Why NOT to go to drive through washes
#22
11-11-2009 | 06:27 PM
In the eyes of those who are a little more experienced in detailing what are your thoughts on a touchless car wash? The ones where they soap and rinse without physically touching the car.
Recently moved into an apartment so I don't have a place to wash by hand regularly.
Recently moved into an apartment so I don't have a place to wash by hand regularly.
#23
11-11-2009 | 06:40 PM
Touchless washes kind of work, but they don't really dry the car off - leading to water spots and scaling. I would just stay away from automated washes in general and try to find a hand wash place with a good reputation if you can't wash yourself. Maybe grab some Optimum No Rinse with 2 buckets of water, unless you don't have a place to wash even with just those.
#24
11-11-2009 | 06:50 PM
Touchless washes kind of work, but they don't really dry the car off - leading to water spots and scaling. I would just stay away from automated washes in general and try to find a hand wash place with a good reputation if you can't wash yourself. Maybe grab some Optimum No Rinse with 2 buckets of water, unless you don't have a place to wash even with just those.
This one uses the giant blowers to dry the car, but I take my absorber with me.
#25
12-03-2009 | 09:44 PM
Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 69
From: Westminster, CA
Order some waffle weave microfiber towels instead. You only need one and they do the job waaaay better than the absorber or just plain microfiber towels. My favorite waffle weaves are the ones from Aloha & Welcome to Our Oasis for All Your Auto Detailing, Auto Detailing Supplies, Auto Detailing Equipment, Auto Detailing Products, & Auto Detailing Accessories for all your Automobile Detailing
#27
12-03-2009 | 10:38 PM
Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 69
From: Westminster, CA
Cobra guzzlers are pretty stiff in comparison to other towels out there. My personal favorite is sonus ultimate drying towel.
#29
12-03-2009 | 11:24 PM
Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 69
From: Westminster, CA
#31
12-04-2009 | 01:19 PM
Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 69
From: Westminster, CA
yeah, detailers domain isn't really my first choice when it comes to shopping for supplies because I can buy most of their stuff from other websites (to combine and save on shipping). Phil at DD does have great service though, and he is always on top of making sure the orders are shipped out without any problems. DD is my store for leather master and swissvax products, but that is pretty much it.
#32
12-04-2009 | 01:34 PM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,373
From: Orlando, FL
No dount Phil has the best customer service, he's awesome to deal with, but doesn't carry most of the stuff I use. I usually order from autogeek for their variety and since they're located a couple hours from me I get the stuff next day. I've had great experiences with autogeek.
#33
12-04-2009 | 01:41 PM
Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 69
From: Westminster, CA
No dount Phil has the best customer service, he's awesome to deal with, but doesn't carry most of the stuff I use. I usually order from autogeek for their variety and since they're located a couple hours from me I get the stuff next day. I've had great experiences with autogeek.
#34
12-14-2009 | 10:20 PM
You can go to a Coin wash, bring your own bucket, mitt, wash, and towel, just use their water. Or better yet, make friends with someone who will let you use the hose from their house.
#35
01-24-2010 | 08:10 AM
Fail
So what the video showed is that other than a professional quality detailing (whether you are skilled and patient and free enough to do it or you pay big bucks at a high class detailing place), machine car wash is still the best option.
That is consistent with the (exasperating) research I've been doing. Right now what I do is I take the car to the machine wash and then I use a waffle weave microfiber cloth to dry off the remaining water. That avoids the water marks shown in the video.
It does remove the luster a little bit and it does create tiny swirl marks. But most of the time there is no serious damage to the clear coat and the paint. So the protection of the body panels stay intact most of the time.
Once in a while a serious scratch would occur because some foreign object didn't get removed by the pressure water. I wish there were a better alternative. I wish car manufacturers made cars with replaceable plastic panels on top of the metal panels. You can replace them after they get scratched up if you want the car to look nice. But if you just want to prevent corrosion to your metal panels, you can keep using the old plastic panels.
That is consistent with the (exasperating) research I've been doing. Right now what I do is I take the car to the machine wash and then I use a waffle weave microfiber cloth to dry off the remaining water. That avoids the water marks shown in the video.
It does remove the luster a little bit and it does create tiny swirl marks. But most of the time there is no serious damage to the clear coat and the paint. So the protection of the body panels stay intact most of the time.
Once in a while a serious scratch would occur because some foreign object didn't get removed by the pressure water. I wish there were a better alternative. I wish car manufacturers made cars with replaceable plastic panels on top of the metal panels. You can replace them after they get scratched up if you want the car to look nice. But if you just want to prevent corrosion to your metal panels, you can keep using the old plastic panels.
#37
01-24-2010 | 02:18 PM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,373
From: Orlando, FL
Try We Are Car Care -- Car Wax, Car Polish, Auto Detailing Supplies, Car Buffers & Car Accessories Store you'll have to pay tax but you'll get your stuff the very next day since your local. I also like Detailed Image - Premium Auto Detailing Supplies I think they have the biggest and best variety. Its like detailed image picks the best products out of each company and sells those.
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