Best prewash method for prewashing a car smoothered in brick dust?

[John Laidlaw]

Not far off what i would do John. This is what I would do in this instance from how the car is described. May change once i saw it as can never really tell until you physically see the car.

Pressure washer rinse.
Snowfoam (with Traffic Film Remover and All Purpose Cleaner added) and leave to dwell for 20mins assuming not in direct sunlight
PW Rinse again
Spray the car with Iron-X whilst still wet and let dwell for 5 mins
PW Rinse
Iron-X again whilst still wet to see how last application did. Dwell no longer than 5 mins
PW Rinse
Snowfoam (only) again and leave to dwell for 5-10 mins to ensure no Iron-X remains.
Wash using a lambs wool mitt
PW Rinse, dry off and wipe the whole car down with IPA (isopropyl alcohol not the beer! )

If that didn’t remove it then next step would be to clay the car. But that would introduce micromarring so as wouldn’t be machine polishing would try and avoid.

Once happy then reapply protection of choice. AG SRP would useful if you clay the car as it is full of fillers so would hide the micromarring.

Regards the power level of the pressure washer. When rinsing the car I always use full power. I never get closer than a couple of feet to the car so wouldn't make any differnce. Anything loose/lifted will be caught up in the water until it gets outside the spray area. After that it doesn't matter what setting you're using as it's going to run along/down the paintwork anyway.

Something i forgot to mention Peter is rinse from the top down. Only because anything that is falling down the paintwork is falling along the other crud on there so will negate any minimal damage it could potentially cause. It also helps you see what has/hasn't been done.

That is certainly the more comprehensive clean if the dust has etched in, I was erring that day old dust shouldn’t be too bad once it’s been softened by the snow...
Like your approach much better, hadn’t thought of using iron x.... still so much to learn( and get obsessed with )

 

[John Laidlaw]

It's horses for courses really. Some last better than others as have better chemical resistance. But unless you're using uber harsh shampoo then they should last.

The Gyeon bathe and bathe + are very gentle but effective , bit like me really

 

[C350Carl]

That is certainly the more comprehensive clean if the dust has etched in, I was erring that day old dust shouldn’t be too bad once it’s been softened by the snow...
Like your approach much better, hadn’t thought of using iron x.... still so much to learn( and get obsessed with )

Iron-X is just something I used to use as at the time it was one of the few effective (as in worked) industrial fallout removers. There are probably more out there now. I've not looked since leaving blighty. I should really open a detailing business up out here. I'd have a never ending supply of cars as they all wash the sand off them daily and there's plenty of rich folk here (talking more money than sense rich folk!) who would pay for it!!

 

[John Laidlaw]

I've had my car a good few years now and not had this problem even once, do you live near a brick manufacturing plant
If my car had brick dust that got wet and dried onto the car I think I'd be asking on the forum for advice too.
Hopefully the fact the paint had some protection will be a big help in getting it off without leaving swirls.

Oh and sponge???? Not even with regular car washing, ever!

My factory is near a brick plant, and also I might have mentioned seagulls in the passing...
These are some of the reasons I invested in ceramic, I can literally hose the car off between proper cleans with no damage
Sponges ? Nooooooo! Only use them to apply tyre dressing

 

[C350Carl]

Sponges are great for doing the sills under the car as they get cr@p baked onto them that washmitts don't always remove. But that and applying tyre dressing the only places I use a sponge.

A good trick I do for tyres, if you have one, is use a heat gun to warm the tyre up. Not to the point you start to make the tyre melt or the silica content to weep out! Obviously care must be taken. But a quick waft or two over as you apply tyre dressing to a section really helps.

Also try not to drive the car until at least the next day. Then before you do take an old cloth and wipe over each tyre. Really helps stop any excess slinging off onto the paintwork.

 

[Submariner1]

I've had my car a good few years now and not had this problem even once, do you live near a brick manufacturing plant
If my car had brick dust that got wet and dried onto the car I think I'd be asking on the forum for advice too.
Hopefully the fact the paint had some protection will be a big help in getting it off without leaving swirls.

