Addicted to washing your car?

[chrisfpv]

Hey guys,

I'm 19 and i've recently purchased my first car, a 2004 Ford Facon BA XR6 in Blue Print (best colour around imo) and love it.

The shine that the Blue Print gives after it's been cleaned is beautiful, and i'm washing it about 2 - 3 times a week at one of my local car wash's.

Anyone wash there car(s) more then this?

Who's addicted to washing there car(s) (by hand or car wash) frequently?

How many times do you wash your car(s) per week, month or year?

[kenz]

I wash mine definately once a week, on the odd occasion twice a week but I usually have to restrain myself from doing this

[hendrixhc]

I used to wash my cars once a week but used to take around four hours to do each one.

Takes a lot of time when you use a tooth brush to clean your hotwire mags! Used to armoral all rubber components under the bonnet until they were glossy black. Used various brushes to clean every contour on the dash. lined up all the dials on the dash, eg the smoke on the cigarette lighter had to point up! etc etc

With two cars that would wipe out a whole day on the weekend.

Then I Got some therapy!

These days i dont spend quite as long. Good thing is the Mrs now helps.

Got to agree. The shine on the BA blue Print is great to look at.

[Fordman]

I wash mine once a week, and i love it, gets me out of the house ;)

[FreddyDUZ747]

I wash mine when its dirty.

Depends how many houses they are building in the area,lots of light brown dirt.

[Peuty]

I used to do mine twice a week when I lived in water restrictionless Goondiwindi, but now I'm in Brisbane, maybe once a fortnight.

[nobbystang]

When I was in Oz, I was doing my Black BF fortnightly at worse. The novelty does wear off, and once you get a good routine going with Quik detailer or Optimum Car Wax, you'll find you can leave it a little longer

[Valid8]

Originally Posted by hendrixhc

I used to wash my cars once a week but used to take around four hours to do each one.

Takes a lot of time when you use a tooth brush to clean your hotwire mags! Used to armoral all rubber components under the bonnet until they were glossy black. Used various brushes to clean every contour on the dash. lined up all the dials on the dash, eg the smoke on the cigarette lighter had to point up! etc etc

With two cars that would wipe out a whole day on the weekend.

Then I Got some therapy!

These days i dont spend quite as long. Good thing is the Mrs now helps.

Got to agree. The shine on the BA blue Print is great to look at.

LOL, I thought I was the only one who was straightening up the cigarette lighter smoke. :

[FORCED F6]

Always have hand-washed, anywhere between 2-4 washes a week. But once every fortnight would give it a nice clean interior & exterior and will start using wax now as summer is around the corner...

[Dave_Obsession]

Usually I'll give mine a proper wash & vaccuum once a week...this includes using a paintbrush for the wheels!!!

Around once a month I put some protectant dressing on the interior (dash, door trims etc)

Between washes, if there has been 'dirty rain' or if the car has come off second best after driving next to a big truck's diesel spray.....then I'll chuck $1 in one of the DIY washes at the servo and give it a quick hose down as well...

Soon enough I'll be getting a random orbital polisher, so will have lots more fun eliminating swirl marks and putting some wax down as well!!

[jamesson1980]

XR6AUS it's very normal and a very good thing to be taking pride in and looking after your first wheels.. particularly such a great car. (sure beats my chick magnet poo brown XE GL first car back in '98). I have a dark colour which i wash once a week although to keep it looking nice it needs to be washed non-stop really. Make sure you never get a ding in your car, and if you do, fix it asap.. cos once that happens, carefactor tends to go out the window.

[chrisfpv]

Originally Posted by dave93761

then I'll chuck $1 in one of the DIY washes at the servo and give it a quick hose down as well...

This is how I wash my car.

I usually use a high pressure soap spray for about 2mins, then go over it for another 4mins with a foaming brush and then use a high pressure rinse for 4mins - 6mins.

Comes up looking tops.

