Re: How do I care for my car's exterior?
 

On Feb 16, 1:02 am, "Bucky" <uw_badg...@email.com> wrote:
> On Feb 15, 2:56 pm, "JS" <pdsnick...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > taking it to the "car wash" where they have those big mop like things,
> > but no brushes, and finished by hand).
>
> Just think about how many cars that big mop-like thing has cleaned.
> All the dirt, debris, bird poop, that's in there.

Right, this is a minor albeit hard to resolve dilemma!
Do I go with the brush at the car wash, which has been used on all
that same gunk, or the mop at the car wash?
The one thing I am thinking, though, is that I do see a lot more nice
newer cars being cleaned at the car wash than at the self-service wash.

Re: How do I care for my car's exterior?
 

In article <1171580218.196560.232440@q2g2000cwa.googlegroups. com>,
"JS" <pdsnickles@yahoo.com> wrote:

> verses
> taking it to the "car wash" where they have those big mop like things,
> but no brushes, and finished by hand).
Take your own soft wash mitt and a brush for the wheels.
Use Turtle (or equivalent) wax wash soap.
Soak the car first to losen dirt, then wash lightly and hose off with a
fine spray.
Dry with a clean damp towel rubbing very lightly.
Do windows with warm water and chamois.

Don't wax clear coat, you'll scratch it.
This has worked for me for years.

Re: How do I care for my car's exterior?
 

On Sun, 18 Feb 2007 01:18:47 +0000, who wrote:

> In article <1171580218.196560.232440@q2g2000cwa.googlegroups. com>,
> "JS" <pdsnickles@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> verses
>> taking it to the "car wash" where they have those big mop like things,
>> but no brushes, and finished by hand).
> Take your own soft wash mitt and a brush for the wheels.
> Use Turtle (or equivalent) wax wash soap.
> Soak the car first to losen dirt, then wash lightly and hose off with a
> fine spray.
> Dry with a clean damp towel rubbing very lightly.
> Do windows with warm water and chamois.
>
> Don't wax clear coat, you'll scratch it.
> This has worked for me for years.

So, you decided to not read any part of his premise, and just post
irrelevant information? I am sure he thanks you for the help...

In case you were wondering, he cannot wash at home. No access to an
outdoor water supply...

And waxing clear coat is fine. AAMOF, it is recommended by Honda. Just
don't POLISH clear-coat. Car polish has abrasives. Carnauba does not.

Re: How do I care for my car's exterior?
 

On Feb 16, 7:11 pm, "JS" <pdsnick...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Do I go with the brush at the car wash, which has been used on all
> that same gunk, or the mop at the car wash?

Oh, I was thinking that if you went to the self-car wash, you would
bring your own clean sponge. I would not use anyone else's mop/sponge/
brush on my brand new car.

> The one thing I am thinking, though, is that I do see a lot more nice
> newer cars being cleaned at the car wash than at the self-service wash.

I think that is irrelevant. IMO, the reason for that is that people
with nice new cars are willing to pay more to have their car washed
and waxed (and more frequently).

Re: How do I care for my car's exterior?
 

On Feb 20, 1:07 am, "Bucky" <uw_badg...@email.com> wrote:
> On Feb 16, 7:11 pm, "JS" <pdsnick...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > Do I go with the brush at the car wash, which has been used on all
> > that same gunk, or the mop at the car wash?
>
> Oh, I was thinking that if you went to the self-car wash, you would
> bring your own clean sponge. I would not use anyone else's mop/sponge/
> brush on my brand new car.
>
> > The one thing I am thinking, though, is that I do see a lot more nice
> > newer cars being cleaned at the car wash than at the self-service wash.
>
> I think that is irrelevant. IMO, the reason for that is that people
> with nice new cars are willing to pay more to have their car washed
> and waxed (and more frequently).

I think I have solved my dilemma. I took my old car to the automatic
car wash and they just installed a brand new system. Basically it has
no brushes or mops, it's just water to rinse it, then the guys hand
wash it, then it is rinsed again, then the blower blow-dries it (more
or less) then a guy finishes drying it, washes the windows and
"details" it. It's a pretty gentle system of doing it, it seems. Maybe
not as good as me doing it myself, but the next best thing. I just
can't do it where I live. I could take a bucket to the self-service
wash and do it there, and I still might do that, but that is a lot
more hassle. I'll probably do one one time and one the next, or two
and one, something like that.

Re: How do I care for my car's exterior?
 

