Workin at the carwash, yeah!

[R32driver]

Let's see your carwash pics and hear about your setup. My goal is to never ever run the '21 through a traditional carwash as long as I own it but what is everyone else doing? I start with a good washdown using a honda pressure washer to get the crud off then go 3 bucket technique. Wash the wheels and tires first, douse it with Adams Polish mega foam using a foam gun hooked to the pressure washer then scrub her down with a Chemical guys microfiber wash mitt utilizing a soap bucket and a rinse bucket. Good rinse then dry her off with a Dreadknot microfiber drying towel. Only thing I'd like to add to the mix is maybe an air cannon to knock the heavy water off first...Long term goal is to build an indoor/covered space at my house so I can wash like this year round, rain or shine.

 

[Stbentoak]

I just use one of these canister soap guns that attaches to a garden hose and a clean mitt every time. I then pull it in the garage and use a thing called "The Absorber" to chamois it off.
I'm not that **** about washing it.. you can use the 16 step method or the one step method, it still basically gets it clean and could be dirty again on your next trip down the road.
I do agree though that none of my vehicles ever see an automatic car wash. Surest way to ruin any finish....

 

[swathdiver]

I used to yell out, "Kids! Who wants ice cream?" but now they want cash!

 

[Bill 1960]

I added a deionizer into the mix a couple of years ago. Rinse with DI water and no drying needed.

 

[R32driver]

I added a deionizer into the mix a couple of years ago. Rinse with DI water and no drying needed.

Is that kinda like reverse osmosis? We had a whole home RO system (even the exterior faucets, long story) in our first house and it made for excellent car washes with no water spots. We live on a farm now and the water is great but definitely have to dry to avoid spots

 

[Bill 1960]

Is that kinda like reverse osmosis? We had a whole home RO system (even the exterior faucets, long story) in our first house and it made for excellent car washes with no water spots. We live on a farm now and the water is great but definitely have to dry to avoid spots

DI uses a different method but with similarities in the outcome to reduce dissolved minerals. RO uses a permeable filter membrane under pressure, and can be back flushed and cycled many times before replacing.

DI uses pellets in the filter to trap the minerals and when the pellets are saturated you replace them.

RO removes ~70% of minerals depending on design while DI can get very close to 100%.

 

[Pertzbro]

I live on a gravel road. Automatic car washes it is!

Thankfully around here they are all touchless.

 

[R32driver]

I used to yell out, "Kids! Who wants ice cream?" but now they want cash!

Washing the car is my zen time, the kids DO NOT get to "help"

 

[olyelr]

Washing the car is my zen time, the kids DO NOT get to "help"

Im the same way. Like mowing the lawn…just let me do it and stay the f away lol

I came home from work one day and my kids were super excited to tell me about a surprise they had for me. I was like cool whats up…they proceeded to tell me they washed my truck for me. I looked at my wife and was like you backed it out of the garage for them to wash it? She was like no, i had no clue they washed it. I asked the kids how they washed it in the garage…they told me they used wet rags, it worked really well at getting all the dirt off. I was a little furious to say the least. However, at 6 and 8 years old i guess they thought they were doing me a favor.

 

[swathdiver]

Im the same way. Like mowing the lawn…just let me do it and stay the f away lol

I came home from work one day and my kids were super excited to tell me about a surprise they had for me. I was like cool whats up…they proceeded to tell me they washed my truck for me. I looked at my wife and was like you backed it out of the garage for them to wash it? She was like no, i had no clue they washed it. I asked the kids how they washed it in the garage…they told me they used wet rags, it worked really well at getting all the dirt off. I was a little furious to say the least. However, at 6 and 8 years old i guess they thought they were doing me a favor.

Of course they thought they were pleasing Dad! Hopefully they did not perceive your true emotions as their memories for such things can last a lifetime!

Now I have to pay them! LOL

 

[OR VietVet]

I do remember the old leather chamois that we used as a kid when washed the family vehicles. You get good hand and wrist strength built up from all the twisting to squeeze the water out of them.

 

[Stbentoak]

If you think that’s good, our van driver at work took our company van to the self service car wash and used Scotch Brite to scrub the bugs off the front…Doh..!

 

[OR VietVet]

If you think that’s good, our van driver at work took our company van to the self service car wash and used Scotch Brite to scrub the bugs off the front…Doh..!

That doofus! Everyone knows to use steel wool!!!!!!!!

