Myth or truth ? Hand car washes and scratches

[conaero]

Any contact with the surface will damage it. Don’t let random car wash monkeys near it. There will be grit in everything.

You can reduce it with this method

Jetwash debris

snow foam (optional)

wash mit not a sponge, loads of soap

2 bucket method

lubricant. By this it’s all about minimising the friction. Any car shampoo, fairy liquid, wash wax is only there to lubricate. It does nothing to protect the paint. I snow foam then use a warm water only wash it to clean it down. The snow foam is an excellent lubricant.

Here’s the tip…if you don’t have a snow foam kit, you can still buy the snow foam (£15 for 5L Halfords Turtlewax use half a litre per bucket) and use it as the car shampoo, it’s super slippy and thus better for not damaging the paint.

It’s not the best one but good enough

FYI, I thought I’d try the other way and put car shampoo in the snow foam lance and it did foam up. It’s all about density and all waxes and foams are essentially the same I feel, just one is more concentrated than the other

 

[c4sman]

No one other than I gets to touch my GT, 911 or M3. Had the 911 8 years without going near a car wash and even when any of the cars are with an MD they are instructed not to do their courtesy wash.

agree with the wash techniques mentioned earlier but I have a slightly different order. For a really dirty car (rare for my cars) I’d snowfoam the dry car before power washing off (seems to be better at removing more dirt before a contact wash). Then wash (2 bucket for paint plus a 3rd and separate mitt for wheels) with a microfibre mitt with quality shampoo followed by a gentle micro fibre dry.

For a car less dirty and for speed when I don’t want to haul out the power washer, I use a garden sprayer filled with coating friendly gtechniq citrus wash (10:1 dilution) to breakdown the dirt, hose off with clean water then 3 bucket wash as above. All achievable in 40 mins start to finish.

Main aim of both of the above is to remove as much dirt and grit from the paintwork before you physically touch it and use as few harsh chemicals as possible to do so.

 

[RoaryRati]

My detailer definitely says three buckets - the third for the wheels as he likes to keep his 'clean' and 'rinse' buckets seriously clean - and a wash guard thing in each.

 

[c4sman]

My detailer definitely says three buckets - the third for the wheels as he likes to keep his 'clean' and 'rinse' buckets seriously clean - and a wash guard thing in each.

Absolutely, grit guards in clean and rinse buckets, but admit I don’t bother with one in the wheel bucket (need to have a word with myself )

 

[Scaf]

Funny thing about grit guards ……… I went to a demo at autoglym and they demonstrated that as soon as you put the mitt back into the bucket the “sloshing” effect forces the grit from under the guard back into water.

 

[c4sman]

Funny thing about grit guards ……… I went to a demo at autoglym and they demonstrated that as soon as you put the mitt back into the bucket the “sloshing” effect forces the grit from under the guard back into water.

Can’t argue with that but makes me feel better It might help with the heavier grit a bit maybe and either way now I don’t feel bad about not having one I’m my wheel bucket!

 

[Sam McGoo]

I had surgery the end of last year and was unable to wash my car for a few months. Instead I begrudgingly went to my local, highly recommended hand car wash a few times over that period. I have used them for years for my wife's grey audi (which has hard paint and hides swirls well)
Below is the result on my maserati bonnet.



Needless to say, the DA polisher got a bit of use once I was fit enough.

 

[RoaryRati]

Because of my back issues I 'transport' my buckets in a wheelbarrow. I also squeeze the water from the cloth onto the drive rather than in to the bucket to reduce the dirt accumulation.

 

[Ianed0]

carwashes are the work of the devil mine will never see one.

 

[Ryandoc]

Haven’t read all this but that TFR stuff will turn any chromed parts into a haze of patterns, metal chrome or plastic.

Think you just need to take it on a case by case basis and what they actually do

 

[GeoffCapes]

Haven’t read all this but that TFR stuff will turn any chromed parts into a haze of patterns, metal chrome or plastic.

Think you just need to take it on a case by case basis and what they actually do

I've got that on my Merc. Any idea how to get the chrome haze back to shiny? or is it a case of getting the polisher out? (that's still in the box).

 

[Ryandoc]

I've got that on my Merc. Any idea how to get the chrome haze back to shiny? or is it a case of getting the polisher out? (that's still in the box).

So my experience of it is polish best you can but it can take a long time for it to fade, it al all completely.
I got my GT washed one time by someone who came to your home thinking they wouldn’t use TFR but they did.
Window trims were a state, this was years ago. They eventually faded and are good again. For me I think a combination of it only happening once and long term good washing did it.

Im not aware of any instant fixes but that’s not to say a Google search wouldn’t throw something up. Annoying isn’t it

 

[GeoffCapes]

So my experience of it is polish best you can but it can take a long time for it to fade, it al all completely.
I got my GT washed one time by someone who came to your home thinking they wouldn’t use TFR but they did.
Window trims were a state, this was years ago. They eventually faded and are good again. For me I think a combination of it only happening once and long term good washing did it.

Im not aware of any instant fixes but that’s not to say a Google search wouldn’t throw something up. Annoying isn’t it

When I get some time I might get the polisher out and see what I can do. Alternatively I might just get my detailer mate to detail it. And save me the trouble....

 

[Ryandoc]

When I get some time I might get the polisher out and see what I can do. Alternatively I might just get my detailer mate to detail it. And save me the trouble....

I’ve just had a Google out of pure curiosity. Product called Mothers chrome polish seems popular. Massive caveat, I’ve never used it and if it’s chromed plastic that might be a different story. Possibly if plastic then a very light effort to see if it helps?

I repeat caveat, that’s 5 minutes internet research lol

 

[MrMickS]

I used to take the Ghibli to the local hand wash place. Destroyed the lacquer on the alloy wheels and had to have them recoated. Since then I've outfitted myself with the requisite gear and do it myself on all three cars. The only exception to this is a quick jet wash, no brushing, when touring.

Whilst we were up in Inverness a month ago, about to start the NC500, I was queuing for the jet wash and a chap in Cayenne came across and offered to follow him to a good local hand wash.

 

[safrane]

I am frequently 'mocked' by my neighbour for spending at least 5 hours each week cleaning the 4 cars we have. His general mock is "are you going to a concourse event again?"

Its not that I really enjoy it, but given the nearest 'hand job' is near 1/2 an hour away, and there is often a 15/30 min queue; doing it myself is still quicker overall than driving there and back four times.

 

[mowlas]

… but given the nearest 'hand job' is near 1/2 an hour away, and there is often a 15/30 min queue; doing it myself is still quicker overall than driving there and back four times.

30 min queue… that’s got be some hand job!

 

[Felonious Crud]

Rather than use multiple buckets, I hose down the wash mitt thoroughly between cleaning each panel. Seems to work well enough.

 

[CatmanV2]

I am frequently 'mocked' by my neighbour for spending at least 5 hours each week cleaning the 4 cars we have. His general mock is "are you going to a concourse event again?"

Its not that I really enjoy it, but given the nearest 'hand job' is near 1/2 an hour away, and there is often a 15/30 min queue; doing it myself is still quicker overall than driving there and back four times.

If you don't really enjoy it have you considered having someone come to you? We have a company that will do anything from throw a bucket over it to full valet, detail and ceramic. For a 'normal' wash they charge within a smidge of what our local place does, and they do it right. Many buckets, 0ppm water etc etc

C

 

[safrane]

Yes I have and when I'm stuck for time I do have a guy who does it a quick once over - but its £130.00 a time and doing that every week starts to hurt.