On Mar 8, 8:30 pm, "A. Nonimus" <pdsnick...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On Feb 20, 1:07 am, "Bucky" <uw_badg...@email.com> wrote:
>
> > On Feb 16, 7:11 pm, "JS" <pdsnick...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > > Do I go with the brush at the car wash, which has been used on all
> > > that same gunk, or the mop at the car wash?
>
> > Oh, I was thinking that if you went to the self-car wash, you would
> > bring your own clean sponge. I would not use anyone else's mop/sponge/
> > brush on my brand new car.
>
> > > The one thing I am thinking, though, is that I do see a lot more nice
> > > newer cars being cleaned at the car wash than at the self-service wash.
>
> > I think that is irrelevant. IMO, the reason for that is that people
> > with nice new cars are willing to pay more to have their car washed
> > and waxed (and more frequently).
>
> I think I have solved my dilemma. I took my old car to the automatic
> car wash and they just installed a brand new system. Basically it has
> no brushes or mops, it's just water to rinse it, then the guys hand
> wash it, then it is rinsed again, then the blower blow-dries it (more
> or less) then a guy finishes drying it, washes the windows and
> "details" it. It's a pretty gentle system of doing it, it seems. Maybe
> not as good as me doing it myself, but the next best thing. I just
> can't do it where I live. I could take a bucket to the self-service
> wash and do it there, and I still might do that, but that is a lot
> more hassle. I'll probably do one one time and one the next, or two
> and one, something like that.

Nothing beats washing your car yourself, because:

It's your baby, you care about it. As you wash and dry it, you will
find the scratches and deal with them. If you run it through and
automated system, the system will not find this stuff. And If you hire
someone to do it, they will do a lackluster job by comparison.

You're the only person will go the extra distance, getting the brake
dust out all the way to the corner of you mags, or whatever. You're
the only person who's going to unscrew and pull off the mudflaps or
pull out those plastic inner fender liners occasionally, to deal with
what's lurking behind.

See if you can work something out with someone you know, or even a
coworker associate, to get the use of a driveway and a hose once in a
while?

Re: How do I care for my car's exterior?
 

On Mar 9, 6:53 pm, "Mendel Leisk" <mendel_leisknos...@hotmail.com>
wrote:
> On Mar 8, 8:30 pm, "A. Nonimus" <pdsnick...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Feb 20, 1:07 am, "Bucky" <uw_badg...@email.com> wrote:
>
> > > On Feb 16, 7:11 pm, "JS" <pdsnick...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > > > Do I go with the brush at the car wash, which has been used on all
> > > > that same gunk, or the mop at the car wash?
>
> > > Oh, I was thinking that if you went to the self-car wash, you would
> > > bring your own clean sponge. I would not use anyone else's mop/sponge/
> > > brush on my brand new car.
>
> > > > The one thing I am thinking, though, is that I do see a lot more nice
> > > > newer cars being cleaned at the car wash than at the self-service wash.
>
> > > I think that is irrelevant. IMO, the reason for that is that people
> > > with nice new cars are willing to pay more to have their car washed
> > > and waxed (and more frequently).
>
> > I think I have solved my dilemma. I took my old car to the automatic
> > car wash and they just installed a brand new system. Basically it has
> > no brushes or mops, it's just water to rinse it, then the guys hand
> > wash it, then it is rinsed again, then the blower blow-dries it (more
> > or less) then a guy finishes drying it, washes the windows and
> > "details" it. It's a pretty gentle system of doing it, it seems. Maybe
> > not as good as me doing it myself, but the next best thing. I just
> > can't do it where I live. I could take a bucket to the self-service
> > wash and do it there, and I still might do that, but that is a lot
> > more hassle. I'll probably do one one time and one the next, or two
> > and one, something like that.
>
> Nothing beats washing your car yourself, because:
>
> It's your baby, you care about it. As you wash and dry it, you will
> find the scratches and deal with them. If you run it through and
> automated system, the system will not find this stuff. And If you hire
> someone to do it, they will do a lackluster job by comparison.
>
> You're the only person will go the extra distance, getting the brake
> dust out all the way to the corner of you mags, or whatever. You're
> the only person who's going to unscrew and pull off the mudflaps or
> pull out those plastic inner fender liners occasionally, to deal with
> what's lurking behind.
>
> See if you can work something out with someone you know, or even a
> coworker associate, to get the use of a driveway and a hose once in a
> while?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I'm sure I'll be roasted for saying this, but I've never been nor
never will be one to unscrew mudflaps or pull out those plastic inner
fender liners, etc... To me, that's a little "over the top" but that's
just me; to each his own.

I do agree with you, though, that no one will wash it or take care of
it as well as I would, and I wish I did have a place to do it myself.
I'll see what I can come up with, especially this summer, I might be
able to find a way and place to do it.

Re: How do I care for my car's exterior?
 