 

[StrkAliteN]

Let's see your carwash pics and hear about your setup. My goal is to never ever run the '21 through a traditional carwash as long as I own it but what is everyone else doing? I start with a good washdown using a honda pressure washer to get the crud off then go 3 bucket technique. Wash the wheels and tires first, douse it with Adams Polish mega foam using a foam gun hooked to the pressure washer then scrub her down with a Chemical guys microfiber wash mitt utilizing a soap bucket and a rinse bucket. Good rinse then dry her off with a Dreadknot microfiber drying towel. Only thing I'd like to add to the mix is maybe an air cannon to knock the heavy water off first...Long term goal is to build an indoor/covered space at my house so I can wash like this year round, rain or shine.
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Looks great ! Nice looking GMC you have there ( my retired GM plant father thanks you )

I just use old school garden hose - 5 gal bucket with warm water and generic car wash solution and a Costco car wash brush I bought 10 years ago.

Had my Yukon for 15yrs and I am positive it ain't never been thru an auto car wash ( I am too cheap to pay $15 to wash it that way - hahaha )

 

[R32driver]

I just use old school garden hose - 5 gal bucket with warm water and generic car wash solution and a Costco car wash brush I bought 10 years ago.

This is basically how I've washed cars my entire adult life until this new yukon came along. Found my normal soap (Meguiars gold class) will not produce any suds on this beast now that it had a ceramic polish applied. Literally no suds. Did some research and now I've totally geeked out on how the big boys are washing their rides and my ocd has gone into overdrive. No more brushes, hand wash using microfiber wash mitt and PH neutral soap only. Hand washing rims with dedicated wash mitt and bucket only to be used on rims (although I've kinda always done that for the most part) and now this foam gun is an obsession. Cannot just dump some soap in a bucket and go anymore. I've turned car washing into a full on hour plus project.

And still my cars are dirty the first time they go anywhere. I live on a farm with mostly gravel driveways so that certainly doesn't help. I still enjoy cleaning my cars even if it's basically an act of futility. There's something strangely satisfying about the crazy thick lather the foam gun creates...

 

[MADPINTO08]

I just try not to wash and instead give my tahoe a full wipe down daily microfiber towels and some mist wax… stays very shiny

 

[bigdog9191999]

depends on which vehicle.

most of them have been through an auto wash, but all of mine are also 20years old with 200k+ on average so i dont tend to get in a big yank about it.

however they only usually go through an autowash in the winter ( touchless if we can) just to keep the bulk salt off. otherwise is like most with a one bucket, wash, shammy off, and sometimes a wax.


i do have a couple that are only washed by mother nature, but these are the exception. like my tahoe, it is a 230k $1,000 beater that i bought with a caved in quarter panel and peeling clear and paint. is my daily to bathe in salt for winter, and is used like a truck in summer, i have had 1,500# of scrap in the back to include a complete motor/trans.

 

[B520044]

Washing the car is my zen time, the kids DO NOT get to "help"

Me too! I thought I was the only one. However I made a horrible mistake on Sunday taking it to the manual car wash. The damn brush hose kept slapping the sides of my Yukon and now I have scratches ALL around it! So disgusted and vow to never ever to do that again. Luckily they are not deep scratches and I should be able to smooth most of them out.

 

[Baja_Bob]

I like to use the DIY carwash with my own bucket and brush/sponge. There's never a line so no one has to wait behind me, I've done it at home before but I have a gravel driveway that collects all the water at the end by the road. You have to wait several hours for the water to dry up or you'll be driving through mud.

 

[Denali Brad]

Let's see your carwash pics and hear about your setup. My goal is to never ever run the '21 through a traditional carwash as long as I own it but what is everyone else doing? I start with a good washdown using a honda pressure washer to get the crud off then go 3 bucket technique. Wash the wheels and tires first, douse it with Adams Polish mega foam using a foam gun hooked to the pressure washer then scrub her down with a Chemical guys microfiber wash mitt utilizing a soap bucket and a rinse bucket. Good rinse then dry her off with a Dreadknot microfiber drying towel. Only thing I'd like to add to the mix is maybe an air cannon to knock the heavy water off first...Long term goal is to build an indoor/covered space at my house so I can wash like this year round, rain or shine.
View attachment 361385View attachment 361386

What is an Air Cannon? I use a leaf blower, but is there something better?

Brad