Newbie: Need Help washing methods for 3 different cars

[imported_detail1]

Hello,



I have a 1. black GM car - single stage paint - that is under a cover and always garaged



2. black 1983 VW- single stage paint- daily driver that always stays outside.



3. white 2007 chevy- weekend driver that stays outside- Occassionally covered.



I have been reading alot of Autopia posts on car washing, polishing, waxing, etc.



What car wash methods would you suggest for each car- ONR, Touchless, foam gun- (what's the best car wash for foam gun?) , etc and why?



What's everyone's opinions on putting on car covers?



thanks

Frank

 

[Accumulator]

Welcome to Autopia!



I'd wash all three the same way, but I admit I'd be a little less obsessive when doing the '07 Chevy



Try to find my "Accumulator's Non-marring Wash Technique" thread..it might be under "Detailing Articles and Videos" on the main FORUMS page. Basically, it's a foamgun-centric method based on the concept of "dislodge and flush". I use Griot's Car Wash exclusively.



I can't use ONR for a regular car wash without occasionally instilling *some* degree of marring, though it's often so light that nobody else would *EVER* see it. Touchless washes only work if you use the right stuff and don't have any significant dirt to clean off.



I quit covering my garage-queens because I always ended up instilling some light marring, but again, most people would never see it. But don't use dressings on your exterior trim (I hardly ever use 'em anyhow) and even consider that tire dresssings might get on the cover and then contaminate other portions of the vehicle. The only time I'd use a cover these days is for indoor storage where I can control *every* condition and/or outdoor use in an area where the threat of situational contamination was a greater threat than the resultant marring. And I'd only use the finest covers that money can buy (and I'd launder them frequently).