Detailing without a Garage !!

[gandblah]

I was hooked on to detailing a long time ago. My Ex Army dad drilled the habit of keeping my things clean and ordered into me. I absolutely hated it when I was young but as I grew older I developed an internal need to keep my cars clean and in good running condition.

Than I got onto sites like this and DetailCity and got hooked even further. I knew a PC was the way to go but procrastinated for one sole reason - I live in an appartment and do not have a garage. But the recent sales and constant self denial on my part finally pushed me to the other side and I succumbed. I've ordered the PC and a bunch of stuff.

The questions are:

- Are there others out there who are like me. Detailing nuts without a garage?
- Are there some lessons learnt / tips and tricks for no garage detailing?
- I wash my car in a coin operated car wash which is mile away. I've got to wash it and drive it back to my place and then polish it and wax it. What about the dust that settles on the drive back to my place? What do I do before I start polishing/waxing?
- What about the dust that settles while I move from panel to panel since the car is out in the open?
- I apply wax/sealant and have to wait for some time before buffing it off. Is it safe to wait with the car out in the open?


Just wanted to get this out there to get some discussion going and hopefully some good will come out of it.

Thanks for your time.

[ryandamartini]

Originally Posted by gandblah

I was hooked on to detailing a long time ago. My Ex Army dad drilled the habit of keeping my things clean and ordered into me. I absolutely hated it when I was young but as I grew older I developed an internal need to keep my cars clean and in good running condition.

Than I got onto sites like this and DetailCity and got hooked even further. I knew a PC was the way to go but procrastinated for one sole reason - I live in an appartment and do not have a garage. But the recent sales and constant self denial on my part finally pushed me to the other side and I succumbed. I've ordered the PC and a bunch of stuff.

The questions are:

- Are there others out there who are like me. Detailing nuts without a garage?
- Are there some lessons learnt / tips and tricks for no garage detailing?
- I wash my car in a coin operated car wash which is mile away. I've got to wash it and drive it back to my place and then polish it and wax it. What about the dust that settles on the drive back to my place? What do I do before I start polishing/waxing?
- What about the dust that settles while I move from panel to panel since the car is out in the open?
- I apply wax/sealant and have to wait for some time before buffing it off. Is it safe to wait with the car out in the open?


Just wanted to get this out there to get some discussion going and hopefully some good will come out of it.

Thanks for your time.

DP 4 in 1 No Rinse, Its a no rinse car wash and clay lunricant in one. Requires no rinsing! Just dry with a good drying towel like the Cobra Guzzler. This fixes most of your problems.

If your concerned about curing time, get a sealant that doesnt have to be hazed for 12 hours or similar. Apply / remove the sealant and look at a good car cover! I will be getting one for my ride very soon

[Reddwarf]

Florida Native doesn't have a garage and she seems do very well.

[Truls]

I do the same thing (drive home after washing) and i rinse the car with water when i park it (just hose it), i do have a garage, but i have to get it clean before i polish, if you get gritt on the pad when you polish..... outch...thats gona leave a mark.

keep it clean, and as long as it doesnt blow sand around, you probably dont get it on your car, unless you talk about many hours before detailing

[cwcad]

If after washing you have little dust on the vehicle Poorboy's S&W is the thing to have. Spray a panel wipe off then put your LSP on. If you are doing some paint correcting use the the S&W wipedown to get it ready. I detail my black truck out in the open all the time. Doing a panel at a time.

[Mike T]

My wife and I live in a condo with no garage. Poorboy's S&W has been a real good friend to me. I do most of my washing and detailing at my parents house. Although their house doesn't have a garage, it has a hose in the front yard and a driveway. My parents love it because I'm their pretty much every weekend to clean my car, and I clean my wife's jeep at our condo because its small and S&W takes care of most of it.
When you get home from the car wash, just go over the finish with a quick detailer or quick wash product. After you apply a wax/sealant, just give it enough time to dry. There is no harm in being exposed to the environment. Just don't let the product get wet (rained on). I do all my detailing outside. It's not as scary as you think.

[Mike T]

Oh yeah. Make sure you have plenty of soft MF's.

[FloridaNative]

I hate not having a garage too! Especially now with all of these birds that have flown south for the winter. I live in a townhouse and we have a water spigot and electrical outlets out by the pool area which faces the parking lot so I can pull my car up to the 30 minute parking spot to wash it and polish it. I just use my own hose and extension cords for my PC. I think a car cover is the best way to go for people like us who don't have garages and I am saving my pennies up for one, but Poorboy's S&W is a real Godsend in the meantime.

[gandblah]

Thanks a ton for all the replies guys...I am so glad I've ordered Poorboys S&W. Looks like it's going to be the main weapon in my detailing arsenal !!

[Bigfoot]

Originally Posted by FloridaNative

I hate not having a garage too! Especially now with all of these birds that have flown south for the winter. I live in a townhouse and we have a water spigot and electrical outlets out by the pool area which faces the parking lot so I can pull my car up to the 30 minute parking spot to wash it and polish it. I just use my own hose and extension cords for my PC. I think a car cover is the best way to go for people like us who don't have garages and I am saving my pennies up for one, but Poorboy's S&W is a real Godsend in the meantime.

I have almost the same situation as you, by the exception that we have our parking spots within 10ft. from the house entrance, and the spigot is very close...

Anyways, just was one panel at a time, and then dry, or try to wash your car as early as possible so you can do it while it still cool. Poorboys is the way to go on this situations, since you can work it outside, and easy to use, and that's a big plus! I think I'll stick wth them for good! Hope this helps...

Joey