Notices
Scion xB 1st-Gen Owners Lounge
First Generation 2004-2006.5 [NCP31]
View Poll Results: Where do you wash your xB?
Wash it myself by hand
74.58%
At an automatic machine car wash
15.25%
Take it to a hand wash place
6.78%
I put dishsoap on my box and wait for it to rain
3.39%
Voters: 59. You may not vote on this poll

AT THE CAR WASH!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-10-2005, 06:42 PM
  #1  
Member
10 Year Member
SL Member
Thread Starter
 
SOBAY310's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Redondo Beach, CA
Posts: 47
Default AT THE CAR WASH!

So many theories on what deteriorates your paint, what's good and bad, etc. Where do you guys get your car washed?
SOBAY310 is offline  
Old 03-10-2005, 06:57 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
Team Sushi
SL Member
Team N.V.S.
Scion Evolution
 
djct_watt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Posts: 4,322
Default

dishsoap? Not that I would do that, but how bad is that for the paint, if diluted? I hear that the Mr. Clean Auto Dry is based on dish soap.
djct_watt is offline  
Old 03-10-2005, 06:58 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Dwestxb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,155
Default

Handwashed with this.....

Dwestxb is offline  
Old 03-10-2005, 07:11 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
mikem53's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 516
Default

Originally Posted by djct_watt
dishsoap? Not that I would do that, but how bad is that for the paint, if diluted? I hear that the Mr. Clean Auto Dry is based on dish soap.
Dishwashing soap will strip any wax and is good to use before you apply the wax for the first time or want to remove a coat of wax.

High pressure carwashs are hard on the paint. Most of these places RECYCLE the water. So who knows what checmicals are in there and how abrasive the water might be from lack of filtering.

Best to do it by hand if possible using low pressure and clean sponges and dry cloths.

The people who dry your car at the carwash usually use dirty towels to dry the car. I have seen them wipe dirty wheels and then use the same rag to do the interior....

If you want it done right, do it yourself
mikem53 is offline  
Old 03-10-2005, 07:23 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
THE_DON's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 2,170
Default

Originally Posted by mikem53
Best to do it by hand if possible using low pressure and clean sponges and dry cloths.

The people who dry your car at the carwash usually use dirty towels to dry the car. I have seen them wipe dirty wheels and then use the same rag to do the interior....

If you want it done right, do it yourself
WORD! I would never trust my ride in someone elses hands!

Hand wash and wax for me all day. The products don't really matter as much as the time and energy you put into it. I've spent litterallly one WHOLE day washing/waxing/polishing my car. But in the end it looked better than it did on the showroom floor!

-THE DON
THE_DON is offline  
Old 03-10-2005, 07:29 PM
  #6  
Senior Member

10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joehnn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Rolling Meadows, IL
Posts: 882
Default

Originally Posted by Dwestxb
Handwashed with this.....

I use a different brand, but same idea, soap made for cars.

In the winter I just spray off the road salt when it gets over freezing.
Joehnn is offline  
Old 03-10-2005, 07:45 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
Scikotics
SL Member
 
FrankenScion's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: www.scikotics.com
Posts: 7,374
Default

Handwash definately.
My pinstriper said that most carwash places (drive-thru and manual) got tired of people _____ing about thier cars not getting clean so they switched to very acidic soaps. They will literally eat your clear coat over time.
FrankenScion is offline  
Old 03-10-2005, 08:12 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
KevinxB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Maryland
Posts: 1,356
Default

The manual wash I go to claims to have clearcoat safe stuff. When its nice enough out, I do prefer to wash my car myself.
KevinxB is offline  
Old 03-10-2005, 08:20 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member

SL Member
Scion Evolution
 
andersg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Cornelius, OR
Posts: 723
Default

I have a pressure washer for blowing the day to day dirt off. Then when I have time I hand wash.
andersg is offline  
Old 03-10-2005, 08:22 PM
  #10  
Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Dreamer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Lancaster, PA
Posts: 50
Default

I work a a LARGE car wash. They do not recycle the water and we also do not use the same towels. We use different towels on windows and interior and body. We also wipe down door jams down with a different towel.

