Had my friend come over and show me how to properly wash the car. He washes high end cars for free for the opportunity to photograph them. I linked to his channel in the video description.

I didn't catch all of it but he clay bar and waxed the whole thing as well.

 

OP- Here are some tips

1. Buy a bag of decent Microfiber cloths and put them all in one bucket with good car wash soap(ie.... not the kind that you can buy locally). Then take ONE MF towel and start at the top and use one towel per panel, but do the lower valences and rear LAST with separate towels.

2. Then only dry with an air blower (not garden lawn blower) or a specific MF drying towel.

25% of scratches come from washing, 75% come from drying.


1. noticed several things on his wash------ His second round after rinsing his wash mitt, he did part of the right front fender top, then went all the way down behind the front wheel, then back up and part of the hood and front fender, then did the front bumper. ANY dirt, sand etc.... that was behind the front wheel, now ended up in the mitt and scratching all those painted parts that were done after that section. This is just one reason to use separate towels for all parts.

When you are particular about the specifics of taking care of paint, you start noticing little things like that.

 

First of all I loved the video, especially the music.
My only observation, not being a professional car wash person, is that you never wash a car in the sun. Your friend needs one of those portable tents.

 

I think you guys are right, definitely room for improvement in this process. A portable tent!! Why didn't I think of that I'll get one myself!

Here are some of the products he used? Any thoughts?

 

in the sun.

 

I use Palmolive, it is was a detailer I know uses and you can wash in the sun, the trick is to keep the car wet at all times.

 

Yep keeping it wet is a plus.

BUT...... Palmolive like all other dish washing detergents strips off all wax and sealants every time you wash it. Now your paint is not protected, which is the sole reason for a sealant.

Off the shelf products from local places are watered down, have additives that aren't desired sometimes etc..... Meguires is not a bad product, but there is a reason why they have different levels price wise. Gold class is not bad, but much prefer Chemical Guys wash soaps like Mr Pink, or Honeydew line. No additives and good prices. I would use the Meguires on the wheels though. Just not the paint.

 

Yes, never heard of the Exterior Gloss stuff, likely an off the shelf no name brand product. Also likely a sealant, but probably has filler in it to mask the swirls and scratches. OR, could be a possible gloss enhancer polish that has no sealant in it. But regardless after about 2-3 washes you will likely see the swirls come back just as noticeable. Wouldn't touch my Mercedes with any of that stuff let alone a AM. Honestly if I were even paying a detailer or Paint Correction specialist to do my car and I even saw a bottle like those in his shop, I either would ask what they are used on, or walk away not looking back. Junk products are not bad to have around for things like inside wheel barrel cleaning, underneath parts etc..... No real reason to waste expensive stuff on that, so that is why I would ask. But if they said they use that on a car, then I would leave. This is not condemning you or your guy, likely a lack of knowledge that most people don't have or don't have time to learn and trust others with what they do. But just washing a lower panel then back to the hood with same mitt, gave that away.

A. Your car is not damaged, it is ok or fine.
B. A proper paint correction (removal of all the swirls and scratches) would make your car a different car and better than brand new, but expensive or you can learn on your own.
C. Probably your car will need a proper sealant or polish within a few months to make sure its protected. Its all about the protection of the clear layer. That is what is most important. Good products like Ammo, Pinnacle, Swissvax etc.... are the ones to use. There are many others that are really good too. There is a reason why good actual carnuba wax costs $100 plus. But remember a sealant and carnauba are two different products that have different results and longevity.


Autogeek is a good place to look at products and learn and buy. The forum there has great information. I think this forum has a section also, just not looked at it yet.

I only use AMMONYC products and Menzerna polishes and chemical guys soap on all high line vehicles. I don't do anything as a business, just a hobby and a lot of learning using tons of different products. I learned how to do this from AMMONYC videos, which really explained the process. It is a process, that produces amazing results

This is what a local dealer think is great on a brand new 2016 Vantage GT. This is horrible and IMHO what a car 7 years old should look like. Not a new AM. You can see dealer installed holograms from the high speed buffer (they should not be using) in the pics, plus you see swirls, kinda like spider webbing scratches. Those are from the washings since the buffing on the car. They don't take care of the cars they do. If they shine, and are clean, then they are happy and the customer is happy. But this is horrible, and I would raise hell if my car came out this way.

 

Depending on how dirty the car is, I'll either use either P21S Bodywork Shampoo (if really dirty) or Optimum (NR2010Q) No Rinse Wash & Shine. With the Optimum, I can wash the car in the garage with barely any water on the floor.

Also, I suggest using a 2 bucket method - 1 with wash solution, and 1 to rinse micro-fiber mitt/towel or sponge in. This way you don't dirty up you wash solution.

I've also been very happy with the THE RAG COMPANY's 16 in. x 16 in. Eagle Edgeless Blue Microfiber towels. Usually only takes 1-2 towels to dry the car off.

 

Wow great advice from everyone! I feel like there is so much information out there, it's hard to nail down the exact "best" way. My paint has seen better days but I hope to get it looking great again.

 

answer to the question,,I wash all my cars and bikes on my Drive way? where do people normally do it? I understand in Germany and some other strange places its against the law.
I just dont understand how people can do it in the sun?? for me that is just wrong! shampoo drying on the paint is not wise. (before you wash it off)

I agree blow it dry and then a micro fiber towl finish it off, I also blow down the door vent / drain holes, then I do the engine bay and blow out all the water in and by the plastic pockets just under the front window, as well as the top of the engine. Then the boot/ hood and blow out around the lights. (you will be surprised how much water comes out from those crevices)

My garage is pressurized and I get no dust on my babies so therefore I dont need to cover it, sometimes I can go 3- 5 weeks between certain cars and getting into car with no dust is a pleasure. before i did that i would wash my car (one is Black) and 2 hours later dust on it so I suggest get the garage done if your serious about detailing my wife thinks i need therapy.

I keep my garage at 22 degree for 6 moths and then 26 for our winter months

 

A pressurized garage? Never even heard of that before. I wash my car fairly quickly but sometimes can't avoid the sun. I use one bucket but rinse the mit with the hose after I clean each part of the car. When finished I rinse the car withe deionized water so I don't have to dry it. It drip dries without spots.

 

Washing in the sun is just plain wrong........Period

 

have always washed my own cars,especially my Aston,
cant imagine having someone else do it.

 

Griot's Garage makes the best stuff and shows you how, check out their website, many YouTube videos.
www.griotsgarage.com