Can someone give me some pointers on washing a new car? This car has never been washed (outside of the dealer, at least).

I have read the FAQ about car washing and also have learned that I shouldn't use the Dawn treatment on a new car, that the factory wax needs to stay on for about 6 months etc.

Can someone give me a little guidance? Thanks.

 

the factory wax and 6 months is a load of crap, as far as I know. I don't even know what "Factory Wax" is. My dealer did not wax my car at all. It came completely wax free. If your car doesn't bead at all, you need to wax that thing son!

 

I believe most dealers wash new cars using a car wash/wax liquid solution. It will give you a wax look and cause the water to bead/bubble off the car for about 2 months.

And unless your ready to wax the car do not use the dawn treatment/method. This will leave your car totally unprotected.

It's never to soon to wax your car. If you need a weekend project there is no reason to wait 6 months (no reason to wait a month for that matter).

I've owned mine for about a month now. I've washed it twice and I'm still happy with the current look so I'll wait another month or so before I wax it myself... Unless I see a reason to do it sooner (water not beading off, finish starting to look dull, etc.)

On other thing... get yourself a good orbital buffer. It will make your job easier, but also give you better results. And don't get the $40 one at Sears... I recommened the Porter Cable.

 

Unless it rains, or I have not washed my car in a month (it'll never happen) just use water and a microfiber washcloth. I'd say at least once a month wash with a mild soap...I stay away from dish soap personally.
I also wax about once or twice a month. I start with a cleaner wax and then use a good caranuba wax. Every two months or so I apply a coat of gloss between the cleaner wax and caranuba wax.
I use Klasse waxes...easy to put on and take off, without a buffer even.
I washed and waxed my car the first day I got it home...I think dealers do a shit job of detailing cars...but I like my cars extra clean.

My .02

 

assuming you're doing this at home.

When you're rinsing the car off before you dry it take of any sprayer you had on the end of the hose. Turn the water down so it trickles out slowly and use that to rinse the car. Since the waters not coming out with any pressure it will sheet off on its own. Leaving barely any water on the car. Then use the mircrofiber towel to get the rest off. Doing it that way makes the water blade pretty uneeded imo.

 

I'd worry about just using a microfiber on the car with just water. Without the lubrication from the car shampoo, it would increase the chances of scratching the paint with tiny dirt particles on the paint.

 

Rinse the car to get all loose dirt of first......

 

That's what I'm saying, with the water rinse, it sounds a lot like a QD to me, but without the QD. I know for certain using QD on a car that's just dusty can leave swirl marks. I only QD immediately after washing. I personally would not just rinse my car with plain water and go at it with a towel. I just wouldn't trust it.

Besides, I find the wheels need to be cleaned weekly, if you put any kind of miles on your car at all, which will require soap of some kind.

 

you could always dab and soak up the water instead of running the towel across the car.

 

If you're going to go to all the trouble to dry the car that slowly, why not just wash it in the first place so you know there's no dirt on the car when you dry it?

 

I don't do it that way.

I've always been talking about drying after washing the car. I would never just use water and a towel.

 

QD = ??????? what does that mean

 

Quick Detailer

 

sorry, it's a common autopia abbreviation.

 

Thanks...makes more sense to me now about what he was saying

I have never had problems washing my car with just water...keep the hose running/ spraying on the car while using a towel (microfiber wash cloth) to wash it...like if it had soap on it. Then dry the car the same as if you had washed it with soap. The car is as wet as it would be with soap, just minus the soap and chemicals in soap taking off coats of wax...or whatever makes it come off.

 

ouch I'd could never do that to my car personally.

Soap actually lifts the dirt away from the car (or whatever you're cleaning) which is why it's used. Just plain water will take some water off but it will flow over other dirt. Then you pick it up with the towel. However as you pick it up you rub it against the paint which will lead to micro marring and other more noticable scratches.

 

Hmmmm. never thought about it really...that it could mess up paint, but I'm not seeing how soap does that big a deal for washing a car, especially since you don't really use a lot of soap in a mix of soap and water...
I understand it helps if you have been driving your car for a while, a lot of road grime, maybe driving in rain on dirty streets, but for me, the car may be outside the garage twice a week, the wind blows a lot of dust out here, so I take the car back, hose it down and then wash......

 

pick up a bottle of quick detailer. It's exactlywhat you want. Spray and wipe. It's not made for a lot of dirt just dust and such like you say. It's perfect for what you're doing.

 

Yes, I also recommend the Quick Detailer for what you're doing. That said, I never quick detail a dusty car except for small spots to rub off bird bombs or something similar that can cause more lasting damage. For me dust = wash the car. Depending what products you use, destroying the wax coat can be minimized. If you use a polymer, you don't even really have to worry about washing off your wax too much. Zaino is incredibly strong. If you use their wash as well, the wash should actually make the protectant last longer, rather than shorter.

 

agreed but I figure theres people that aren't as anal as us

 

this is true, I'm trying to temper my insane-o detailing habits a bit though, spending too much time doing it all the time. Everytime I see one tiny swirl mark I start to reach for the Porter Cable....

 

the soap actually has surfaceants (sp?) and they help encapsulate dirt , keeping it from the surface a bit more than without soap . ..