Wiping Down a Car

Hey, I know this question's pretty stupid but I'll ask anyway. If you washed your car recently and it rains, is it bad to dry it with a towel in a garage so it still looks clean? I know it's bad in the winter when they sand the roads cause that'll scratch your paint, but if your car's only a little dirty what are the chances it'll hurt your paint to wipe it down without cleaning it?

well the thing is, if you drag a towel across the water droplets, the dirt that is on the car will get pulled around too, so when you get done you will most likely be left with towel streaks. You might try Mother's Instant Detailer. I also have a California Car Duster which works really good to get dust off (like the one the chick uses in the fast and the furious for like one second).

to be safe I'd say no, but if you have a nice coat of wax and if it is only some rain, you might be safe at least trying it.

I usually do that!

Here's my procedure.
1. Take a bucket, fill it with warm water.
2. Take a Shammy, Put it in the bucket with warm water.
3. Wipe the car down
4. make sure to keep getting the shammy wet, and get the dirt out.

Hope you all got a lesson :)

OHH and for the record books i HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend the Black Magic Tire Wet Foam.. That stuff is Amazing.

I usually use the same process as 90civicrider, but instead of a chamois, I use an "Absorber". Picks up water REALLY well...

I haven't heard of the Black Magic Tire Foam... I always use their Tire Wet, I'll have to give that a try!

Here's my carwashing process:
1. Spray car down
2. Scrub car using Armor-All soap (work from top of car down, then each wheel individually)
3. Rinse car
4. Spray tires with Armor-All Tire Foam
5. Dry car with chamois
6. Wash windows with Armor-All Auto Glass Cleaner
7. Polish black plastic with Armor-All Back to Black Polish
8. Spray tires with Armor-All Wet Shine
9. Cruise around in my immaculate car

I highly recommend the Armor-All Back to Black stuff. It makes side mirrors and side molding look shiny black again, really nice accent. It also works on tail lights. It's similar to a wax in that it fills small scratches. Be careful not to get it on your paint though.

I tried an absorber, but it didn't seem to work as well as a chamois. I even broke it in and tried it for four washings, but the chamois just worked better.

I polish once a year and wax at the beginning of spring and end of summer. Before you wax, wash your car with dish soap (I know everyone says not to) to remove any wax that is still on the paint. Then wash the car again with regular car washing soap. At this point you could use a clay bar if you are really picky (like me) then apply wax.

I use the 'Mothers' back to black stuff... Works really well like you said.

I also use the Black Magic Tire Wet on the mud-flaps and moulding...

For detailing your engine bay and suspension, check out this site. I detailed my engine bay using these steps, and it looks SCHWEET! (be prepared to bust up your knuckles though!)
www.1fastrex.com --[ click on the "detailing" section ]--

** The only thing I did differently from these instructions was to use a wire brush to scrub the block and stuff... Paint-brush didn't seem to do the trick.

Well heres my car washing process.

1: Wait till car is really relly dirty.
2: Park in drive way.
3: Wait till it rains.
4: Hey presto car is cleaner than it was.

:D

oh, yeah and about once a year I cover it in a good think layer of Mothers.

Originally posted by Moppie
Well heres my car washing process.

1: Wait till car is really relly dirty.
2: Park in drive way.
3: Wait till it rains.
4: Hey presto car is cleaner than it was.

:D

oh, yeah and about once a year I cover it in a good think layer of Mothers.

Listen to this jerk.....hes got the SIR and he doesnt even wash it....I was supposed to be getting one shipped here and I was paying through the teeth for it.....I would have probably paid 4 times as much as you did.....and your is still probably in better conditon.....but that may have changed now....who knows.....and as for your car....BABY IT MAN.....ITS AWESOME.:licker:

Originally posted by slammedcivicsi


Listen to this jerk.....hes got the SIR and he doesnt even wash it....I was supposed to be getting one shipped here and I was paying through the teeth for it.....I would have probably paid 4 times as much as you did.....and your is still probably in better conditon.....but that may have changed now....who knows.....and as for your car....BABY IT MAN.....ITS AWESOME.:licker: \


Ohh baby! yeah! do it some more! I love it when you talk dirty! yeah baby! :flash: :licker: :flash: :licker:



Oh, and yes my car rocks your arse!!!!!! :ylsuper :ylsuper :ylsuper :xelicon:

Well Moppies Car is a Japanese Import, and most jap imports in NZ are rather dodgy.

Its probably Flood damaged, been wound back, possibly been in a major crash and then rebuilt badly!

and if this isn't true moppie, just take it as a joke, about japanese imports (the trash japan doesn't need anymore)

sarujin

Originally posted by sarujin
Its probably Flood damaged, been wound back, possibly been in a major crash and then rebuilt badly!


Ahh! :eek:

Yes, a lot of the imports here are not in the best condition, and I looked quite a few cars that were not as the should be.

However I do know a little bit about cars, and I checked mine over prett well.
The millage might not be real, but im about 90% sure it is. And it was deffintly never flood damaged, and it has never been rebuilt.
Its still got the orginal g/box and engine etc etc, and all the panels line up, and there is no sign of stiching underneath etc etc.

It was also totaly stock when I got it, and still is. Right down to the B16a, large Discs, and factory tuned suspension! oh yeah! :flash: :sun: :sun:

I just need to keep it a little cleaner. :D

Yeah I guessed you would know alot about cars, being moderator and such.

But it sucks about how crap the imports are over here. So many of the cars are obviously wound back. My friends ex-pajero probably had atleast done 1/2 a million kms, and it said 120,000.

Thats why I buy NZ new! My cars awsome, it has no power anything. Theres nothing like trying to wind up your passenger window when you are the only one in the car, and you crusing at 100km down the motorway!

But for wiping my car down, i let the rain wash it off (it gets left outside). And ever few weeks I give it a wash and polish.

sarujin

Thanks for your help, but I still need to know if it can hurt your car to wipe it down when it's a little dirty. Isn't it hard to keep the shammy/chamois clean if you use that?

I planned on repainting all my trim and stuff, but will that back to black stuff work almost as good? How long will it stay looking real black? Oh and will it hurt the paint if you get a little on it then wipe it off quick, because it's hard to go the edge of the trim without touching the paint at all. And I'm assuming it wouldnt hurt the windows if you wiped it off right? Please let me know, I'm think I'm gonna go buy this stuff.