How do you guys keep your cars clean? Take them to to carwash, detailer or self wash? I occasionally take mine to the "hand" carwash down the street. Other times I will go to the local pressure washer place and bring my own MF towels and other prodects.

If you guys are using the pressure washing places what is on your check list of items you guys bring/use? I only use the high pressure water/soap, low pressure presoak, tire wheel cleaner and spot free. Never would I use that damn brush. Should I be staying away from any of these?

How do you condo dwellers keep your rides clean and what do you use? Any products in particular?

Thanks.

 

There is a Car Wash in my Condo Buliding, Wash it myself during warm Weather... Cold weather i take it to the Car Wash at the Mall... I hate other peaople touching my car, cause only i can wash it the best... I keep mine clean by only trying to take it out in Dry Weather... but my car gets washed by me once a week...

 

An option you may like is Optimum no rinse

Optimum No Rinse Wash, Another tutorial i put together for the bmw club.

[quote]The scenario.

You live in an appartment with no access to a hose bib, or maybe your appartment complex does not allow onsite washes.

You live in a condo down town where your car is in a lower level parking garage. The garage does not have proper drainage or fixtures for washing a car.

It is 20 degrees outside. Your car has been through two weeks of slush and you can not stand looking at the dusty vehicle any more. But you can not wash it outside, and you know a detail spray wash will induce marring.

You have just driven 600 miles durring a club sponsered drive. The car looks like it is a electric bug zapper.

What are the benifits of a Optimum no rinse wash?
1) it can be done indoors/garage.
2) it can be done with a very small foot print, IE a parking space.
3) It is compact enough to be carried with you on a long road trip and used at motel or venue.
4) It is far less likely to induce marring compared to a tunnel car wash.
5) it is less likely to induce marring compared to a detail spray wash.

What are the down sides.
1) It is more likely to induce marring compared to my foam gun car wash.
2) The first few times it can be quite unnerving.

What supplies you need
(1) 5 gallon bucket with grit gaurd.
(1) 2 gallon bucket
(1) 8oz bottle of Optimum no rinse
(1) 16 oz sprizer bottle
(1) paint stirrer stick
(5-10) Microfiber wash towels or 2 sheep skin mitts.
(1) Waffle weave drying towel.



Step one:
Your five gallon bucket is your rinse bucket. You will wring out your mitt or wash towel in here. Your two gallon bucket is your wash solution. Your 16 oz spritzer is full of wash solution to prep heavily soiled areas.
First fill your buckets and spritzer with warm/hot water


Step Two:
2 oz of optimum no rinse goes in your solution bucket, 1 oz goes in your rinse bucket, and 1/2 oz goes into your spritzer bottle.
Use the paint stirrer mix the buckets.


Step Three:
Pre soak your wash towel in your wash solution. Spray down a 12x12 inch to 18x18 inch area with your spritzer bottle. Then lightly ring out the wash towel and wipe down the panel with very light pressure. Besure to use straight lines.

The car before

 

Step 4:
Put the wash rag in the rinse bucket. Rub and squeeze out the dirt in the rag completely. Re soak in wash solution and move on to the next area. As a towel no longer rinses clean grab a new one.

Before shot of one panel



After shots



A few more side by side shots.


Bumper



Step 5:
Spray down the tires and rims. Including the inside of the rim. Wash the tire, rim face. Then wrap the towel around the paint stick use this to clean the inside of the wheel. Grab a new towel for each rim.

Final shots

 

For those wondering here is the total foot print of water left on my garage floor.



Special thanks to redmond rocket for supplying the mazda speed 6

 

Many condo offer on site detailing services...or many even travel outside of usual parameters (given type of car)...

I just want a full time detail guy on payroll!!!