How do you wash your Stinger?

[Chucky]

Do you take your Stinger through an automatic car wash or wash it by hand? Is there anything I'm missing or should be doing differently? I'm kind of anal about washing my car, this is my 10 step process:

1. Spray the car down thoroughly with pressure washer from top to bottom focusing more on the front, lower side panels and wheels
2. Use a degreaser spray to wipe any grease, oil and bugs still on the front, lower side panels and wheels
3. Wipe any area I touched with degreaser with soapy microfiber cloth
4. Rinse entire car with pressure washer
5. Cover the car with a very liberal coating of foam using a foam cannon (Chemical Guys Snow Foam Auto Wash)
6. Using two two sided car wash mitts and soapy water in a bucket with a grit guard in it; I clean entire car 3x3' section at a time starting at the top. I only wipe in straight lines and only twice in a section with the same side of the wash mitt before turning it over and then rinsing it in a bucket of clear water with a grit guard in it
7. Rinse the car thoroughly with pressure washer top to bottom
8. Lay a large 2x3' clean microfiber cloth across the car and drag it in a straight line across the car to dry it turning it over occasionally
9. Open hood, doors, hatch, sunroof and gas lid; with a smaller microfiber towel dry and clean door & sills, hatch sills, sunroof sills, gas cap area & door and engine bay
10. Using the soapy water and wash mitts clean each wheel thoroughly then dry with microfiber cloth and dry.

That's it for the exterior if it's really dirty I will repeat steps 5-7. I use a Dyson vacuum to vacuum the interior (attachments work great for a car), a glass cleaner on all the glass and finish it with Shine Armor Fortify Quick Coat - Ceramic Waterless Wash, Shine & Protect on the exterior while in the shade.

 

[MerlintheMad]

This should be fun(ny). I have my own "half hour car wash" thread up from last year. (Unfrequented, because it is anathema to purists/fanatics like you. )

First of all, I do use an automated car wash tunnel, but only in the winter, and only after a snow storm has resulted in our dry roads getting wet again, i.e. getting saline on the undercarriage, aaagain. The tunnel has a vigorous undercarriage spray station. Otherwise, I avoid tunnels like a plague.

So, my revised/improved version of the "half hour car wash" (I don't enjoy it if it takes longer than that; but I enjoy it a lot while it lasts that long):

1. If necessary (too much dust, or too much dirt in the dried rain drops), get out the hose and schnozzle and spray down the entire car (this lengthens the "half hour" by as much longer as it takes to spray down; unavoidable): get off all the surface loose dirt.
2. Fill a normal sized household bucket to just below the brim, with a largish terrycloth towel in it. The water must be SOFT and straight hot (wear thick rubber gloves throughout the entire wash: saves your hands for washing tomorrow, and the next day, and the next, each time it rains ). Go around the lower "skirts" to get off the grim that has spattered up from the road. Don't rub! Turn the towel regularly. Rinse it out in the bucket regularly. By the time you're done, there should be virtually no water left in the bucket: water is your "lubricant" to prevent scratching: use it copiously.
3. Fill the same bucket fresh with straight hot, SOFT water. Drop six large (16" x 28", I think, from Bed Bath and Beyond) hand drying towels (terrycloth, nice and thick, luxurious feeling) in the bucket before filling. Drop two towels on the hatch window; two on the sunroof; two on the windshield (or hood, doesn't matter).
4. Wash the right side/rear top to bottom with the right towel on the hatch; turn towel frequently, do not rub; (pay close attention to the exhaust pipe ends, inside and out, and underneath; pull the edge of the towel in between that narrow space). Wash underside of diffuser last. Drop towel in bucket.
5. Repeat step 4 for the left side. You now have two towels in the bucket; they will be your dirtiest towels; you are done with them.
6. Using a 2' x 3' microfiber DRYING towel, drop the non pile side on the hatch glass and thoroughly dry; use vigor! Switching to the pile side, drag (lightly) the towel over the entire rear surfaces. Wipe the exhaust pipe ends and that area last. Polish the exhaust pipe ends inside the lip and outside.
7. Go over roof, side windows and mirror, down to the rocker panels with one towel; left or right, it doesn't matter which is first. Turn towel frequently.
8. Repeat for the other side.
9. Taking the same microfiber drying towel, use the non pile side to polish the sunroof. Using the pile side, drag (lightly, do not rub) over the roof between sunroof and hatch glass. Use non pile side to dry side windows and mirrors glass. Use pile side to finish drying the sides down to the rocker panels.
10. Last two towels are used on windshield, hood, fenders and grill area. Pay special attention to the grill area because of bugs, etc. (These will be your cleanest returned towels, unless you have a lot of dead bugs.) One towel for the left.
11. Last towel for the right.
12. Using the same microfiber, polish the windshield with non pile side. Use pile side to drag (lightly) over all surfaces. Take extra care to dry the dark chrome carefully, and quickly before it dries.
13. Starting with one rim (I go front to back on one side at a time), use your cleanest terrycloth towels to go around each spoke as far inside the rim as you can reach, then between each spoke, then up each spoke to the center. Dry off with same microfiber towel (yes, one drying towel covers the entire car; but a second drying towel won't hurt a thing! ). Repeat for rest of wheels.
14. If you want to, open each door, drag one of your least soiled terrycloth towels along the inside of the door wells and along the edges of the door; then dry with the microfiber; each well and door edge takes well under a minute.
15. Stand back and admire, then get on with the rest of your day. (Which includes laundering your towels; terrycloth separately; never launder microfiber with other than microfiber: I wait until I have at least two drying towels that need laundering then wash them together.)

