The complete half hour car wash

[MerlintheMad]

Update on my method. I've added some "ingredients" to it, and it improves appearance and protection; and doesn't take any longer if I am in a hurry.

I just now finished an experiment and it was a success. Here are the tools of the "half hour car wash":
*six white 100% terrycloth towels, 14 x 26 inch size (white is so that you can tell instantly when to turn the towels to a clean surface; you have eight)
*two microfiber drying towels, 2 x 3 foot size
*a rag for grungy spots (like inside the lips of the exhaust stubs)
*2 gallon bucket
*rubber gloves (I like heavy household duty, a bit thicker than dishwashing gloves)
*one gallon of distilled water
*one half ounce (one TBSP, i.e. one cap full) of Optimum No Rinse (ONR)
*spray bottle of the same distilled water/ONR mix

1. Submerge all six terry cloth towels in the one gallon of distilled water; they will soak all of it up. Lay two terrycloth towels each on the hatch window, sunroof and windshield, one for each side.

2. Wash the windshield first, a half at a time, and dry as you go. Lay the towels on the hood for doing the front of the car (I do this last, well, just before the wheels).

3. Wash the sunroof and windows on one side and dry. Repeat for other side. Lay towels on roof behind sunroof when you are drying glass.

4. Wash hatch window and dry, then proceed a half at a time to wash and dry rear fenders, bumper and diffuser, underside last.

5. Spray out area under exhaust pipe stubs with spray bottle and wipe gently with rag to get any grit out from under the stubs. Dry carefully (even if in a hurry).

6. Swap out first drying towel for the second.

7. Wash and dry half of the roof, then wash and dry back door top to bottom; open door and wash and dry door edge and door sill. Repeat for front door. (Spray out brake vent if gritty with spray bottle and wipe off grit gently with rag.)

8. Repeat roof other half and doors on other side.

9. Wash and dry half of the hood and near fender.

10. Wash and dry half of the bumper and grilles. Spray bottle will help get tough bugs and grit out of the grilles.

11. Repeat for other half.

12. Wash and dry wheels one at a time. (Here is where I tend to slow down and enjoy myself; and it won't be done in a half hour if I allow myself to linger.)

13. Launder your towels; microfiber separately on gentle cycle; and use very little detergent, maybe even only every other laundering on the microfiber.

 

[westcoastGT]

Update on my method. I've added some "ingredients" to it, and it improves appearance and protection; and doesn't take any longer if I am in a hurry.

I just now finished an experiment and it was a success. Here are the tools of the "half hour car wash":
*six white 100% terrycloth towels, 14 x 26 inch size (white is so that you can tell instantly when to turn the towels to a clean surface; you have eight)
*two microfiber drying towels, 2 x 3 foot size
*a rag for grungy spots (like inside the lips of the exhaust stubs)
*2 gallon bucket
*rubber gloves (I like heavy household duty, a bit thicker than dishwashing gloves)
*one gallon of distilled water
*one half ounce (one TBSP, i.e. one cap full) of Optimum No Rinse (ONR)
*spray bottle of the same distilled water/ONR mix

1. Submerge all six terry cloth towels in the one gallon of distilled water; they will soak all of it up. Lay two terrycloth towels each on the hatch window, sunroof and windshield, one for each side.

2. Wash the windshield first, a half at a time, and dry as you go. Lay the towels on the hood for doing the front of the car (I do this last, well, just before the wheels).

3. Wash the sunroof and windows on one side and dry. Repeat for other side. Lay towels on roof behind sunroof when you are drying glass.

4. Wash hatch window and dry, then proceed a half at a time to wash and dry rear fenders, bumper and diffuser, underside last.

5. Spray out area under exhaust pipe stubs with spray bottle and wipe gently with rag to get any grit out from under the stubs. Dry carefully (even if in a hurry).

6. Swap out first drying towel for the second.

7. Wash and dry half of the roof, then wash and dry back door top to bottom; open door and wash and dry door edge and door sill. Repeat for front door. (Spray out brake vent if gritty with spray bottle and wipe off grit gently with rag.)

8. Repeat roof other half and doors on other side.

9. Wash and dry half of the hood and near fender.

10. Wash and dry half of the bumper and grilles. Spray bottle will help get tough bugs and grit out of the grilles.

11. Repeat for other half.

12. Wash and dry wheels one at a time. (Here is where I tend to slow down and enjoy myself; and it won't be done in a half hour if I allow myself to linger.)

