Sparky Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 Hello everyone! I did a search and came up with a few good ways to wash cars along with everyones recommended products, but no threads or details on the best way to wash a car thats been trapped in the garage jail for two years! (and I know there are lots of us that you use this advice!) So I wanted to get this post going to get the recommendations of our Hybridz paint specialists as well as the average member that has done this kind of thing once or twice before. The dust on the car is typical for a do-it-all two car garage, on one side is the car, on the other side is a welder, grinder, sanders etc...you know the drill. with that in mind you have an idea on just how many kinds of dusty particles are on the car. So what are everyones recomendations? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsommer Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 Water, water, water. If you have a pressure washer I'd give it a blast from a bit of a distance. Initial wash, a bucket filled with (I know I'm going to get flamed for this) water and Dawn dishwahing liquid, Dawn gets grease out of it's way (sm) I also like to use microfiber towles on my cars, no they don't scratch the paint. Start at the the roof, water, wash rinse, then move on to rear hatch (if hatch vents I'd duct tape over them) wash the hatch area. Just wash one panel at a time. Also dump out and start with clean water/soap every so often, other wise you're just washing with 50,000 grit sand paper suspended dirt and debris. Don't wash the wheels while washing the car wash them last and use a good brake dust remover (I prefer Eagle One) Dry the car with a terry cloth towles, you know the ones your wife has hanging in the bathroom for company (haha). Be sure to wipe down door jambs etc, I like to use a little windex and paper towlels for this due to hidden grease etc. On the Scarab with its vented hood I have to cover the engine or it get's a bath too, not pretty when you're trying to keep it nice and clean too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sumo Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 Water' date=' water, water. If you have a pressure washer I'd give it a blast from a bit of a distance. Initial wash, a bucket filled with (I know I'm going to get flamed for this) water and Dawn dishwahing liquid, Dawn gets grease out of it's way (sm) I also like to use microfiber towles on my cars, no they don't scratch the paint. Start at the the roof, water, wash rinse, then move on to rear hatch (if hatch vents I'd duct tape over them) wash the hatch area. Just wash one panel at a time. Also dump out and start with clean water/soap every so often, other wise you're just washing with 50,000 grit sand paper suspended dirt and debris. Don't wash the wheels while washing the car wash them last and use a good brake dust remover (I prefer Eagle One) Dry the car with a terry cloth towles, you know the ones your wife has hanging in the bathroom for company (haha). Be sure to wipe down door jambs etc, I like to use a little windex and paper towlels for this due to hidden grease etc. On the Scarab with its vented hood I have to cover the engine or it get's a bath too, not pretty when you're trying to keep it nice and clean too.[/quote'] Before you start what dsommer recommends take the spray attatchment off your hose and just run the water all over the car. It get's all the dust and dirt nice and wet and soaked and will lift away from the car better. Then "water, water, water,...." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted September 7, 2006 Author Share Posted September 7, 2006 good info guys, thanks for the replies Looks like the car will takes its first bath tuesday afternoon if all goes well! keep the comments coming though, just running water over the car sounds like a good start and normally I actually wash my cars using just straight from the hose running water. That should do the trick as a first step, hopefully there isnt any overspray or glue on the finish, its so caked in dust I cant tell anymore! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spork Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 Run water over it, then powerwash it with hot soapy water if possible. Once you've gone around it several times with the power washer, start from the top and rinse your mash mitt often as it will get dirty fast. Then when you're done washing it. Take a good cleaner wax to it to freshin it up some Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LS1 240Z Posted September 8, 2006 Share Posted September 8, 2006 depends on if you like your paint or not, if you dont care about paint just dust it all off and wash it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dat240zg Posted September 8, 2006 Share Posted September 8, 2006 When I actually began working on the Z it had been sitting for several years. I didn't want any of the dust and grit scratching the surface so I took my compressor and first blew the car out really good. That in itself took care of the majority of the dirt and construction particles without any scratching. Then I followed Davids way (only I use Palmolive ). Don't grind in the dirt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted September 8, 2006 Share Posted September 8, 2006 I would suggest using scantily clad ladies with lots of soap suds, big puffy mits, and lots of water spray. Take pics please. Suggested Method: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LS1 240Z Posted September 8, 2006 Share Posted September 8, 2006 only dont use chubby asian girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrFancypants Posted September 8, 2006 Share Posted September 8, 2006 Definitely rinse like crazy to get most of the dirt off before you introduce any kind of friction. on the hot assistants. Keep in mind that if you use dishwashing liquid you will strip every ounce of wax off the car at the same time. You can avoid that problem with a very slippery non-detergent soap (Griot's, Meguiar's, etc.). But it seems your car will need the full treatment anyway (wash, clay, polish, wax), so starting with dishwashing liquid won't be a problem. I didnt notice anyone pointing out the wax issue, though, so keep in mind your paint will be quite vulnerable after the wash. Take a trip over to www.griotsgarage.com. He's got a lot of great products and good explanations of how they work. - Greg - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted September 9, 2006 Share Posted September 9, 2006 only dont use chubby asian girls Easy. That's my wife, Chester. Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted September 9, 2006 Share Posted September 9, 2006 Take a trip over to www.griotsgarage.com. He's got a lot of great products and good explanations of how they work. - Greg - Yep, he has some great products--I have used a number of them and have been happy with ALL of them. I wuold love the boar's hair brush he sells for washing a car---that's the ultimate for getting off 2 years worth of dirt without harming the finish or DRAGGING a rag or sponge with all that grit across the surface of the paint. I just purchased some of Griot's micro fiber wash mits but have yet to use them. Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted September 9, 2006 Share Posted September 9, 2006 Chubby? Wow, did your science teacher have to pry you off the skeleton in high school? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatcarguy350 Posted September 9, 2006 Share Posted September 9, 2006 I clean the wheels first. If there's alot of brake dust on them, it can get all over your freshly washed car. Then I go from top to bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COZY Z COLE Posted September 9, 2006 Share Posted September 9, 2006 Chubby? Wow, did your science teacher have to pry you off the skeleton in high school? You're killing me,don't get me going... LARRY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted September 11, 2006 Author Share Posted September 11, 2006 Hey gang thanks for all the great advice and responses! I really like the idea Of using scantly clad Asian hotties but they are in short supply here in the San Antonio....No shortages of Latin cuties though I had a major laptop malfunction on thursday that caused me to waste a whole work day on diagnostics. then this saturday I went to Dallas for a Italian car fest so it looks like I will have to put off the wash for a few more days...(this wait is killing me!) O-well, it will happen enventually thanks again all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparks280zt Posted September 11, 2006 Share Posted September 11, 2006 that asian honey is thick and juicy, yum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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