Oh and sponge???? Not even with regular car washing, ever!

Probably more worried by the dust created by the diamond cutters ... when I cut some for the Sandstone Patio they ate through those cutter discs jolly quickly.

My sisters friend let a worktop company do the final cut in granite for the hob, and they didnt use dust control.
But said dont worry we will clean up.
Within the year ..
The fan on the built in fridge and freezer and oven had gone and the motor on the extractor fan was screaming like a banshee ...
Bosch came out under warranty and refused the lot! Known failure caused by granite and diamond cutters dust , eats bearings!
Showed her pics of the black soot like stuff pulled into the white plastic encased bearings ... “exceedingly abrasive powder”.

 

[JBell]

Actually for what they are not expensive at all Carl- Polished Bliss where I get my Gyeon stuff from charge £18 for 1!!

£10

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meguiars-A...=UTF8&qid=1529517061&sr=8-9&keywords=meguires

 

[JBell]

applying tyre dressing the only places I use a sponge.

I use one of these

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meguiars-X...29517441&sr=8-1&keywords=meguires+tyre+sponge

with this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meguiars-G..._rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=9WZ8HV9TJTCKYSQGQ07J

Just brilliant

 

[JBell]

Iron-X is just something I used to use as at the time it was one of the few effective (as in worked) industrial fallout removers. There are probably more out there now.

Dragons Blood is the popular one

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pro-Kleen-...heel+cleaner&refinements=p_72:419153031&psc=1

 

[Jimbo1959]

Just hose it off...so much drama for an everyday problem.

AARRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!

Are you serious??????

Or, do you just not care about the paintwork?

Nah, you must be extracting the urine!

The dust and diamond cutter residue is baked on the car, you'd be as well washing it with a brillo pad.

 

[Capra]

Dragons Blood is the popular one

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pro-Kleen-Dragons-Extreme-Contamination-Concentrated/dp/B07DFNXQ9M/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1529517791&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=alloy+wheel+cleaner&refinements=p_72:419153031&psc=1

The photos usually show just wheels, didn't realise it could be used for paintwork.

 

[Capra]

£10

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meguiars-A...=UTF8&qid=1529517061&sr=8-9&keywords=meguires

This is the one I have, works well. Not sure how long it will last.

 

[om613]

I'd have left it and lacquered it, 2 coats wet on wet, built up a third etc.

= A one off 'designo Plus' ceramic Marleybeam finish.

 

[JBell]

This is the one I have, works well. Not sure how long it will last.

Mine is 3 years old and shows no signs of wear

 

[Naraic]

I've had my car a good few years now and not had this problem even once, do you live near a brick manufacturing plant
If my car had brick dust that got wet and dried onto the car I think I'd be asking on the forum for advice too.
Hopefully the fact the paint had some protection will be a big help in getting it off without leaving swirls.

Oh and sponge???? Not even with regular car washing, ever!

...who mentioned a sponge?

Using a hose would be gentler than a power wash.

 

[Flyinspanner]

Sponge appears in post #7 ...and some subsequent posts

 

[Naraic]

Sponge appears in post #7 ...and some subsequent posts

Yeh but, no but...

 

[John Laidlaw]

Yeh but, no but...

 

[AnthonyUK]

Has anyone asked what condition the paintwork was like before? Has it been recently polished and waxed?
If so I'm guessing it would hose the majority off pretty easily as I find nothing sticks after a waxing with B+H doublespeed.

Then I'd be following the advice from the experts for washing after that.

 

[John Laidlaw]

Has anyone asked what condition the paintwork was like before? Has it been recently polished and waxed?
If so I'm guessing it would hose the majority off pretty easily as I find nothing sticks after a waxing with B+H doublespeed.

Then I'd be following the advice from the experts for washing after that.

He did mention the builder “had seen it polished before” so my assumption was in reasonable good condition- the OP is quite fastidious albeit did slip up with mentioning a sponge (who said that?)