Self Car Washing essentials for 6th gen?

[td3422]

I recently got a membership at an automatic Car wash (flagship) due to lack of time to wash my 6th gen SR5 myself. However, I want to make the switch to washing it myself when I have downtime. I was wondering what you guys recommend for washing your 6th gen, how often you use it, and any tips?

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[marzrunner]

https://www.zainostore.com/

 

[nubbins_]

I recently got a membership at an automatic Car wash (flagship) due to lack of time to wash my 6th gen SR5 myself. However, I want to make the switch to washing it myself when I have downtime. I was wondering what you guys recommend for washing your 6th gen, how often you use it, and any tips?

I took a look at their website. "Soft touch". Take it to a touchless wash; put a car nozzle on your power washer and get a foam cannon; wash it the old fashioned way; try a rinseless or waterless wash, whatever. Literally anything is better than that car wash place if you care about your paint.

 

[Positronic]

+5 for zaino stuff. have used these on multiple f-body cars and my last 2 STi's with good results.

 

[2222CareBearStare]

I drank the cool-aid and bought a pressure washer and foam canon (both good quality) and tried lots of high end products and honestly…I don’t like the foam canon results. I think it’s just a gimmick. Same with the air blowers.

I prefer:

Just a hose and the “two bucket method.”
Microfiber wash mits.
Miguiar’s gold class soap.
Microfiber double-sided drying towel.
Turtle wax Dash and Glass interior cleaner.
Microfiber cloths for interior wipe down.

Outside temp under 75 degrees, preferably in shade.

Rinse the whole car. Wash one side with soap. Rinse that side thoroughly and lightly rinse the other sides (keep the car constantly wet so you don’t get water spots). Then repeat on all other sides. Wheels last, unless I use a 3rd bucket. If any towels or wash mits touch the ground, use another one to finish the job.

Use light pressure to avoid scratches. Do back and forth movements along the length of the car, instead of swirls, so if you do scratch it, the scratch will be less noticeable running sideways with the car.

 

[tomter]

I drank the cool-aid and bought a pressure washer and foam canon (both good quality) and tried lots of high end products and honestly…I don’t like the foam canon results. I think it’s just a gimmick. Same with the air blowers.

I prefer:

Just a hose and the “two bucket method.”
Microfiber wash mits.
Miguiar’s gold class soap.
Microfiber double-sided drying towel.
Turtle wax Dash and Glass interior cleaner.
Microfiber cloths for interior wipe down.

Outside temp under 75 degrees, preferably in shade.

Rinse the whole car. Wash one side with soap. Rinse that side thoroughly and lightly rinse the other sides (keep the car constantly wet so you don’t get water spots). Then repeat on all other sides. Wheels last, unless I use a 3rd bucket. If any towels or wash mits touch the ground, use another one to finish the job.

Use light pressure to avoid scratches. Do back and forth movements along the length of the car, instead of swirls, so if you do scratch it, the scratch will be less noticeable running sideways with the car.

Good advice. I use Chemical Guys stuff. Great pales and water filter inserts. Their website is super helpful. Read the owners manual. Touch auto washes are not recommended. In winter find a touchless and afterwards dry door jams and tires etc with towels before you leave.

 

[brumey]

I drank the cool-aid and bought a pressure washer and foam canon (both good quality) and tried lots of high end products and honestly…I don’t like the foam canon results. I think it’s just a gimmick. Same with the air blowers.

I prefer:

Just a hose and the “two bucket method.”
Microfiber wash mits.
Miguiar’s gold class soap.
Microfiber double-sided drying towel.
Turtle wax Dash and Glass interior cleaner.
Microfiber cloths for interior wipe down.

Outside temp under 75 degrees, preferably in shade.

Rinse the whole car. Wash one side with soap. Rinse that side thoroughly and lightly rinse the other sides (keep the car constantly wet so you don’t get water spots). Then repeat on all other sides. Wheels last, unless I use a 3rd bucket. If any towels or wash mits touch the ground, use another one to finish the job.

Use light pressure to avoid scratches. Do back and forth movements along the length of the car, instead of swirls, so if you do scratch it, the scratch will be less noticeable running sideways with the car.

Great advice. I do about the same but the dealer applied Ceramic treatment has thrown me in a loop. Supposedly, you should not wax over it. You need to polish it off to go back to wax, etc.

I purchased all new “ceramic” stuff for the shampoo, glass, plastic. I wish I had refused the ceramic treatment and stuck with old school wax.

Avoid carwashes as much as possible.

 

[tomter]

Great advice. I do about the same but the dealer applied Ceramic treatment has thrown me in a loop. Supposedly, you should not wax over it. You need to polish it off to go back to wax, etc.

I purchased all new “ceramic” stuff for the shampoo, glass, plastic. I wish I had refused the ceramic treatment and stuck with old school wax.

Avoid carwashes as much as possible.

That’s a good point. There is ceramic detailer to be used between washes.

 

[thirstyross]

What you guys use on the roof? I'm not short, but I feel like some of it will be out of my reach.

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