Frequent Car Care is Easy Car Care [Archive] - Auto Geek Online Auto Detailing Forum

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Mike Phillips

08-13-2013, 09:54 AM

Frequent Car Care is Easy Car Care (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/69006-frequent-car-care-easy-car-care.html)

Barry Meguiar, my former employer coined that phrase and while it can mean a lot more things than just using a spray detailer or a spray wax, here's an example of how frequent car care is not only easy car care but f-a-s-t car care.

I let my watch do most of the talking...

Before
Hasn't been wiped clean since last Friday after work. Didn't rain all weekend but it's parked outside 24/7.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2007/Frequent_Car_Care_Easy_Car_Care_001.jpg

Products Used
4 plush Microfiber Towels and Marine 31 Stern to Bow Waterless Wash & Wax with Carnauba

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2007/Frequent_Car_Care_Easy_Car_Care_002.jpg

Start Time
According to my watch, it's approximately 7:36am

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2007/Frequent_Car_Care_Easy_Car_Care_003.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2007/Frequent_Car_Care_Easy_Car_Care_004.jpg

Starting at the top and working downward
I use the Werner work platform to get into the back and knock out the roof, back window surrounding sheetmetal and the tops of the window frames.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2007/Frequent_Car_Care_Easy_Car_Care_005.jpg

Windshield - Hood - Grill - Front Bumper
Next I use the Werner work platform to reach the front window, hood, tops of front fenders, front grill and front bumper.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2007/Frequent_Car_Care_Easy_Car_Care_006.jpg

Vertical Sides
Next I tackle the driver's side followed by the tailgate followed by the passenger side. There's no plastic trim and actually nothing to slow a person down, just pretty red paint.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2007/Frequent_Car_Care_Easy_Car_Care_007.jpg

Rear Bumper
After tackling the tailgate and before switching to a new, clean microfiber towel, I take the now fairly wet microfiber towel and scrub and wipe the chrome diamond plate on the bumper. Chrome won't rust if you keep it clean and waxed. So I do.

Wheels & Tires
I keep the wheels waxed and the tires are coated with Tuff Shine Tire Clear Coat, so they wipe clean just as fast and easy as the paint.http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2007/Frequent_Car_Care_Easy_Car_Care_008.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2007/Frequent_Car_Care_Easy_Car_Care_009.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2007/Frequent_Car_Care_Easy_Car_Care_010.jpg

Shock Absorbers
Yeah most of you don't have to worry about these but since mine are visible I give them a quick wipe too. I've already waxed them using a one-step cleaner/wax when we did the extreme makeover.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2007/Frequent_Car_Care_Easy_Car_Care_011.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2007/Frequent_Car_Care_Easy_Car_Care_012.jpg

Road Splatter
The inner stainless still fender trim was about the dirtiest parts on the truck, this close-up will give you and idea. This is where the tires sling any water up off the pavement so I always do these last.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2007/Frequent_Car_Care_Easy_Car_Care_013.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2007/Frequent_Car_Care_Easy_Car_Care_014.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2007/Frequent_Car_Care_Easy_Car_Care_015.jpg

Finish Time
By my watch, it's approximately 7:40am. I just wiped the entire exterior of my truck down in 14 minutes and it is now the cleanest, shiniest rig in the parking lot.

(Nick's not here today or he would probably beat me out of a shine contest with the Detailer's Paint Coating on his car)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2007/Frequent_Car_Care_Easy_Car_Care_016.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2007/Frequent_Car_Care_Easy_Car_Care_017.jpg

Marine 31
Yeah I know, I'm using products from Marine 31 on my truck. I like how they work, that is I like how they apply, how they wipe off and how my truck looks when I'm finished.

"Find something you like and use it often" (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/24310-find-something-you-like-use-often.html)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2007/Frequent_Car_Care_Easy_Car_Care_018.jpg

Frequent Car Care is Easy Car Care
When you keep up on keeping your car clean it truly is fast and easy and anytime I'm not busy I'm ready to give my truck a quick wipe-down using either the waterless wash or the spray wax. Keep a few clean microfiber towels in a clean plastic bag behind the seat of your truck or somewhere in your car and you're good to go.

Marine 31 Stern to Bow Waterless Wash with Carnauba and Marine 31 Gel Coat Spray Wax Plus and a bag with some Cobra Supreme 530 Microfiber Towels.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2007/Frequent_Car_Care_Easy_Car_Care_020.jpg

And yeah... I was a sweaty mess afterwards but it's good clean exercise...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2007/Frequent_Car_Care_Easy_Car_Care_019.jpg

Hey if I can do it... so can you...