[blueoval]

im an addict for washing my car. try to do it every weekend. I find it calms me and it gives me some time to myself.

Using quality products also makes it a joy, and gives me more motivation to want to detail the car as often as possible.

[homegrown]

Im an addict for cleaning my tyres regularly. Must be nice black all the time.

[vandrsxr6]

Like the OP i also have blueprint and he's right about the way it looks when it's just been washed, and left sparkling in the sun.

I go through stages of addiction, in summer/spring I love spending a day just washing/cleaning everything.

In winter I really can't be stuffed. It always rains the day after you wash it.

[Fairlane]

I wash once a fortnight, sometimes I wash more. But my car is silhouette so its quickly wearing down my resistance.

[galaxy xr8]

Lol, you blokes have to much spare time on your hand's.

[ea90gl]

BE careful fellas! nothing wrong with washing your car regularly but theres a million and one techniques to learn in order to prevent paint damage. Used to be a detailer and once you get your paint under some high intensity halogens you will see many imperfections that regular washing with incorrect techniques causes such as swirl marks, holograms, rds etc etc. Where do I start, to minimise swirl marks (which is the most common imperfection) pre soak your car first with some sort of snow foam then high pressure rinse at no more than 45 degrees to the paint surface (direct pressure washing traps grime in the clear coat). Make sure to use the 2 bucket method, look at the soap and water after a while if you use one bucket - it becomes dirty which goes right back onto your car paint which gets rubbed around once you continue washing. Use one bucket with soap and water and the other bucket to rinse your mitt (or very good quality sponge). Don't use cheap sponges, they are the best way to create swirlmarks. Best bet is wool mittens or similar. Avoid cheap and nasty chamois, some say microfibre towels are the best way to go. These are some simple tips, I am no all out professional but have dealt with this stuff enough to know some goods points to minimise your paint imperfections. After all there is nothing worse then giving your car a nice clean only to notice there seems to be a million spider webs (swirl marks) all over your paint once its in the sun.

Edit - stay away from them brushes at the DIY car cleaners,them car washes with the huge circular brushes that slam your cr paint, be easy with the silicones to dress interior and wheels while they make everything shiny they tend to dry out plastic and rubber out over time causing fading and cracking

[galaxy xr8]

Not to mention the thickness or should I say lack of clearcoat on modern car's these day's, you could be doing more harm then good by washing your vehicle 2-3 times a week.
I don't see the point in washing that many times a week.

[ea90gl]

Originally Posted by galaxy xr8

Not to mention the thickness or should I say lack of clearcoat on modern car's these day's, you could be doing more harm then good by washing your vehicle 2-3 times a week.
I don't see the point in washing that many times a week.

Exactly, you'll notice these days if the paint is nicked on the newer cars your down to primer/plastic instantly

[kenz]

Originally Posted by blueoval

I find it calms me and it gives me some time to myself.

away from the mrs : I know what you mean

[onfire]

Once a week, without a doubt. The car is usually sitting in the elements at work, so I get alot of dust covering the girl.

[blueoval]

agree with not using diy carwash brushes. Those brushes almoost never get cleaned by the previous user, so you're effectively put dirt from the previous car onto yours and rubbing it in!!! Might as well use sand paper. :P

the high pressure hose is about the only thing there worth using and only if the car is absolutely filthy.

Correct Technique and quality products are highly recommended

[fordOwner]

After I had mine resparayed I was addicted and I was washing it every weekend. (to me the commintment was like going to the gym and I was soon thinking I cant keep this up forever) This lasted about 4 months after I noticed the rust starting to dot in places and the paint was getting too much rubbing as the fine fine swirl marks appeard even tho im using Microfibre cloths (a good polish will get it out tho)
My neighbour would come out every weekend and tell me im rubbing the paint off haha.
so it also got a bit embarressing.
Now I only wash it every 3/4 weeks say? and polish and wax it every 3 months.

Im also still addicted to tyre blackening/glossing tho - This is done weekly.

