. Hope this brief description from their site helps.

Z-2 SHOW CAR POLISH FOR CLEAR COATED FINISHES

Our customers describe Z-2 Show Car Polish with one word. AWESOME! Lattest synthetic technology gives Z-2 Show Car Polish the "wettest-looking," deepest, slickest, clearest, richest, distortion-free and longest-lasting finish protection in the industry. These products were originally created for some of the finest custom showcars in the world to enhance and protect their already flawless paintwork. Imagine what it will do for your paint. Z-2 Show Car Polish contains state-of-the-art optical enhancers and gloss additives to show the true color and clarity of your paint. It is 99.9% optically perfect. We also added Ultra-Gard™ UV(40) our advanced technological sunscreen for the ultimate protection against fading and shrinking. A special additive to keep the paint from losing its elasticity and resilience. This restores the gloss on rubber and plastic painted parts, which have a tendency to fade and lose gloss faster than the rest of the vehicle.

Z-2 bonds with the paint pigment and will get "wetter," "deeper and richer" with multiple coats, it will also help eliminate swirl marks. Z-2 is a hydrophobic-based formula and contains no abrasives, harmful silicones, or yellowing carnauba wax. Z-2 is the easiest and quickest polish you will ever use, it will not streak, yellow, smear, film or leave a haze even on black, in any situation. Leaves no powder or white residue in cracks, is non-greasy, non-oily, anti-static, will not attract dust or dirt and can be applied to the entire vehicle in the sun or shade. Z-2 polish is a true paint protectant designed to replace traditional waxes. It will give your paint finish total environmental protection and is the only protectant you will ever need. It will offer more protection than any wax in the industry.... You will see!!! Nothing sticks to Zaino Show Car polish. It will outperform, outprotect, outshine and outlast anything on the market today. Guaranteed!

The first application of Z-2 Show Car Polish will produce a super high wet-looking, durable gloss. This is fine for the average vehicle. For the enthusiast, a second coat of Z-2 will simply amaze you in terms of wetness, slickness and optical clarity. You will really see the effect, Z-2 polish has on making ordinary paint finishes look Show Car quality. The third coat, well, simply put it's AWESOME! One eight ounce bottle of Z-2 Show Car Polish will yield approximately eight to ten coats on a mid-size car.

:D Subbymamma got it right. Go to http://properautocare.com it will link to the site she suggested they sponser the forum. Also they sell everything you could ever want to keep your car looking good.

:o Actually the forum link is [URL=http://autopia-forums.com]