Basic items to start off with for proper washing

[TechDiver]

So I have basically not done a proper hand wash. In fact, I have mainly been using the touchless washes every now and then. I plan to start taking better care of the paint now that we have a new car. What are basic supplies I should get to get started? I currently have a large sponge, but I may try the mitts out. I also have two 5 gallon buckets and some Meguiar's wash I bought a year or so back.

Thanks.

[604_Snooze]

buy a grit guard for your bucket and maybe a foam gun or cannon if you have the extra cash. Also a good drying towel like the cobra guzzler.

[neat e34]

Necessary:
* 2 x 5 gallon buckets (1 wash, 1 rinse)
* Grit-guard(s)
* 2 x quality wash mitts/pads (lambswool, MF chinchilla, etc)
(1 for upper panels, 1 for lower panels only)
* Quality soap
* Drying towel(s)

Optional:
* Detail brushes (around badges, grills, etc)
* Wheel brushes
* Wheel cleaner
* Brass shut-off valve (for hose)

There's plenty more but I think that's a step in the right direction...

[TechDiver]

Thanks guys.

Should I go for the waffle weave on drying towels? I looked at the cobra guzzler, but I don't know the differences in towels. I looked at grit guards and they make sense.

Which detailing brushes would be good to start out?

[RMM]

...
Which detailing brushes would be good to start out?

More important than detailing brushes are wheel brushes: EZ or Daytona, or Wheel Woolies.

If you want some detail brushes, Raceglaze has a nice set.

[Wheelzntoys]

To reduce water spots, add ONR to your soap wash bucket.

Use a drying aid like Speedshine or something with wax like DG Aquawax.

[Bill1234]

Some of the products here mentioned are perfect ideas. If you would like a waffle weave I would go direct to autogeek and look for the ultimate guzzler by cobra or the mothers drying towel. If you plan on getting a mitt do not get cheap small mitts. Get a lambswool or microfiber. To wash with the hose I use the bonaire ultimate pressure washer tool. Its more of an add on, but acts like a pressure washer add on. If you could get a high flow industrial atachment piece. If you will be detailing wheels before you wash, make sure they are cool to touch. I use the daytona wheel brush and the mothers wheel cleaner

[JAF06SE]

This may be a stupid question to most but it's legit to me. What is the process behind the two bucket wash? I know one is wash one is rinse. What do you do special with the rinse bucket? I've always just rinsed with the hose or pressure washer. What I the benefit of the rinse bucket and the use?

[BrightonRT]

2 buckets, at least one grit guard for the rinse bucket, 2 quality wash mitts, a wheel brush, and some good drying towels are the necessities

The process is after washing a panel of the vehicle, place your mitt in the rinse bucket and rub it against the grit guard, this will free up all the dirt and grime you just pulled off the car and let it settle to the bottom of the rinse bucket, you then wring then mitt out and pick up more wash solution and do the next panel. This keeps you from dragging all the grit across the paint and instilling swirls in the paint.

Here's a video showing AG's own Mike Phillips in his pre-autogeek days, it's long but full of excellent information!

How to Wash Your Car (ShowCar style!) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/embed/LOt--yizRoc?rel=0)

[DEXTERITY]

the below articles are helpful as well:

Car Wash Guide, Car Wash how to - easy steps to shampoo and dry your vehicle using paint-safe mitts and towels, plus sponges, the Grit Guard and (http://www.autogeek.net/exterior.html)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/52981-how-wash-your-car-kiss-style.html

[JAF06SE]

That helps. Just wasn't sure what all went down when people were talkin about the two bucket wash. I'm gonna order at least one grit guard. I'm gonna start stepping my game up with the washes, especially since I'm going to spend prolly four to five hours worth of paint correction on my truck next time.

[Mike Phillips]

Here's a video showing AG's own Mike Phillips in his pre-autogeek days, it's long but full of excellent information!

How to Wash Your Car (ShowCar style!) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/embed/LOt--yizRoc?rel=0)



I think that was shot in 2006 at my house in Apple Valley, California. What I said in the video is true, in the Mojave Desert you have to either wash your car early in the morning, late at night or in your garage if you don't have a way to filter your water like we show in this video.




Wash, rinse and go with CR Spotless Water Systems!


Wash, rinse and go with CR Spotless Water...





Washing Cars Inside of Your Garage (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/35509-washing-cars-inside-your-garage.html)


When I lived in Apple Valley, California back when I was working for Meguiar's and before coming to work for Autogeek, it was difficult to wash your car anytime other than early morning due to the heat, sun and wind. Apple Valley is in the high California Desert, part of the Mojave Desert so it's always windy and VERY dusty.

Temperatures in the summer were always hot throughout the day and the night and the coolest part of the day would always be early morning.

This made washing a car difficult, especially if the car was dark in color.


The Solution?

I washed cars in my garage.
I had purchased a EZ-Up Canopy that came with 3 side wall curtains for mobile detailing and when I would take these plastic curtains and attach them to the sides of the walls to keep water from getting on all the stuff stored in your typical garage.

Worked for me...

http://www.showcargarage.com/gallery/files/1/WashingInGarage.jpg


If water pools on the floor instead of running outside then you can use a broom or get a floor squeegee and squeegee out the water after your final rinse, anything left will evaporate fast enough...







http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/52981-how-wash-your-car-kiss-style.html



The above is a very basic system to help you do a really good job of washing a car before you machine polish.


:)

[BrightonRT]

I'm gonna start stepping my game up with the washes, especially since I'm going to spend prolly four to five hours worth of paint correction on my truck next time.

Careful, that's how the addiction starts...:laughing:

[JAF06SE]

Careful, that's how the addiction starts...:laughing:

Lol I know right? Thankfully I've always had the addiction....just lost the available time after getting a house and my retail work schedule makes it hard to get projects done at home in a decent amount of time.