doggdoc

Just need to know what kind to buy?

What are you currently using? Feel free to be verbose and specific on the rest (rag type, cost, drying material, post-wash applicants, frequency, etc) or just a simple brand will suffice.

Thanks for the tips.

SlyTLS

Personally I use Zymol Car Wash (approx $10 a bottle), a Sheep wool wash mit (approx $13) and the Absorber (approx $10) to dry it off. This wash mit is the softest I have ever had and seems to be gentle on the paint.

c fut long

I've used it for years on all my cars. This company has been around for years. Most detail shops use this product. Check out the site for details - www.meguiars.com Hope this will help you out.

doggdoc

So I went with the Meguiar's Soft Gel Wash - it looked like a new product, and I think it did a good job, especially in the suds department - tons of lather here, and you need only dilute it half as much as suggested for tons of suds. My driveway was a neighborhood embarassment of white foam. It even made my car smell good!

I need a mit, I think. Is that better than a big sponge?

Any suggestions on bug removers?

doggdoc

Well, since my post drew alota looks and few replies, I don't know why I'm telling anyone this, but here's a good site with a very helpful board, and in particular, the thread that I cross posted over there Re: car wash types?

http://autopia-carport.com/forum/sho...?threadid=1838

Darla

If you wander over to carcareonline.com, there're a plethora of products/how-to's for your perusal!!!
Good luck with your research!

MB45

---> I need a mit, I think. Is that better than a big sponge?


Dude.. 86 that sponge ASAP! A Mit is far.. far more safer on your paint than a sponge could ever be!

Xorg

And most important - DRY THE CAR. This is by far the biggest car washing mistake people make. If you leave the car to dry on its own, you'll get water marks, spots, and the car WILL NOT SHINE. You simply must dry the car with something and get all the water off it.

tgif

I use the product from Pinnacle. Those products works great. Also use California Water Blade to try your car. It is the fastest way to try it. Since it is so hot in S. Cal I need to dry the car ASAP.

Pinnacle also had a spray wax product. Spray in on and wipe it off and it leave a deep gross shine.

songoku

I take my TL to local Carwash and have them wash my TL....of course 100% HANDWASH...

SimTypeS

I agee, check out carcareonline.com. Myself, I like Meguiar's. If you get Zymol from Walmart (or anywhere), make sure it was made in Conneticut and NOT in Illinois. If so, it is fake, basically Turtle Wax.
I start off by spraying my wheels with Meguiar's Hot Rims cleaner, then get my suds ready (the Meguiar shampoo like everyone mentions, with two buckets). Then, spray car and wheels, the wash from top to bottom, keeping the car wet the whole time to keep the waterspots off, and dry it as soon as possible with an absorber. After everything is put away, I use a 100% cotton terry cloth or very old t-shirt and buff it a little, unless I am going to polish it... but that is another LONG story (Meguiar's Show Car Glaze #7, then Hi-Tech Yellow Wax #26). Don't forget to use Meguiar's Endurance High Gloss Gel for the tires.

lonny

One very good reason NOT to go to a car wash, hand or not, is the great possibility of having your car scratched by the belt buckle of the person drying the car. It happens!

SimTypeS

Good point, Lonny.
Take off your rings, pager, cell phone... wear short or sweats or something without metal on them.
If your car has a nice coat of wax on it, and it hasn't rained, just run a California Car Duster over it. Good as new...