I also find that small microfiber hand towels are handy for spot cleaning with a spray bottle, in between full washes. Make sure that you use a Cali Duster first, so that you are not soaking down dust and corrupting the microfiber. Go across the sprayed spot very lightly, do not rub!

 

[nhcowboy28]

I wash it nekked.

 

[Kyle_Gates]

I generally time the evening walk with my wife to coincide with the guy down the street washing his Stinger GT.....then we stop and watch, until she has had enough, then I stand by myself and watch......

 

[turboAWD]

Haven't washed it yet (5 weeks, no rain here in NorCal during that time).. Will probably go to a touchless wash, or something.. I'm not OCD about paint - Subaru was supposed to have "thin" paint, and sure, after 15 years, it's fading some (black), but it also has a bunch of dents/dings/scratches. Thinking about paint protection or ceramic..

I'm not trying to make my car look good in a museum in 15 years. I'm looking forward to replacing it 10-15 years down the road, fully worn out with the memory of a thousand smiles..

 

[westcoastGT]

I think Foam Cannons are a wank I used one for a year during my " German phase " waste of time ........sorry..........best secret weapon ..........boars hair brush !

 

[washguy]

Washing by hand is the best way....after its all said and done...the choosing of your wax is what makes the difference ...Ive had pretty nice results from Kore its bad azz Wash

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cem-kore-c/overview/

 

[westcoastGT]

Washing by hand is the best way....after its all said and done...the choosing of your wax is what makes the difference ...Ive had pretty nice results from Kore its bad azz Wash

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cem-kore-c/overview/

just ordered a pallet !

 

[washguy]

West why did you buy it? Ive got a couple of extra cans of it ...you are welcome to have one of mine
Wash

 

[westcoastGT]

West why did you buy it? Ive got a couple of extra cans of it ...you are welcome to have one of mine
Wash

no no no , at $ 1500 per can I'll sell it to the new neighbours as ...........life extender , might need a franchise ! bawaaaaaa

 

[washguy]

West ive been told besides being a top notch wax....how did you guess? It is an extender okay...but it all depends on how hard you rub it Wash

 

[turboAWD]

Does it come with a copy of that Wu Tang Clan album?

 

[westcoastGT]

West ive been told besides being a top notch wax....how did you guess? It is an extender okay...but it all depends on how hard you rub it Wash

gotta be real careful about that ! too hard and you've got a mess and have to start all over again !

 

[washguy]

gotta be real careful about that ! too hard and you've got a mess and have to start all over again !

West That's exactly what the Websters sez in its definition of a "hot mess" way to go! Wash

 

[westcoastGT]

West That's exactly what the Websters sez in its definition of a "hot mess" way to go! Wash

......well there you go ...............I'm an encyclopedia ! ..................I'm been called worse ...................and better ! Bawaaa

 

[Chucky]

This should be fun(ny). I have my own "half hour car wash" thread up from last year. (Unfrequented, because it is anathema to purists/fanatics like you. )
LOL; very detailed write up and damn you use a lot of towels. The wash I described takes about an hour; I'm surprised you can do all that in a half hour; you must be flying around the car should be a good workout

 

[MerlintheMad]

@Chucky it is a good workout. Full body exercise routine, with all that bending at the waist to reach the rocker panels and lower bumpers/fenders; and squatting to do the rims, etc. And I do rush though everything that is defined as "work". Even if I am enjoying myself. Sometimes I do slow down toward the end; the rims are sexy.

