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I'm not very fond of washing my car while wearing a parka and boots. I run it through the car wash in the winter to remove salt. Also, if the car is heavily caked with mud, it's a lot easier to do a proper wash at home after a run through the car wash.
*grimaces* using a car wash in the winter is one of the worst things you can do, man. Think regurgitated salt and grit blasting your car.
Here are my tips. (this is just for your everyday commuter car, not a classic sports car or anything)
1. Screw paste waxes, find a good synthetic sealant. The only reason for paste is if you for some reason enjoy its certain shine or if you enjoy the extra suffering/elbow grease involved.
2. Do 2-3 full scale wash and details between seasons. Wash, clay bar, polish, sealant etc. Do minor hose-downs in between as you need them. Mud,bugs, grim, etc.
3. Garage car if you can. If parking outside, aim for shade, but be wary of sap and bird droppings. Invest in a good car cover.
4. If you garage your car in an area where they use salt in the winter, don't heat your garage. Esp, with older cars.
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In all the years, none of my vehicles have been to a car wash.
People that use a car wash are either very lazy, are much to busy , or just hate doing anything themselves when it come to vehicle upkeep.
Bob.
You're being overly harsh as well as very wrong. Millions of car owners CAN'T wash their cars due to a wide variety of medical or financial reasons.
It's never good to paint other people with such a wide negative brush since you can not know their life considerations.
Wax can be a paste or a liquid. Polish is about nourishment and wax is about protection.
Polish is used for light oxidation. Compound is used for more sever damage. Both to a certain degree lift paint and move it around, but compound is more aggressive.
Clay is important for any car that exists outside. Pollution, dirt, and grit always work their way into the paint and clay is the best way to remove them (that, and soap). You can feel the difference in the paint - drag your fingernails lightly over the paint. Healthy paint is smooth as glass, paint that needs clay will be evident because your fingernails will catch on the minute bits of dirt.
All good advice here... except if you are going use your fingernails to inspect the paint... be very gentle or you risk scratching. Rather, I would recommend using a thin plastic bag to increase sensitivity. Those you find at you supermarket for vegies and fruit.
This is what i do...
Once a week
Wash and use spray wax... the wipe on and wipe off type.
Once a month
Wash and wax... two layers of wax
Usually one layer of sealant and one layer of carnauba
Twice a year
Wash
Clay
Polish... may do some paint correction depending on paint condition
Wax... again one layer of sealant and one layer of carnauba
My regiment might be more than needed but it will make your car look better than the new cars at the dealer lot.
One more thing... use quality applicators.
Good wash mitts and microfiber towels and most importantly... work clean.
Meaning if you drop you towel... dont use it again. Rinse your wash mitt often and its these applicators that leads to alot of swirls and scratches. Imagine you drop your towel and some sand gets on it and you rub that towel all over you car.... guess what you just scratched up you car.
I think it all depends on how one would want to keep your car paint maintained.
If you want to maintain that new car finish, automated car washes is one of the worst things you can do. Think how many cars go thru that car wash and it's the same dirty applicators, brushes, towels and etc that is used to clean and dry your car. This leads to swirl marks and small scratches. Upon close examination, you will find them on your car with the proper lighting and over time, these swirls and scratches will accumulate and end up dulling out your paint finish because these scratches end up distorting the way light should reflect which is why the finish will look dull and lose reflectiveness.
Some ppl care and some don't. My boss never washes the exterior of his BMW X5 on his own and the only time it gets washed is when the dealer will wash it for free when its in for service. By no means, I don't think he is being cheap but his logic is that the car should take care of you and not the other way around. Me on the other hand, I like my cars shinny and new looking and at the end of the day, if I do end up selling or trading it in, I am hoping it will help the resale value. How much will this help... who knows... Either way, I enjoy drive a nice shinny car.
Thanks for explaining that to me. I really never thought about it in that way. I just remember Dad telling me to, "Get the darned salt off of your car!"
One time (a long time ago) I thought that I needed new brakes. I couldn't stop and slid into an intersection. My husband took it down the road to the brake place. As it turned out, there was (maybe) two inches of hardened mud stuck to the pads and rotors. I used to off road solo midweek because everyone gave me so much grief about going out. At least I left voice mail, notes and a map of where I was going.
Still, I spent at least a week three times a year going over every inch of that car. In the end, it was totaled in an accident. So much for the paint job.
Thanks for explaining that to me. I really never thought about it in that way. I just remember Dad telling me to, "Get the darned salt off of your car!"
One time (a long time ago) I thought that I needed new brakes. I couldn't stop and slid into an intersection. My husband took it down the road to the brake place. As it turned out, there was (maybe) two inches of hardened mud stuck to the pads and rotors. I used to off road solo midweek because everyone gave me so much grief about going out. At least I left voice mail, notes and a map of where I was going.
Still, I spent at least a week three times a year going over every inch of that car. In the end, it was totaled in an accident. So much for the paint job.
You definitely do want the salt off your car but in safe way so that you do not damage the finish... that is if you care.
Safety should always #1. Should hose down your wheels or at least run through a puddle of water after off-roading in my opinion.
Most important, don't make this a science project. Wash it once a week and wax it once in a while. Really, there is nothing more to it. All these procedures and steps that come out don't accomplish much other than in the minds of those doing it. There is no magical soap or wax or paint treatments anymore than there are magical motor oils.
The common car wash solutions all come with directions and they work. Your owners manual will also explain it.
Some people can take a simple thing and make an entire career out of it, washing cars is one of them. Keep it simple, it really is. Then enjoy your new car.
Most important, don't make this a science project. Wash it once a week and wax it once in a while. Really, there is nothing more to it. All these procedures and steps that come out don't accomplish much other than in the minds of those doing it. There is no magical soap or wax or paint treatments anymore than there are magical motor oils.
The common car wash solutions all come with directions and they work. Your owners manual will also explain it.
Some people can take a simple thing and make an entire career out of it, washing cars is one of them. Keep it simple, it really is. Then enjoy your new car.
I agree except that washing once a week is a lot. I car a lot about the looks and cleanliness of my cars but once a week is generally too often. If your weather is good for long stretches than your car won't accumulate much more than dust. If your car is a dark color this can be noticeable. But as far as preserving the paint goes - weekly is pretty hard for me to keep up with.
Some of this depends on whether the car is garaged or not too.
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