Here is the site. http://www.cloistercarwash.com/
Dreamer is offline  
Old 03-10-2005, 08:53 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
Balliztik
SL Member
 
bB626's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Rosemead, SoCal
Posts: 2,196
Default

i wash it by hand. my brother works in an Audi dealership and he brought home some of the soap that they use. he help me wash the car and he always get rash of using that only kind of soap because its powerful.
bB626 is offline  
Old 03-10-2005, 09:04 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
UnFocused's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 1,183
Default

Originally Posted by mikem53
Originally Posted by djct_watt
dishsoap? Not that I would do that, but how bad is that for the paint, if diluted? I hear that the Mr. Clean Auto Dry is based on dish soap.

If you want it done right, do it yourself
what he said...
UnFocused is offline  
Old 03-10-2005, 09:10 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member

Scikotics
SL Member
Team N.V.S.
Scion Evolution
 
crayonBOX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: The Godfather
Posts: 1,164
Default

i wash it by hand, but OMG im never using a wash brush again/ yesternite i saw the UGLIEST fine scratches on the sides... whats the best way to remove fine scratches..? claying?

~tesh
crayonBOX is offline  
Old 03-10-2005, 09:10 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
mikem53's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 516
Default

Originally Posted by Dreamer
I work a a LARGE car wash. They do not recycle the water and we also do not use the same towels. We use different towels on windows and interior and body. We also wipe down door jams down with a different towel.

Here is the site. http://www.cloistercarwash.com/
We have a large car wash chain here called autobell. It is a full service carwash and handles LOTS of cars all the time.
There is a sign in the place that says they recycle 80% of the water used to wash the cars. I would think that would be typical in todays society/economy. I have also seen first hand at how they use rags to wipe the direst parts of the car and then use them on the interior or other painted surfaces...
scary stuff for those who care about their cars finish
mikem53 is offline  
Old 03-10-2005, 09:14 PM
  #15  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
Team ScioNRG
 
fusionscion's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Cattahochie, CT
Posts: 1,118
Default

i found this stuff, from stuf.... works awsome.......thanks Dean .. but seriously no soap spots, and really eats through the diry and built up grim......i use their clay bar and quick spray after a wash once and a while and the wax is awsome..............a set up i could never go without............

http://www.stufproducts.com/
^^^^ check um out ^^^
fusionscion is offline  
Old 03-10-2005, 09:44 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member

SL Member
Scion Evolution
 
TheScionicMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: In the Hot Tub
Posts: 5,736
Default

I only hand wash, but during the colder weather/dark early I take my bucket to the carwash. I think most places that recycle water do filter it, it's not just pumped back up. But I'm sure some places are different or shady...

Please don't ever use a brush to clean paint. Get a synthetic washmitt and only use it on the paint. Use a towel or other rag on your wheels.

Keep it waxed and claybar it every few months.

Claybar won't help with scratches. I like Meguiars stuff. I'd suggest trying the cleaner wax if the scratches are really fine, maybe the scratch-x stuff if they are worse...
TheScionicMan is offline  
Old 03-10-2005, 09:59 PM
  #17  
Member
10 Year Member
SL Member
Thread Starter
 
SOBAY310's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Redondo Beach, CA
Posts: 47
Default

What kind of wax do you guys reccomend? I see people wax their veh's in the sun all the time but always read how it's bad for the paint.
SOBAY310 is offline  
Old 03-10-2005, 10:04 PM
  #18  
Banned
SL Member
 
OakToddler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Bergen County
Posts: 984
Default

OakToddler is offline  
Old 03-10-2005, 10:16 PM
  #19  
Member
10 Year Member
SL Member
Thread Starter
 
SOBAY310's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Redondo Beach, CA
Posts: 47
Default

Originally Posted by OakToddler
You probably won't believe this but I had a friend and he waxed in the sun and the wax ignited and burned off the car.
He hosed it down quick.
SOBAY310 is offline  
Old 03-10-2005, 10:22 PM
  #20  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Lonely_Raven's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Wheaton, IL
Posts: 2,030
Default

This thread makes me cringe.
Lonely_Raven is offline  


Quick Reply: AT THE CAR WASH!



All times are GMT. The time now is 10:28 PM.