On Mar 9, 10:21 pm, "A. Nonimus" <pdsnick...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On Mar 9, 6:53 pm, "Mendel Leisk" <mendel_leisknos...@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Mar 8, 8:30 pm, "A. Nonimus" <pdsnick...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > > On Feb 20, 1:07 am, "Bucky" <uw_badg...@email.com> wrote:
>
> > > > On Feb 16, 7:11 pm, "JS" <pdsnick...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > > > > Do I go with the brush at the car wash, which has been used on all
> > > > > that same gunk, or the mop at the car wash?
>
> > > > Oh, I was thinking that if you went to the self-car wash, you would
> > > > bring your own clean sponge. I would not use anyone else's mop/sponge/
> > > > brush on my brand new car.
>
> > > > > The one thing I am thinking, though, is that I do see a lot more nice
> > > > > newer cars being cleaned at the car wash than at the self-service wash.
>
> > > > I think that is irrelevant. IMO, the reason for that is that people
> > > > with nice new cars are willing to pay more to have their car washed
> > > > and waxed (and more frequently).
>
> > > I think I have solved my dilemma. I took my old car to the automatic
> > > car wash and they just installed a brand new system. Basically it has
> > > no brushes or mops, it's just water to rinse it, then the guys hand
> > > wash it, then it is rinsed again, then the blower blow-dries it (more
> > > or less) then a guy finishes drying it, washes the windows and
> > > "details" it. It's a pretty gentle system of doing it, it seems. Maybe
> > > not as good as me doing it myself, but the next best thing. I just
> > > can't do it where I live. I could take a bucket to the self-service
> > > wash and do it there, and I still might do that, but that is a lot
> > > more hassle. I'll probably do one one time and one the next, or two
> > > and one, something like that.
>
> > Nothing beats washing your car yourself, because:
>
> > It's your baby, you care about it. As you wash and dry it, you will
> > find the scratches and deal with them. If you run it through and
> > automated system, the system will not find this stuff. And If you hire
> > someone to do it, they will do a lackluster job by comparison.
>
> > You're the only person will go the extra distance, getting the brake
> > dust out all the way to the corner of you mags, or whatever. You're
> > the only person who's going to unscrew and pull off the mudflaps or
> > pull out those plastic inner fender liners occasionally, to deal with
> > what's lurking behind.
>
> > See if you can work something out with someone you know, or even a
> > coworker associate, to get the use of a driveway and a hose once in a
> > while?- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> I'm sure I'll be roasted for saying this, but I've never been nor
> never will be one to unscrew mudflaps or pull out those plastic inner
> fender liners, etc... To me, that's a little "over the top" but that's
> just me; to each his own.
>
> I do agree with you, though, that no one will wash it or take care of
> it as well as I would, and I wish I did have a place to do it myself.
> I'll see what I can come up with, especially this summer, I might be
> able to find a way and place to do it.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

With most cars we've had, I'll pull off those plastic fender liners
once or twice in the car's "lifetime" with us, say every 4~5 years. An
amazing amount of silt and debris can accumulate, and turn into a nice
salty poltice in the spring. It depends on the design. The mud flaps I
try to remove for each waxing. A very short screw driver or something
similar you can rig-up will help, so you can accomplish the removal
without having to take the wheels off.

Take a look at older Hondas on the road: where they're rusting. The
top edge of the rear wheel well is common, especially on the fuel cap
side on which a lot of years have plastic liner over the gas tank
filler/sensor tubes. The rust starts on the inside, behind the plastic
liner.

Re: How do I care for my car's exterior?
 

In article <1173414600.007858.155090@>,
"A. Nonimus" <pdsnickles@yahoo.com> wrote:

> On Feb 20, 1:07 am, "Bucky" <uw_badg...@email.com> wrote:
> > On Feb 16, 7:11 pm, "JS" <pdsnick...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Do I go with the brush at the car wash, which has been used on all
> > > that same gunk, or the mop at the car wash?
Never!
> >
> > Oh, I was thinking that if you went to the self-car wash, you would
> > bring your own clean sponge. I would not use anyone else's mop/sponge/
> > brush on my brand new car.
Never a sponge, mop or brush on the finish!
> >
> > > The one thing I am thinking, though, is that I do see a lot more nice
> > > newer cars being cleaned at the car wash than at the self-service wash.
Lazy people or no place to wash it.
> >
> > I think that is irrelevant. IMO, the reason for that is that people
> > with nice new cars are willing to pay more to have their car washed
> > and waxed (and more frequently).
What I've done for about 25 years is this:
-hose it with a fine spray to soften the dirt. Also hose inside the
wheel wells.
-hand wash with a soft wash mitt, using a bucket of warm water
containing a wash and wax soap, such as Turtle Wash & Wax.
-Rinse it off with a light spray and chamois the windows.
-Let it dry or for an occasional treat dry it lightly with a very clean
soft towel.
I keep my cars 10+ years and they still look great when I sell them.
BTW I ski so occasionally drive in the worst winter conditions, of snow,
salt and grit on the roads.
Lastly if you drive on salted roads, don't park in a heated garage. Heat
will accelerate corrosion.