13. Launder your towels; microfiber separately on gentle cycle; and use very little detergent, maybe even only every other laundering on the microfiber.
View attachment 32816

Merlin , research Boars hair brushes , I use it for the pre wash , lots of soap , 2 buckets , gets most of the primary dirt , then wash it with whatever method you like after , I use a 12 in brush with a scoping handle .................

 

[MerlintheMad]

If I feel a need to get especially bad grime off, I go to the hand wash (coin op) and spray everything down first, then drive the c. one mile to our house and finish up there.

Last night it rained and this morning my car was filthy; so, a filthy rain. But the actual road grime was minimal, so I just did the above single wash and it worked great.

 

[DNA is Digital]

This is an older post, but I couldn't resist posting.

You need a lubricant to wash your car... ONR as already pointed out is great and is what I use.

Also, soft water does not equal contaminant free water, i.e. PPM does not equal 0 as it does with distilled water. As a test, spray half of your hood with softened tap water and then the other half with distilled water and allow to air dry.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I wouldn't expect you to necessarily read the whole thread. But I did update the methodology a bit. The complete half hour car wash And that pretty much admits what you suggested here. (Also, I noted that I made a little mistake; I use 14x16" terrycloth towels, not 26")

This is an older post, but I couldn't resist posting.

You need a lubricant to wash your car... ONR as already pointed out is great and is what I use.

Also, soft water does not equal contaminant free water, i.e. PPM does not equal 0 as it does with distilled water. As a test, spray half of your hood with softened tap water and then the other half with distilled water and allow to air dry.

 

[DNA is Digital]

I wouldn't expect you to necessarily read the whole thread. But I did update the methodology a bit. The complete half hour car wash And that pretty much admits what you suggested here. (Also, I noted that I made a little mistake; I use 14x16" terrycloth towels, not 26")

Damn... alright, glad you reformed!

 

[cncBilly]

Update on my method. I've added some "ingredients" to it, and it improves appearance and protection; and doesn't take any longer if I am in a hurry.

I just now finished an experiment and it was a success. Here are the tools of the "half hour car wash":
*six white 100% terrycloth towels, 14 x 26 inch size (white is so that you can tell instantly when to turn the towels to a clean surface; you have eight)
*two microfiber drying towels, 2 x 3 foot size
*a rag for grungy spots (like inside the lips of the exhaust stubs)
*2 gallon bucket
*rubber gloves (I like heavy household duty, a bit thicker than dishwashing gloves)
*one gallon of distilled water
*one half ounce (one TBSP, i.e. one cap full) of Optimum No Rinse (ONR)
*spray bottle of the same distilled water/ONR mix

1. Submerge all six terry cloth towels in the one gallon of distilled water; they will soak all of it up. Lay two terrycloth towels each on the hatch window, sunroof and windshield, one for each side.

2. Wash the windshield first, a half at a time, and dry as you go. Lay the towels on the hood for doing the front of the car (I do this last, well, just before the wheels).

3. Wash the sunroof and windows on one side and dry. Repeat for other side. Lay towels on roof behind sunroof when you are drying glass.

4. Wash hatch window and dry, then proceed a half at a time to wash and dry rear fenders, bumper and diffuser, underside last.

5. Spray out area under exhaust pipe stubs with spray bottle and wipe gently with rag to get any grit out from under the stubs. Dry carefully (even if in a hurry).

6. Swap out first drying towel for the second.

7. Wash and dry half of the roof, then wash and dry back door top to bottom; open door and wash and dry door edge and door sill. Repeat for front door. (Spray out brake vent if gritty with spray bottle and wipe off grit gently with rag.)

8. Repeat roof other half and doors on other side.

9. Wash and dry half of the hood and near fender.

10. Wash and dry half of the bumper and grilles. Spray bottle will help get tough bugs and grit out of the grilles.

11. Repeat for other half.

12. Wash and dry wheels one at a time. (Here is where I tend to slow down and enjoy myself; and it won't be done in a half hour if I allow myself to linger.)

13. Launder your towels; microfiber separately on gentle cycle; and use very little detergent, maybe even only every other laundering on the microfiber.
View attachment 32816

You missed wiping under the hood. Don’t neglect your engine bay my friend.

 

[MerlintheMad]

You missed wiping under the hood. Don’t neglect your engine bay my friend.

This is the FAST outer car wash. Coincidentally, I just wiped off all the surfaces in my engineroom over the weekend, for the first time in 22 months. I was happy at how "undirty" it was, actually. A few paper towels and a spray bottle with ONR mixture spiffed everything up nicely.