On Autogeek.net

Marine 31 Stern to Bow Waterless Wash & Wax with Carnauba (http://www.autogeek.net/marine-31-waterless-boat-wash.html)

Marine 31 Gel Coat Spray Wax Plus (http://www.autogeek.net/marine-31-boat-spray-wax.html)

Supreme 530 Microfiber Towel Trio (http://www.autogeek.net/cobra-530-microfiber-towels.html)

:xyxthumbs:

jayshut11

08-13-2013, 10:01 AM

SR99

08-13-2013, 10:02 AM

re: "Frequent Car Care is Easy Car Care
When you keep up on keeping your car clean it truly is fast and easy"

Agree...and that goes double for engine detailing (which can actually qualify as an easy job if you regularly keep it clean). I guess that goes for interiors as well.

Mike Phillips

08-13-2013, 10:05 AM

Agree...and that goes double for engine detailing (which can actually qualify as an easy job if you regularly keep it clean).

I have an article with pictures on this... just need to put it together...

:)

Mike Phillips

08-13-2013, 10:05 AM

Some of the best advice in detailing. Thank you for the demonstration AND proof!

That's a direct quote from Barry Meguiar.

Due credit where credit is due.

:)

hernandez.art13

08-13-2013, 10:44 AM

Do you wipe it down with clean towels everyday Mike? Great read!

MiCVPI

08-13-2013, 10:51 AM

I need to get some waterless wash...

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using AG Online

Klasse Act

08-13-2013, 11:02 AM

I agree with this 100% and as long as you make time for it, "clean as you go" is another way to look at this, a little everyday or every other day!

Sent from my SPH-M930 using AG Online

HateSwirls

08-13-2013, 11:03 AM

Love the truck, I have a 96' GMC, I removed the chrome trim that goes around the fenders , IMO it looks better.
You always seem to amaze me Mike with your skills and know how:dblthumb2:

2shiny

08-13-2013, 11:24 AM

how manh towels did you use for the waterless wash? most off the time when I read about it, they use like 4 towels for 1 panel, you use 4 for the entire car.
and why doesn't spray wax scratch the paint? I didn't know it had cleaning ability

mavin

08-13-2013, 11:38 AM

I seem to use 32 oz of UWW+ when I do a waterless wash. I am sure I overuse product, but it is so cheap as concentrate I don't sweat it.

nubaseal

08-13-2013, 11:56 AM

I seem to use 32 oz of UWW+ when I do a waterless wash. I am sure I overuse product, but it is so cheap as concentrate I don't sweat it.

I agree that UWW is the cheapest way to WW. For me, even ONR diluted to WW strength works fine. So does DG Rinseless. The only thing that doesn't, is CG Hose Free Eco Wash. That is because it foams.

HateSwirls

08-13-2013, 12:16 PM

I use Griot's Wash and Wax with good results and doesn't scratch my paint.
keep in mind I only use it if the car isn't too dirty.
I use about six plush towels on a mid size SUV.

Audios S6

08-13-2013, 01:16 PM

A good point not made by Mike (which is rare) is that frequent cleaning like this reduces the opportunity for contaminants to bond to the paint and reduces your work claying. It's easy care today and in the future.

I find this to be very true for things like door jambs and sills. After applying a sealant every 6 months, it's so easy to open the door and wipe the jamb and sill. If you keep up on it, it's literally a wipe of the towel after each wash, less than a minute and they will always look good. Neglect them for a month or two and you''ll probably need to break out the APC to spray, scrub and rinse - which is NOT the least aggresive method. So another good point: frequent cleaning is inherently the least aggresive method.

Mike Phillips

08-13-2013, 04:14 PM

Do you wipe it down with clean towels everyday Mike? Great read!

Clean towels "yes". Everyday? "no". About every other day unless it's raining and it's been raining a lot here lately.

how manh towels did you use for the waterless wash? most off the time when I read about it, they use like 4 towels for 1 panel, you use 4 for the entire car.

Yes, I used 4 plush towels for the entire truck BUT if you read all of what I wrote I explained that,

I wiped the truck clean Friday after work, this would be about 6:00pm

It did not rain on Saturday or Sunday and I did not drive my truck so the only dirt or dust it received was what was in the air.

I showed a pictures of the DIRTIEST part, and that was the inner stainless steel trim around the fenders where the tires spray up road splatter. So because I regularly wipe the truck clean, (did it on Friday night), it doesn't get very dirty. Thus... 4 towels does the job for me. I use them intelligently also, note the order of my approach for the various panels and components I wiped.

and why doesn't spray wax scratch the paint? I didn't know it had cleaning ability

A quality spray wax should not scratch paint. The product pictured is a waterless wash that includes some wax, not a dedicated spray wax.

A good point not made by Mike (which is rare) is that frequent cleaning like this reduces the opportunity for contaminants to bond to the paint and reduces your work claying. It's easy care today and in the future.

Great point, thanks for bringing that out...

Worked day is over, going to take my clean and shiny truck home...

:D