And I NEVER EVER use car wash joints - especially the brushes my god! Motor -cross riders use them on their dirt bikes, contractors use them on their machinery and truckies clean their riggs with them! imagine the dirt, mud, rocks, sand, grit and thats in the brush.
The BP style car washes make me cringe too, 2,000 plastic straps being flicked and slapped onto the paint at 10,000 RPM would make me cry.
Mcguires products and 2 hours of elbow grease with a beer are my recommended tools.

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by blueoval

agree with not using diy carwash brushes. Those brushes almoost never get cleaned by the previous user, so you're effectively put dirt from the previous car onto yours and rubbing it in!!! Might as well use sand paper. :P

the high pressure hose is about the only thing there worth using and only if the car is absolutely filthy.

Correct Technique and quality products are highly recommended

if i go to the local car wash centre, i always take my own wash, bucket & sponge. when i used to use the brush, i would spray it with the high pressure first. i never use the high pressure on the car - especially with the newer cars. i may be too cautious, but i do not want to risk the paint. my theory is that the matt black around the door frames and other areas takes a flogging with the high pressure

i find meguires soft wash works really well. the water just runs off, similar to when polished. it remains relatively easy to get road grime off as well - nothing seems to stick to the paint after washing with it. mine is covered in dust for months at a time, and with the meguires, it comes up very well - just like when it is polsihed

[Rodp]

Originally Posted by XR6AUS

This is how I wash my car.

I usually use a high pressure soap spray for about 2mins, then go over it for another 4mins with a foaming brush and then use a high pressure rinse for 4mins - 6mins.

Comes up looking tops.

Oooof.

I'd never use a high pressure washer on my paintwork, let alone the recycled water you get in those DIY car washes. To follow that up with the brush hanging off the wall....? Would be a horror movie seeing that being done to my car. :(

[V3RSAC3]

Used to wash mine every morning before school back in 2007. Now just once a week. Sometimes two.

[GTPete]

Originally Posted by Rodp

Oooof.

I'd never use a high pressure washer on my paintwork, let alone the recycled water you get in those DIY car washes. To follow that up with the brush hanging off the wall....? Would be a horror movie seeing that being done to my car. :(

Those car wash brooms are bad news. Best to go to the car wash bays after hours, use your own bucket,sponge and car wash with their water. The better car washes have clean water, Ive found some outlets have brown water that absoultely stinks. :

[Streets]

I find washing cars boring as batshit. Unless something's happened to make them especially dirty, I'll usually just give them a quick hose down, or leave them in the rain for an hour and then dry them.

[Dave_Obsession]

Originally Posted by ea90gl

*Where do I start, to minimise swirl marks (which is the most common imperfection) pre soak your car first with some sort of snow foam then high pressure rinse at no more than 45 degrees to the paint surface (direct pressure washing traps grime in the clear coat).

**Make sure to use the 2 bucket method, look at the soap and water after a while if you use one bucket - it becomes dirty which goes right back onto your car paint which gets rubbed around once you continue washing. Use one bucket with soap and water and the other bucket to rinse your mitt (or very good quality sponge).

***Don't use cheap sponges, they are the best way to create swirlmarks. Best bet is wool mittens or similar. Avoid cheap and nasty chamois, some say microfibre towels are the best way to go.

Agree 100% with everything stated. Microfibre is definately the way to go.....for everything - wash mitts, polishing cloths, drying towels.....USE MICROFIBRE IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO SCRATCH YOUR CAR...

And a pre-soak works wonders......

Originally Posted by blueoval

im an addict for washing my car. try to do it every weekend. I find it calms me and it gives me some time to myself.

Using quality products also makes it a joy, and gives me more motivation to want to detail the car as often as possible.

I am exactly the same as you Shav.....I actually find it relaxing.....this weekend I did my AU, my girlfriend's Camry, my Dad's AU and my Mum's BA, simply because I enjoy it!!! They all came up tops as well :