Newbie question: How hard to press using ONR

M

mds1001

New member
Hey guys!



Watched the videos, read a bunch of stuff about ONR, etc. Just got a bottle and went out to wash my car...the car was pretty dirty, but just dust, bugs, regular stuff. No mud or anything super heavy. I was able to get most of the junk off the car, but there is still a fair amount of plant debris or other little things stuck to the paint. How should I attack this? Just push harder? On some of it I used a fingernail behind the MF to get it off, but that isn't practical for the whole car and I worry I'm doing more harm than good...



It is clear to me after doing this that my car needs some claying and a good wax...still waiting on the Optimum Spray Wax...I might get a detailer to give it a good claying, wax, polish, etc...feel like its an uphill battle right now...



Anyways, just looking for tips on how hard is safe to push down when using ONR on a pretty dirty car...I imagine this will be less of an issue if I get into a regular wash schedule...



Thanks guys!!



Mike
 
Before you wash next time try using a chemical cleaner ie: degreaser or bug/tag remover.



IMO, with ONR, instead of using more pressure, make more passes. Make sure to clean your wash media inbetween passes.



EDIT: You can still use the chemical cleaner right now. Spray whatever it is on and go over it with ONR to get it off.
 
You really wont get EVERYTHING off using just ONR or regular car wash soap for that matter. I find myself sometimes scratching off the little yellow tree sap? off the car as I wash due it to being so stubborn. One thing I have noticed with ONR that you don't really get with regular car wash soap is to go over something with ONR, then wash the rest of the panel. Then wash off the media in your bucket, then go over the spot again. The waiting time in between softens up A LOT of stuck on debris and you can usually knock it out in 2-3 passes that way.



I use as little amount of pressure as I possibly can and make more passes as Dsoto87 mentioned. ONR is pretty strong stuff as far as emulsifying and breaking down dirt and grime on the paint.
 
If the paint is dirty, pre-soak with onr in a pump spray bottle before washing. Pre-soaking will help loosen the tough stuff. I would just use light pressure on your wash media.
 
I have a "custom" ONR solution, halfway between clay lube and QD dilution that I use on stubborn spots. I'll spray the affected area with this solution and let it dwell (between 30 - 120 seconds depending). Then I'll dab it off, this usually works, but it may take a few applications again, depending on the nature of the affected area.

I believe it was Scottwax who had the idea to soak a portion of a MF with a similar solution and lay it on the spot or hold it on the spot if it is on the side(s) of the car.



Hope this helps.
 
Legacy99 said:
If the paint is dirty, pre-soak with onr in a pump spray bottle before washing. Pre-soaking will help loosen the tough stuff. I would just use light pressure on your wash media.
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+ 1



Also, I have a "custom" ONR solution, halfway between clay lube and QD dilution that I use on stubborn spots. I'll spray the affected area with this solution and let it dwell (between 30 - 120 seconds depending). Then I'll dab it off, this usually works, but it may take a few applications again, depending on the nature of the affected area.

I believe it was Scottwax who had the idea to soak a portion of a MF with a similar solution and lay it on the spot or hold it in place if it is on the side of the car.



Just used this technique yesterday on some nasty pollen type substance that was stuck on my paint and didn't come off with my normal ONR wash and it worked great.



Hope this helps.
 
Thanks guys...



What do you think of hosing the car off before doing the ONR wash? Seems like it would complicate drying, but might get the loose stuff off and presoak a bit...
 
mds1001 said:
Thanks guys...



What do you think of hosing the car off before doing the ONR wash? Seems like it would complicate drying, but might get the loose stuff off and presoak a bit...
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That would work, but the whole idea of ONR is to have a rinseless wash. Saves water and time. If your going to use a hose than you may as well do a regular wash.
 
Legacy99 said:
That would work, but the whole idea of ONR is to have a rinseless wash. Saves water and time. If your going to use a hose than you may as well do a regular wash.
Click to expand...



Again....+1



Once you get the initial wash results to your liking, normal maintenance with a standard ONR wash should keep you in good shape (provided you don't take it off-roading and then let it bake in the sun for a few days ;)).
 
Use a light pre-soak. I find that most bug debris will wipe away with very little pressure after a few min dwell. I spray the dirtiest spots first, wash the other panels and then go back.
 
On horizontal surfaces, I just use the weight of my wash mitt. I don't apply pressure. Vertical surfaces, I just apply the media lightly without scrubbing. I do the same thing if I'm doing a traditional wash.



As others have said, a couple of passes and letting things soak helps. Any bugs or other debris that won't come off with that method, I either spot treat/soak with bug & tar remover or a heavier ONR mix, or I clay.



If I had a LOT of bugs and stuff like I do after a major road trip, I'd go to a nearby coin-op and power wash, then drive home and ONR (don't own my own powerwasher yet).
 
In general, I do not use a lot of pressure with ONR. If an area is extra dirty, I go over it with multiple passes. I do, however, use pressure when I encounter bug residue or something similar. Just as long as the wash media is high quality and there is plenty of liquid in the media, you should not have a problem.
 
I wet a small microfiber towel (cloth?) in the ONR solution then place that on 'bad' spots - wrap and tie it around side mirrors, on leading edge of hood, etc. Let that sit for a while and it will loosen most spots enough that a light pass over them will remove them.

(thanks to David B. for this tip)
 
On a decently maintained car and not that dirty ONR will do a decent job (98%). I do not use much pressure --- weight of mitt -- to wash. If there is a bug splatter, I will address that after I finish. The clue is your drying towel. It is telling you if you are getting the dirt off.
 
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