DIY carwashes

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djsway

New member
Don't panic, I'm not going to use the brush. But I have some mean bird sh*t on my car, I was thinking about using the power spray and then using the spot free rinse at one of those coin DIY car washes.

I will not dry the car, will the spot free rinse be ok to leave on?
 
I would rather use some good QD (preferably S & W) and a couple of MF towels to remove the bird poop... rather than one of those car washes.
 
Spot free rinses at DIY car washes are not spot free. Think about it... you are going to drive your car out of the car wash and you don't think that dust in the air is going to get on all that water on your car? You will get dirty waterspots if you don't dry it. I don't care how clean the water you rise with is. If you have water on your car while you are driving then you will get waterspots. I'd just QD that bird bomb and wash the car properly when you get a chance. That's my advice anyway.
 
On my DAILY DRIVER I just don't have time to wash it everytime it gets dirty. It sucks when you wash on Sunday and on Tuesday you get a sprinkle of rain mixed with a dust storm. The dirt is too much for quik detailer IMO, and I don't always have the time or energy to break out the bucket, hose and mitt.

I find it pretty easy to drop a dollar in the DIY and be done in a few minutes. Yes, you need to dry or you will get those nasty water spots, but it still beats the DIY in my own driveway somedays. I still think it is an easy solution when all you are looking to do is touch up your daily driver.

BUT WAIT, before I get BEAT UP on for this post, I do REALLY need to buy some Spray & Wipe. Which I have not tried yet. This may turn me away from the DIY's for good. I still don't get how Spray & Wipe is Different from a Quik Detailer, but willing to give it a shot. When it comes to heavy dirt or dirt too much for Quik Detailer I don't see how you do not end up with scratches without using water. I would think you would have to use a lot of Spray & Wipe.

Well, I'm sure Spray & Wipe is safer than my DIY methods, but it has worked for me so far. And for my daily driver it all comes down to time somedays.
 
My take on the DIY washes.

1. Lots of difference in them. Some use recycled water, some don't.

2. The soap is strong and, IMO, will strip wax.

3. When used to remove crusty mud or salt accumulation and then followed by S&W, they have been an invaluable part of my winter maintenance.

4. I do apply another coat of sealant, (UPP), about every 30 days to keep some protection on the vehicles.

5. If the place doesn't use recycled water and you don't use the brush, it is something I'm not too worried about using.

Definitely not as good as a bucket wash, but at times it seems like the only solution.
I use S&W by the gallons, but I still don't use it on a mud or salt encrusted car.

Charles
 
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 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 thorough drying, do the windows, do quick detail etc. you guys know the drill.

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 . . .
 
If im in a hurry i'll use the self wash by me. I'll pre soak the car with the high pressure soap, then rinse, then soak it with the soap, use my sponge to clean it down, rinse again with high pressure soap, then use high pressure rinse to get it all off. I then use the wheel cleaner to get the rims/tires. I've nver had a problem. I will not use the brush at all. I use my mf towel to dry then s&w the car down.

I found a quick rim cleaner too!! Armour all cleaning wipes worked wonders when i had to get the corners cleaned. No residue at all!! :beer
 
dpaulyn said:
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 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 thorough drying, do the windows, do quick detail etc. you guys know the drill.

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 . . .
Click to expand...


You ever have any problem with soap drying on the car before you can pull it back into the bay and get the rinse going? Why not just stay in the bay in the shade?
 
i think that for the situation u're in its better than nothing. stubborn bird sh*t ruins finshes and as long as u're not looking to really clean the car, rather just remove the bird crap then its a good deal. i know the spot free rinse probably isnt really all that spot free but its probably somewhat cleaner than a garden hose. the most u'll deal with is a finsh that looks like it just rained. as long as u dont get any permanent imperfections i dont see nothing wrong in using those as an emeergency..

i ont he other hand carry a big plush towel and a bottle of spraya nd wipe.
 
JaredPointer said:
You ever have any problem with soap drying on the car before you can pull it back into the bay and get the rinse going? Why not just stay in the bay in the shade?
Click to expand...

Sure, if there's nobody waiting for a wash bay I'll just do the whole thing in the bay. Never had problems with soap drying on the car - the rinse always cleans it off perfectly even if it does dry.
 
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