Might as well use a lot of towels. They're cheap and easily washed afterward. Lots of towels mean no dirt scratching the clear coat.

 

[Peeso33]

Got my car washed yesterday for free (well... for a few scoop of ice cream).

 

[MerlintheMad]

But, the roof. How did that work out?

 

[Mike04SVT]

No, just no.

You should only use water between details.

This should be fun(ny). I have my own "half hour car wash" thread up from last year. (Unfrequented, because it is anathema to purists/fanatics like you. )

First of all, I do use an automated car wash tunnel, but only in the winter, and only after a snow storm has resulted in our dry roads getting wet again, i.e. getting saline on the undercarriage, aaagain. The tunnel has a vigorous undercarriage spray station. Otherwise, I avoid tunnels like a plague.

So, my revised/improved version of the "half hour car wash" (I don't enjoy it if it takes longer than that; but I enjoy it a lot while it lasts that long):

1. If necessary (too much dust, or too much dirt in the dried rain drops), get out the hose and schnozzle and spray down the entire car (this lengthens the "half hour" by as much longer as it takes to spray down; unavoidable): get off all the surface loose dirt.
2. Fill a normal sized household bucket to just below the brim, with a largish terrycloth towel in it. The water must be SOFT and straight hot (wear thick rubber gloves throughout the entire wash: saves your hands for washing tomorrow, and the next day, and the next, each time it rains ). Go around the lower "skirts" to get off the grim that has spattered up from the road. Don't rub! Turn the towel regularly. Rinse it out in the bucket regularly. By the time you're done, there should be virtually no water left in the bucket: water is your "lubricant" to prevent scratching: use it copiously.
3. Fill the same bucket fresh with straight hot, SOFT water. Drop six large (16" x 28", I think, from Bed Bath and Beyond) hand drying towels (terrycloth, nice and thick, luxurious feeling) in the bucket before filling. Drop two towels on the hatch window; two on the sunroof; two on the windshield (or hood, doesn't matter).
4. Wash the right side/rear top to bottom with the right towel on the hatch; turn towel frequently, do not rub; (pay close attention to the exhaust pipe ends, inside and out, and underneath; pull the edge of the towel in between that narrow space). Wash underside of diffuser last. Drop towel in bucket.
5. Repeat step 4 for the left side. You now have two towels in the bucket; they will be your dirtiest towels; you are done with them.
6. Using a 2' x 3' microfiber DRYING towel, drop the non pile side on the hatch glass and thoroughly dry; use vigor! Switching to the pile side, drag (lightly) the towel over the entire rear surfaces. Wipe the exhaust pipe ends and that area last. Polish the exhaust pipe ends inside the lip and outside.
7. Go over roof, side windows and mirror, down to the rocker panels with one towel; left or right, it doesn't matter which is first. Turn towel frequently.
8. Repeat for the other side.
9. Taking the same microfiber drying towel, use the non pile side to polish the sunroof. Using the pile side, drag (lightly, do not rub) over the roof between sunroof and hatch glass. Use non pile side to dry side windows and mirrors glass. Use pile side to finish drying the sides down to the rocker panels.
10. Last two towels are used on windshield, hood, fenders and grill area. Pay special attention to the grill area because of bugs, etc. (These will be your cleanest returned towels, unless you have a lot of dead bugs.) One towel for the left.
11. Last towel for the right.
12. Using the same microfiber, polish the windshield with non pile side. Use pile side to drag (lightly) over all surfaces. Take extra care to dry the dark chrome carefully, and quickly before it dries.
13. Starting with one rim (I go front to back on one side at a time), use your cleanest terrycloth towels to go around each spoke as far inside the rim as you can reach, then between each spoke, then up each spoke to the center. Dry off with same microfiber towel (yes, one drying towel covers the entire car; but a second drying towel won't hurt a thing! ). Repeat for rest of wheels.
14. If you want to, open each door, drag one of your least soiled terrycloth towels along the inside of the door wells and along the edges of the door; then dry with the microfiber; each well and door edge takes well under a minute.
15. Stand back and admire, then get on with the rest of your day. (Which includes laundering your towels; terrycloth separately; never launder microfiber with other than microfiber: I wait until I have at least two drying towels that need laundering then wash them together.)

I also find that small microfiber hand towels are handy for spot cleaning with a spray bottle, in between full washes. Make sure that you use a Cali Duster first, so that you are not soaking down dust and corrupting the microfiber. Go across the sprayed spot very lightly, do not rub!