Washing a car

220

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Whitch side of car should you wash first. The nearside always gets the most grime .Are carwashes as bad as people make out.
 

jberks

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On the first question - sides are not critical but always be sure to wash the opposing wheelnuts in order. Also I find it's helpful to orgaise the garage in accordance with Feng Shui principles as the clearer flowing chi helps to achieve a better shine, especially on the wiper rubber.

On the second question - yes - scratches your car to buggery.
 

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jbecks, that's amazing! I have rearranged my garage to allow the chi to flow as you suggested and found my car is now 20% cleaner without even washing it. ( Never the park the car in it but it did rain heavily last night) - spooky or what?.

Wouldn't go near a mechanical car wash.
 

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Taking the p*ss

Hi 220

Either you or Ade or jberks is taking the p*ss.

You will find another thread where it's discussed whether it's better to wash a car from the top down or from the bottom up. Now it's one side, then the other.

Is there any member out there that washes forward from the boot/hatch or from the bonnet backwards?

REGARDS Phil

PS - I first clean my car inside, then outside.
 

DavidBoot

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I know of a person that uses 3 buckets when washing his car (and three sponges). Once for the bottom of the sills, one for the first wash of the rest of the car and the other for the rinsing - all a bit pedantic, I know, but he says that the grime from the bottom then doesn't scratch the rest of his car.

I always work front to back on my CLK as the rear of the car always seems to kick up a lot of road dirt and it seems to get attracted to the back, so I do this last.

I used to have a black volvo and I put it through the carwash one sunday, being idle and it took me ages to get all the swirl marks out of the paintwork, and in the end some wouldn't shift - it seems that that the darker the car the worse it seems to look. Wouldn't go to one now though - I learned the hard way.
 
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pascal

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220

I wet the whole car first, and remove any heavy dirt near wheels and under the arches with the hose.
Then I wash the whole car except the lower bottom part of panels (less chance of scratching) with a sponge.
Then I rinse off all I have washed.
Then I wash the bottom part, followed by the wheels, and rinse.
This ensures the dirtier parts grime has softered, and washes off easier.
In the summer I usually mist spray it in between, preventing the part I am washing, dryng out before rinse.

I used to use Simonez, but find Turtlewax Zipwax or Extreme, gives a longer lasting shine, and is easier to dry with a chamois.

Pascal
 

sooper coop

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Eastern Europeans

When you see a part of a windscreen wiper whirling round rough side first you'll discover why BMW's go to car washes and Mercs dont.

Which time it will be too late to stop and your cars body will be exfoliated by 3month old grime and scratched to ****.

Wash it top down first , better still find an Eastern European wash, they do a great job.

;-)
 
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jberks

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Yes I was taking the P..s - as I though 220 was.

Top-down or bottom-up is irrelevant provided you are only washing with clean water. It's no use cleaning the car with mucky water. Which is why I don't use a bucket, I use a brush on a hosepipe. Clearly if you are having to use a bucket, wash the cleanest first, though I would still go top down as the roof is always cleaner than the sills.

I wash the wheels first (as it takes an age to get them clean and the car would dry streaky by the time I finished), then top down as I don't want mucky water from the top, streaming down over any already cleaned paintwork. Front-back etc doesn't matter, just roof, windows, then bonnet, down the wings and work round the car. Finally I leather it off.

By the way, I found wonder wheels great for removing grease, dust from the wheels but as it's acid, over time, its starting to dull the finish of the alloys. Any other suggestions.
 
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pascal

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Gravity guys, Gravity

If one washes the bottom first, the dirty water from the top will flow over the the already clean bottom.

Does one wash ones hair first in a shower or ones feet.

I rest my case

Pascal
 

pascal

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Headstand

Good one JB :) :)

I'll try doing a handstand while showering later.:oops:

No. Seriously. Do you understand what I mean?

Clean water all the time is essential though.
 

300e

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My daughter tried to help last week and took the car to a auto car wash the hood ornament got twisted and the antenna boot is gone.I told her thanks but I will wash it my self next time.
 

pascal

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Correct 300e,

Joe....... No comment also:)
Pascal
 

SLinKyjoe

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had my hair cut not more than 50mins ago. he said you have the blade dont you as he wisked the machine around. no i said, i have a 1. opss wasa the reply and hey-presto no more hair.

am officially a baldy.

cold out aint it? will get mine out later!


wash car! water it first to loosen, start at the top and work down. keep clean water and chamios off. you can add car shampoo to clean water if you like but i find the absulte cheapest from supermarket to be the best as it dont streak when the windscreen wipers go in the rain whereas the wax added ones do.

if you have a cabriolet make sure the roof is up before you start.

Wax polish your alloys and the brake dust comes off with normal washing. saves using acid stuff that eats the laquer.
 

pascal

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Nice one Joe.

You can always buy a Green, white and gold rugby cap.

I washed mine earlier.
Wow, don't the darker colours look great when their clean.
As for showing up the road grime, thats a different matter.

Ps: Try Turtlewax Zip or Extreme.

Pascal
 

davidsl500

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pascal said:
Nice one Joe.

You can always buy a Green, white and gold rugby cap.

I washed mine earlier.
Wow, don't the darker colours look great when their clean.
As for showing up the road grime, thats a different matter.

Ps: Try Turtlewax Zip or Extreme.

Pascal

Just in case you are confused with all that cold air rushing to your brain SLinKy - the cap is for your head and the turtlewax is for the car...
 

SLinKyjoe

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davidsl500 said:
Just in case you are confused with all that cold air rushing to your brain SLinKy - the cap is for your head and the turtlewax is for the car...

bummer. anyone got any soap?
 


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