tredsvt98
Veteran CEG'er
Best thing to wash your car with....hand held sheepskin wash mitt.
i recommend starting with a foam gun to release alot of the dirt without you having to use a mitt and then go on with your wash. You want to pick out a good shampoo for your car. if you are planning on starting from scratch and put brand new layer of wax on your car or you want to claybar the car or do some paint correction use dawn dish soap to strip the current wax/sealant on your car (if you have tar or bugs still on the car use a bug and tar remover before claying/waxing/polishing) you will be down to the factory clear coat with no protection so at least put a layer of wax on your car after your final wash (if you are claying your car do not forget to clay the windows too because the same crap that was on your paint will also be on your windows). Now that you have a "fresh canvas" it's time to wash the car using a quality car shampoo there are many to choose from autogeek and chemical guys have some great shampoos, there are also some very good over the counter shampoos like meguiars gold class shampoo and conditioner and meguiars nxt generation car wash.(Always use the 2 bucket method...1 for soap and water and 1 for rinsing) put a grit guard in both buckets to continually clean your mashmits. I personally use 4 buckets and cut the car in half using one soap one rinse bucket per side. change out your wash mitts regularly. I go through at least 4. changing the wash mitts and water out regularly leaves less chance for dirt/rocks/grim getting stuck in the mitt and dragging all across your cars surface. When spraying the car do not use a heavy concentrated stream use a very gentle stream heavy streams like powerwashers or the "jet" from your nozzle are hard on your paint and can induce swirls and even chip the paint. Make sure you use a rubber firehose nozzle so you don't accidently bump your car with a metal nozzle.
Best thing to dry the car with....compressed air. To make car drying easier when you have washed the car take the nozzle off and just use a flooding method and let the car sit for a minute, doing this will flood most of the water off to make drying waaaaay easier. DO NOT use a towel unless you have to. If compressed air is not available you can use a micro fiber waffle weave and blot the car. I recommend the cobra supreme guzzler waffle weave http://www.autogeek.net/cobra-waffle-weave.html
Best thing to clean windows with....newspaper and some foam glass cleaner-although any glass cleaner will do. 50/50 water and alcohol will also make a streak free homemade glass cleaner. Newspaper doesn't streak or leave little white dust particles
Best thing to get bugs off windshield....a piece of steel wool (not brillo pad) in one hand with wash mitt in the other. The steel wool cuts the glass down making it smoother without scratching the glass. Make sure you use your washmit to keep the area lubricated or else you will eff up your glass:nonono:
i recommend starting with a foam gun to release alot of the dirt without you having to use a mitt and then go on with your wash. You want to pick out a good shampoo for your car. if you are planning on starting from scratch and put brand new layer of wax on your car or you want to claybar the car or do some paint correction use dawn dish soap to strip the current wax/sealant on your car (if you have tar or bugs still on the car use a bug and tar remover before claying/waxing/polishing) you will be down to the factory clear coat with no protection so at least put a layer of wax on your car after your final wash (if you are claying your car do not forget to clay the windows too because the same crap that was on your paint will also be on your windows). Now that you have a "fresh canvas" it's time to wash the car using a quality car shampoo there are many to choose from autogeek and chemical guys have some great shampoos, there are also some very good over the counter shampoos like meguiars gold class shampoo and conditioner and meguiars nxt generation car wash.(Always use the 2 bucket method...1 for soap and water and 1 for rinsing) put a grit guard in both buckets to continually clean your mashmits. I personally use 4 buckets and cut the car in half using one soap one rinse bucket per side. change out your wash mitts regularly. I go through at least 4. changing the wash mitts and water out regularly leaves less chance for dirt/rocks/grim getting stuck in the mitt and dragging all across your cars surface. When spraying the car do not use a heavy concentrated stream use a very gentle stream heavy streams like powerwashers or the "jet" from your nozzle are hard on your paint and can induce swirls and even chip the paint. Make sure you use a rubber firehose nozzle so you don't accidently bump your car with a metal nozzle.
Best thing to dry the car with....compressed air. To make car drying easier when you have washed the car take the nozzle off and just use a flooding method and let the car sit for a minute, doing this will flood most of the water off to make drying waaaaay easier. DO NOT use a towel unless you have to. If compressed air is not available you can use a micro fiber waffle weave and blot the car. I recommend the cobra supreme guzzler waffle weave http://www.autogeek.net/cobra-waffle-weave.html
Best thing to clean windows with....newspaper and some foam glass cleaner-although any glass cleaner will do. 50/50 water and alcohol will also make a streak free homemade glass cleaner. Newspaper doesn't streak or leave little white dust particles
Best thing to get bugs off windshield....a piece of steel wool (not brillo pad) in one hand with wash mitt in the other. The steel wool cuts the glass down making it smoother without scratching the glass. Make sure you use your washmit to keep the area lubricated or else you will eff up your glass:nonono: