The complete half hour car wash

[MerlintheMad]

I have finally timed myself.

3:27 PM, I filled the bucket with straight hot, soft water and dropped in my first stage washing towel; it's big, half of a beach towel to be exact. I ball it up and go over the lower sides and rear. (Lately I have been going quickly over the rims too, but today I didn't. I forgot. It only takes a couple more minutes, though.)

3:31 PM, I filled the bucket a second time with straight hot, soft water and pushed my six 18" x 26" towels into it. Two towels on the hatch window, two on the moonroof, two on the hood; one towel per section per side. I do the rims as the last part of the outside. Last stage is to open the doors and wipe out the lower "sill" where the dirty water from the road gets in.

3:54 PM, Done! I am now putting my washing towels in the washing machine, and hand washing my microfiber in the sink. I put the microfiber(s) in the dryer.

4:00 PM. Laundry is done (except for the final dryer for the washing towels and putting away).

I guess you could call this the "complete half hour car wash", because I don't leave anything undone. This even includes going around the exhaust pipe stubs and diffuser beneath them to make sure they don't look tatty with exposed water drops dried on. And of course, I don't leave out the entire underside of the diffuser either, right up to just behind the rear tires.

(edit to add: I can't emphasize enough the importance of SOFT water. Hot, soft water will cut through anything the road has to dish out; well, except for tar and tree sap, heh! Those get treated with isopropyl alcohol after the car is dried off. So far, I have not run into anything that the alcohol won't get off.)

 

[Cristobal09]

I own my own detailing company and wash microfibers with all free and clear and dry them on low heat by themselves and they're still super soft after 2 years.

Have you heard of ONR? I use that stuff religiously on my cars that aren't too filthy. Can make a wash take 10 minutes.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Washing a car is actually easier in very cool weather, than in summer time. I can go over the entire car and it won't dry off. Then I take a single 2' x 3' microfiber over the whole car. I do the wheels one at a time: wash down and then dry off. In the summer, I tend to dry the car off from the windshield back; then wash the front and dry it off. That's the only difference.

 

[Cristobal09]

You do wheels separately from the rest of the car, right?

 

[MerlintheMad]

I own my own detailing company and wash microfibers with all free and clear and dry them on low heat by themselves and they're still super soft after 2 years.

Have you heard of ONR? I use that stuff religiously on my cars that aren't too filthy. Can make a wash take 10 minutes.

I don't know anything about ONR. I do know about washing microfibers by themselves. Since I am only washing one microfiber at a time, I don't launder them, but, as I said, wash them in the sink by hand. I just use a single drop of Kirklands laundry detergent. But Palmolive Pure and Clear (pretty much the same thing?) is my favorite dishwashing soap. And with your recommendation I will try that instead. I only use the dryer on low heat as well.

 

[Cristobal09]

Optimum no rinse.

You'll thank me later.

As long as the vehicle isn't caked in dirt, that is.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Optimum no rinse.

You'll thank me later.

As long as the vehicle isn't caked in dirt, that is.

Caked in dirt, heh! Not hardly. Now covered in filthy water spots, mixed with light grime, the result of a very cruddy winter snow and salt mixed, that I can tackle (haven't yet, but I am confident) with the hot, soft water pre rinse off.

I'm looking up Optimum no rinse right now ...

 

[Cristobal09]

Takes 10 minutes to wash mine and can be done in a garage without a hose.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Takes 10 minutes to wash mine and can be done in a garage without a hose.

I don't use a hose in any case.

The only wrinkle in my method is my wife requesting that I back out into the driveway to do this, so that the water does not freeze to our walk areas to and from and inside the carport. I said, "I will think about it." Ice melt in the areas (if I don't back out) is another solution, but she prefers not. (Also, ice melt from shoes getting in the car would be annoying to me more than anyone else: so maybe backing out is the way to go; unless I want to wash my car under the carport and it is precipitating. Heh.)

 

[nhcowboy28]

I have finally timed myself.

3:27 PM, I filled the bucket with straight hot, soft water and dropped in my first stage washing towel; it's big, half of a beach towel to be exact. I ball it up and go over the lower sides and rear. (Lately I have been going quickly over the rims too, but today I didn't. I forgot. It only takes a couple more minutes, though.)

3:31 PM, I filled the bucket a second time with straight hot, soft water and pushed my six 18" x 26" towels into it. Two towels on the hatch window, two on the moonroof, two on the hood; one towel per section per side. I do the rims as the last part of the outside. Last stage is to open the doors and wipe out the lower "sill" where the dirty water from the road gets in.

3:54 PM, Done! I am now putting my washing towels in the washing machine, and hand washing my microfiber in the sink. I put the microfiber(s) in the dryer.

4:00 PM. Laundry is done (except for the final dryer for the washing towels and putting away).

I guess you could call this the "complete half hour car wash", because I don't leave anything undone. This even includes going around the exhaust pipe stubs and diffuser beneath them to make sure they don't look tatty with exposed water drops dried on. And of course, I don't leave out the entire underside of the diffuser either, right up to just behind the rear tires.

(edit to add: I can't emphasize enough the importance of SOFT water. Hot, soft water will cut through anything the road has to dish out; well, except for tar and tree sap, heh! Those get treated with isopropyl alcohol after the car is dried off. So far, I have not run into anything that the alcohol won't get off.)

Forgot some steps...

3:25 opened PBR.

3:30 opened second PBR

3:44 felt saucy so cracked open a Corona.

3:50 opened SAMs...can’t rememebr where da hiccup keys are. Hiccup.

3:59 coke and rum and a few chaser shots of Yeager.

4:01 pukes on laundry. Starts to dry off the dog. Questions whether I washed the car or the dog.

4:05. Blacked out.

 

[washguy]

(edit to add: I can't emphasize enough the importance of SOFT water. Hot, soft water will cut through anything the road has to dish out; well, except for tar and tree sap, heh! Those get treated with isopropyl alcohol after the car is dried off. So far, I have not run into anything that the alcohol won't get off.)

Merlin is so very right on! All of my carwashes that I owned had Hot Soft Water....period end of story !
and thats why my washes had lines of cars while my competitors got my overflow....the winning combo for a clean car is HOT Water...Soft Water...and a damn good detergent aka soap... I could tell yall how it all ties in....but yall prolly already know Wash

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Just finished mine, took 1.5 hrs:
Complete chamois & wipe down all interior.
Vacuum mats.
Full rinse.
Wash with dealer supplied Protektiv shampoo.
Another full rinse.
Blow dry with garden blower.
Final finish with Bowdens Big Green Sucker - Microfibre Chamois.
Chamois/Wipe down engine bay.
Chamois wheels & finish tyres with Meguiars Endurance Tyre Gel.
End result below

 

[GRStinger]

I have finally timed myself.

3:27 PM, I filled the bucket with straight hot, soft water and dropped in my first stage washing towel; it's big, half of a beach towel to be exact. I ball it up and go over the lower sides and rear. (Lately I have been going quickly over the rims too, but today I didn't. I forgot. It only takes a couple more minutes, though.)

3:31 PM, I filled the bucket a second time with straight hot, soft water and pushed my six 18" x 26" towels into it. Two towels on the hatch window, two on the moonroof, two on the hood; one towel per section per side. I do the rims as the last part of the outside. Last stage is to open the doors and wipe out the lower "sill" where the dirty water from the road gets in.

3:54 PM, Done! I am now putting my washing towels in the washing machine, and hand washing my microfiber in the sink. I put the microfiber(s) in the dryer.

4:00 PM. Laundry is done (except for the final dryer for the washing towels and putting away).

I guess you could call this the "complete half hour car wash", because I don't leave anything undone. This even includes going around the exhaust pipe stubs and diffuser beneath them to make sure they don't look tatty with exposed water drops dried on. And of course, I don't leave out the entire underside of the diffuser either, right up to just behind the rear tires.

(edit to add: I can't emphasize enough the importance of SOFT water. Hot, soft water will cut through anything the road has to dish out; well, except for tar and tree sap, heh! Those get treated with isopropyl alcohol after the car is dried off. So far, I have not run into anything that the alcohol won't get off.)

I commend you, and I am jealous that you can hand-wash on November 30. I would give a try, but I’m thinking it would go…

3:27 PM: Fill bucket with hot water; to basement - open anti-siphon valve for outside faucet/hose

3:28 PM: slip on ice; swear; re-fill bucket

3:31 PM: begin wash; notice soap has higher freezing temp than water; can’t feel fingers

3:54 PM: skim ice from wash bucket; crack frozen jeans while scrubbing tires; return insults to neighbor re: washing car outside at 3:54 PM on November 30

4:05 PM: feverishly scrape soap from car with micro-fiber; hands now numb

4:10 PM: begin rinse; notice stiffness of hose and low-pressure trickle; respond to wife’s complaints of water in basement

4:11 PM: request wife mop basement and wash micro-fiber towels

4:30 PM: return to consciousness with slight headache; drive Stinger – heater on full - to Mr. Carwash for 29.99/mo unlimited premium wash

 

[Stinger GT SS]

I commend you, and I am jealous that you can hand-wash on November 30. I would give a try, but I’m thinking it would go…

3:27 PM: Fill bucket with hot water; to basement - open anti-siphon valve for outside faucet/hose

3:28 PM: slip on ice; swear; re-fill bucket

3:31 PM: begin wash; notice soap has higher freezing temp than water; can’t feel fingers

3:54 PM: skim ice from wash bucket; crack frozen jeans while scrubbing tires; return insults to neighbor re: washing car outside at 3:54 PM on November 30

4:05 PM: feverishly scrape soap from car with micro-fiber; hands now numb

4:10 PM: begin rinse; notice stiffness of hose and low-pressure trickle; respond to wife’s complaints of water in basement

4:11 PM: request wife mop basement and wash micro-fiber towels

4:30 PM: return to consciousness with slight headache; drive Stinger – heater on full - to Mr. Carwash for 29.99/mo unlimited premium wash

None of those issues here today in Sydney, 1st December - 31C (88F).

 

[westcoastGT]

None of those issues here today in Sydney, 1st December - 31C (88F).

SHHHHHHHHH ( F... OFF ! ) i hope a white shark is in your toilet bowl for your 2AM dump !

 

[Stinger GT SS]

SHHHHHHHHH ( F... OFF ! ) i hope a white shark is in your toilet bowl for your 2AM dump !

LMAO, no it’s a 4am wizz & we get redbacks under the toilet seat.

 

[GRStinger]

None of those issues here today in Sydney, 1st December - 31C (88F).

88F!?! Man, that sounds miserable. How can you guys stand it down there? Sure am glad I don't have to put up with THAT weather.
OK wiseguy, get out there and (... oh, wait..... have to put another log on the fire..........................) and wash that Stinger!

 

[Stinger GT SS]

88F!?! Man, that sounds miserable. How can you guys stand it down there? Sure am glad I don't have to put up with THAT weather.
OK wiseguy, get out there and (... oh, wait..... have to put another log on the fire..........................) and wash that Stinger!

Yep, had that same conversation this morning with my daughter who lives in West Texas that she was also complaining about the weather & as I said, it’s pretty tough living on a tropical island down here in the South Pacific, but the English did send our ancestors here as convicts & here we must stay...sigh.

 

[GRStinger]

LMAO, no it’s a 4am wizz & we get redbacks under the toilet seat.
View attachment 15890

Geeeeezuss!!! Actual size???
"I'll. Never. Shit. Again."

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Geeeeezuss!!! Actual size???
"I'll. Never. Shit. Again."

No there only small, to put it in an Aussie vernacular, that’s not a spider...this is a spider.
The Australian Funnel Web...also very deadly, sleep tight...lol