Apartment Dwellers.....where do U detail?

C

cspoly

New member
I'm now living in a townhouse complex that does not have garages. I picked up some QEW after reading many posts on this site. I haven't tried it yet....its been hotter & humid as hell here the past week.



What about detailing? I have no shelter what so ever and I've always known polishes and waxes shouldn;t be applied in direct sunlight.....is this true? What can be used in sunlight and what can't?



Thank you



George
 
When I lived in an apartment, I got up early...very early...on the weekends and tried to have everything completed by the time it started to get too sunny. Otherwise, you might consider buying a canopy.
 
They have townhouse complexe's in Brooklyn? I'm from SI and didn't know that.



Thank god my townhouse complex has garages. I couldn't imagine trying to detail without one.
 
I live in an apartment style condo complex. Luckily we have a car wash station behind the building with power, and water. I tend to wait until after 4 or 5 in the afternoon to do any work on my truck, because the buiding makes some great shade later in the day. The other owners here tend to think I am crazy, and always ask the same old tired question, "can you do mine next?" They tend to shy away when I tell them that it will cost them though.
 
I use a DIY wash for the water (bring my own soap, brushes, etc..) and then just use the shaded "drying" area for anything else like polish, wax, QD, etc...
 
I live in a low-rise apartment and could wash here, but it's a pebble drive so would get muddy. So I tend to use my parent's place, though they live in an apartment as well they have a dedicated car wash area with a hose etc. I then use my PC back at my apartment using my own electricity by dropping the extension cable out of the window commando style.



Like Nolan_k I also get the same comments "Wanna do mine next?" and "Washing it again? You won't have any paint left." Doesn't really bother me, if they're not a clean car freak I can understand why they think I'm nuts.



The disadvantage of my parent's place is that the car wash bay at my parent's is underground. So no cellphone reception, and I had to be contactable by work 24/7 this weekend. And last week I was away, so dirty car for 2 weeks, I don't think I can last till next weekend!
 
I detail exactly how John Styrnol says he does. I wash using my own supplies at the local Do it Yourself car wash. After drying I detail underneath my carport at the complex where I live.
 
15951 said:
When I lived in an apartment, I got up early...very early...on the weekends and tried to have everything completed by the time it started to get too sunny. Otherwise, you might consider buying a canopy.
Click to expand...





Hi MorBid



I recently moved to NJ. I need to update my signature. However, beleive it or not, Brooklyn has townhomes. Row houses have been knocked down and townhomes style condo put up....some have garages, some don't.



My place in NJ doesn't even have a carport. Bummer.



Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I'll see which fit for me.



George
 
Well . . . Here's what works for me:



I have city home so not much room for bucket and hose wash - this would work well for apartment dwellers as well.



1. Prepare hand spray bottle (Home Depot has good ones) with your favorite car wash soap and dilute with distilled water to the proper mix. Don't use undiluted.



2. At the DIY wash I first use the 'bottom blaster' to give the bottom a good cleaning (see if you can find one of those)



3. I then spray wheels and car body with my own car wash soap from spray container



4. I then use spray wand - RINSE SETTING ONLY - NOT THEIR SOAP - to rinse entire car to remove superficial dirt, and blast the wheels and brake calipers



5. I then drive car out of the wash bay and park in one of the parking spots at the wash (out of courtesy so as to not hog the wash bay while you continue with the following steps)



6. Car is still wet - keep spraying car wash soap from sprayer to keep car lubricated, and gently wash panel at a time with your wash mitt. Do wheels same way with soft wheel brush - keep spraying car wash soap from sprayer.



7. Drive car back into the wash bay



8. Use the rinse water - not their soap setting - to thoroughly rinse off the entire car and the wheels. Don't skimp on the rinse.



9. Drive out of car wash bay and do usual after wash drill: thorough drying, do the windows, do quick detail etc.



10 - voila - complete DIY car wash without risk, since you are using your own car wash soap and wash mitt - this way no need to sneak buckets in the DIY or use their soap.



Had excellent results every time (Mercedes E500 with Klasse All-in-One + 4 coats of Sealant Glaze).



Best regards . . .
 
GFarra said:
Hi MorBid



I recently moved to NJ. I need to update my signature. However, beleive it or not, Brooklyn has townhomes. Row houses have been knocked down and townhomes style condo put up....some have garages, some don't.



My place in NJ doesn't even have a carport. Bummer.



George
Click to expand...



My how the times are changing, I still go home every year around the holidays and after seeing what they done to Staten Island over the years I can beleive it.
 
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