seanyb505
01-16-2017, 07:26 PM
First, long, detailed post coming up.
I’m looking for the next logical, bang for buck solution for maintaining two vehicles. The two vehicles are a black 2005 Subaru Legacy wagon and a black 2008 Infiniti FX35. Two black cars was not on purpose.
I experience the same frustrations with both: dirt after precipitation, seasonal pollen, and light scratches are permanent. Not swirl marks, scratches like when someone uses the car as a crutch to walk in a parking lot, but not quite “my car has been keyed” deep.
Last year I did my first wax/M105/M205/LSP with a DA polisher after years of only washing with Brand name car wash from Walmart. After both cars were done I ordered some ONR rinse and wash to put a little more care into routine washes.
I just finished the ONR bottle, and need to think about next product/tools/process. My goal is to make weekly washes less painful for me. I’ll describe my routine for maximum context.
I have some detailed image great white microfiber towels I use to wash with Optimum No Rinse wash and shine. The towels are not treated particularly well – they’re thrown in with normal towel laundry loads.
I use one bucket. Not the two bucket method, as I’ve not found it to be “worth it”. The benefit of not introducing more micro swirls between major wax days (9-12 months) hasn’t gotten under my skin enough to change.
Using a Walmart hose nozzle I try to sheet water off after entire vehicle is wiped down.
Aging, dying battery powered Black and decker leaf blower to help in the drying process. Sometimes it doesn’t quite make it all the way.
A random, thick microfiber towel and diluted ONR detail spray solution for drying. When the sun is shining, I have to work to remove dried water spots.
In warmer months I have daylight and energy to wash more frequently. There is also less dirt to be wiped off in those months.
Winter months see longer time between washes, with more road crap accumulating on the cars. It makes me hesitant to wash too frequently, to avoid grinding the salt/dust into the paint.
I’m working to decide what will be the next purchase to make life easier in terms of washing frequently. In order of willingness to purchase:
I’ll need a new wash solution anyway – what’s best for my washing habits and black cars?
Should I just suck it up and wax more frequently?
Plug in leaf blower for drying – less towel drying required
Dedicated wash mitt/material
Pressure washer to mitigate effort to wipe off road grime
Other areas I see every wash but see as less important to the overall washing process:
Wheels are washed with generic car wash solution. The wheels on both cars are already beat after so many years; I’m not going to cry if they’re not perfect.
The FX has a decent amount of black plastic trim. I’ve not addressed it in 5 years and 70k miles.
With all that in mind, what should be my next purchase to make weekly washings more enjoyable?
I’m looking for the next logical, bang for buck solution for maintaining two vehicles. The two vehicles are a black 2005 Subaru Legacy wagon and a black 2008 Infiniti FX35. Two black cars was not on purpose.
I experience the same frustrations with both: dirt after precipitation, seasonal pollen, and light scratches are permanent. Not swirl marks, scratches like when someone uses the car as a crutch to walk in a parking lot, but not quite “my car has been keyed” deep.
Last year I did my first wax/M105/M205/LSP with a DA polisher after years of only washing with Brand name car wash from Walmart. After both cars were done I ordered some ONR rinse and wash to put a little more care into routine washes.
I just finished the ONR bottle, and need to think about next product/tools/process. My goal is to make weekly washes less painful for me. I’ll describe my routine for maximum context.
I have some detailed image great white microfiber towels I use to wash with Optimum No Rinse wash and shine. The towels are not treated particularly well – they’re thrown in with normal towel laundry loads.
I use one bucket. Not the two bucket method, as I’ve not found it to be “worth it”. The benefit of not introducing more micro swirls between major wax days (9-12 months) hasn’t gotten under my skin enough to change.
Using a Walmart hose nozzle I try to sheet water off after entire vehicle is wiped down.
Aging, dying battery powered Black and decker leaf blower to help in the drying process. Sometimes it doesn’t quite make it all the way.
A random, thick microfiber towel and diluted ONR detail spray solution for drying. When the sun is shining, I have to work to remove dried water spots.
In warmer months I have daylight and energy to wash more frequently. There is also less dirt to be wiped off in those months.
Winter months see longer time between washes, with more road crap accumulating on the cars. It makes me hesitant to wash too frequently, to avoid grinding the salt/dust into the paint.
I’m working to decide what will be the next purchase to make life easier in terms of washing frequently. In order of willingness to purchase:
I’ll need a new wash solution anyway – what’s best for my washing habits and black cars?
Should I just suck it up and wax more frequently?
Plug in leaf blower for drying – less towel drying required
Dedicated wash mitt/material
Pressure washer to mitigate effort to wipe off road grime
Other areas I see every wash but see as less important to the overall washing process:
Wheels are washed with generic car wash solution. The wheels on both cars are already beat after so many years; I’m not going to cry if they’re not perfect.
The FX has a decent amount of black plastic trim. I’ve not addressed it in 5 years and 70k miles.
With all that in mind, what should be my next purchase to make weekly washings more enjoyable?