Sorry if this has been brought up before - I haven't seen anything posted recently. OK who here goes to car washes? I am really scared of getting the paint messed up, so today I took my car to a coin opereated carwash and just rinsed it off without using the soap brush. That didn't take off all of the road grime from the snowy salted roads, tho. The closest touchless car wash is like 40 minutes away. So I am thinking about going to a "soft cloth" car wash but I don't want to get my car scratched up!!

So my question.. what's the best way to wash your car? Are "soft cloth" car washes bad for the paint?? What about "touchless" car washes? Are they better?

I hate both of them. Here's what I do when its too dark to wash at home:

Get a bucket, some soap and a nice lambswool wash mitt. Take it with you to the self-serve. put the minumum amount of $$ in to give it a good squirting and shove the tip down into the mitt and get some water into the bucket and then foam it up in the bucket. Spray the car until time runs out. Take the mitt and bucket and wash the car down and then drop more $$ into the machine and rinse it off. Well, that's the abridged version but you get the idea...

I went to Tahoe yesterday, and my car was so dirty from the trip, so I took it to Shell for a quick car wash, but for some reason, it didn't wash the back of the car at all! I dunno if it's cus the xA is a hatchback, but there's still all the dirt from the road on the back. Sucks cus my car is clean all round except the back. Looks weird.

I'm gonna go to a self-wash car wash place this weekend to clean the car off again.

I have to wash the Box every day, where I live near the ocean, or the salt will eat my paint alive. I found a car wash I trust, and use every day.

It's one that pulls the car through. I took a long time to find this place. They use clean towels to dry it, and are very careful with the car.

It's like an insurance policy to me, the daily cost. A little now, instead of a lot later for a paint job.

Wow... those numbers must add up fast though. I can do a car wash every week, but damn, every day... there goes my food stamps

Just bring a wash bucket with you!

put a couple of bucks in - rinse real good with soap. fill you bucket up with the soap.

then when your time runs out- quickly hand was the car (you will get really good at being fast)

then put a couple of buck in again and rinse with the wax cycle......

Pull out of the bay, and dry!

did my baby today- cost me $4.50

I was my cars by hand I dont let anyone touch my car-- I use to work at a detail shop for the summer--- made good money--- it was part time-- I got this stuff called Permaplateat the dealership they wanted 500$ to do itI got it for nothing really-- an I used the perma guard on my seats it like scotch gaurd-- good stuff---- best thing is to do it by yourself that is what I do take it to the car wash an spray it down really good then wash it down with a mitt--- then dry it---


sean

Sorry if this has been brought up before - I haven't seen anything posted recently. OK who here goes to car washes? I am really scared of getting the paint messed up, so today I took my car to a coin opereated carwash and just rinsed it off without using the soap brush. That didn't take off all of the road grime from the snowy salted roads, tho. The closest touchless car wash is like 40 minutes away. So I am thinking about going to a "soft cloth" car wash but I don't want to get my car scratched up!!

So my question.. what's the best way to wash your car? Are "soft cloth" car washes bad for the paint?? What about "touchless" car washes? Are they better?

Neither. No automated carwash is good for your car. High pressure hoses aren't even good for your car. I don't care how 'soft' the 'cloth' on those 3,600 RPM brushes, it's still going to put swirl marks in your car over time.

The best possible way you can wash your car would be with a garden hose and a bucket of soap. Ok, purified water coming through a garden hose, but let's be realistic here.

Anything you use to wash your car with should be washed thoroughly before it's next use.

You should wax your car at least once every 3 months. And I don't mean 'Spray Wax' or 'Wash 'n' Wax', I mean actually put wax on the car and polish it off.

You do own a garden hose, don't you? How many minutes is it from your house? :P

If you really must have someone wash your car for you, TJandBoxcarWILLY has a good point in his post. Find a true hand carwash.

Wow... those numbers must add up fast though. I can do a car wash every week, but damn, every day... there goes my food stampsYeah, it can. And there are the days it rains, and thus, no need to wash the Box. I have a friend here at the Condo, bought a new BMW around the same time I bought the Box. He has not washed the car as much as I wash the Box, and his paint is already showing signs of wear, due to the salt.

I wonder when the rust will start, on the exposed metal parts, like brakes and the like...Or does that take a long time???

For brakes, it comes off when you use the brakes. Rust usually forms right after it rains, but then it all goes away right after you start using them.

I don't know about other metal parts however. Hopefully not before your next car wash within 24 hours :)

I really hate the idea of taking it to a car wash, but the avereage temperature right now is like 20 degreees, and I do need to wash all off the salt from underneath my car...guess I'll have to break down and take my xa to a car wash.. though in general(when it warms up) I'll be washing it myself. thanks for all of the good advice, tho!