Washing soaps - conventional or foam?

[chorky]

So I have been using the local car wash which offers of course a pressure washer that sprays a variety of things and a soaping brush. But the pressure washer with soap doesnt really clean off all the dirt. And the brush no doubt will cause some bad scratches. So I am thinking of getting some home washing stuff.

i currently am using Meghiars hybrad ceramic wet wax just as a home wax to help dirt and grime wash off easily. may or may not do a ceramic coat idk yet

But what is better for washing. From your experience. For things like sap, mud grime, and bird poo.

I primarily see options of a conventional soap that one would put in a bucket and use a mit or brush with, or these foaming soaps that use either a pressure washer or high pressure city water from a hose.

For consistency I would like to stay with the same products. Since I have a couple bottles of Meguiars hybrid ceramic I am looking at either Their ultimate wash and wax soap or pink foaming soap. According to their own directions the foaming soap is for a light wash and conventional bucket soap is more of a deep clean.

I am leaning to a conventional bucket soap and just bringing that and my own brush to the car wash to take advantage of the pressure washer as I dont have one at home.

I do not wash often. Maybe once a month at most. Thoughts?

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[Mister Lamb]

I use Chemical Guys neutral based 'Mr. Pink' soap along with my $100 Ryobi pressure washer. I give the car a quick water pressure rinse, pour an ounce of Mr. Pink in my Ryobi foamer attachment and foam up the entire car. I let it sit for a minute or two and then go at it with a mitt (using only bucket of water, no extra soap). I'll dry and then give a quick go over with the same brand's spray-on Hybrid Wax.

edit: threw in the links

 

[Jefe1018]

Personally, a pressure washer should get most of the grime, think of it like a pre soaking. Then hit it with foaming soap and let it sit for a few minutes. I’ll then go panel by panel - easier for me to know what’s been a cleaned and not.

I’ll do a two bucket method with microfiber towels or mit from the Chemical Guys.

I’ll then rinse it off and again dry panel by panel with microfiber towels from the chemical guys.

Then it’s time for windows and every third or fourth wash I’ll apply their butter wax.

This is the kit I purchased:

Chemical Guys HOL126 14-Piece Arsenal Builder Car Wash Kit with Foam Gun, Bucket and (5) 16 oz Car Care Cleaning Chemicals (Works w/Garden Hose) , White

 

[Mister Lamb]

Personally, a pressure washer should get most of the grime, think of it like a pre soaking. Then hit it with foaming soap and let it sit for a few minutes. I’ll then go panel by panel - easier for me to know what’s been a cleaned and not.

I’ll do a two bucket method with microfiber towels or mit from the Chemical Guys.

I’ll then rinse it off and again dry panel by panel with microfiber towels from the chemical guys.

Then it’s time for windows and every third or fourth wash I’ll apply their butter wax.

This is the kit I purchased:

Chemical Guys HOL126 14-Piece Arsenal Builder Car Wash Kit with Foam Gun, Bucket and (5) 16 oz Car Care Cleaning Chemicals (Works w/Garden Hose) , White

Nice. I use all the same stuff.. great company. I'm contemplating getting a ceramic coating done on the truck to keep it pristine as long as possible. Any recommendations? I'm leaning more towards getting it professionally done but am looking at between $1100-1500 for coats with 5 year warranties which is steep for something I don't know will last.


Sorry to hijack the thread

 

[AustinL911]

Most car detail folks are using:
1. A quick rinse to blast off loose debris
2. Foam cannon on pressure washer to coat the vehicle. Let it marinade.
3. Two bucket wash method. Bucket 1 with a foamy solution using an ounce or so of the same soap you used in the cannon. Bucket 2 with clean water to rinse your mitt after you wash a panel and before you put it back in Bucket 1.
*add in additional steps as needed here. Iron remover. Bug and tar remover. Etc.*
4. Rinse.
5. Dry

 

[Jefe1018]

Nice. I use all the same stuff.. great company. I'm contemplating getting a ceramic coating done on the truck to keep it pristine as long as possible. Any recommendations? I'm leaning more towards getting it professionally done but am looking at between $1100-1500 for coats with 5 year warranties which is steep for something I don't know will last.


Sorry to hijack the thread

I’m thinking hard ceramic as well, about $1,200 is the average I’ve been quoted. It’ll cut down on wash times for sure as nothing will really stick to the paint. It should last the warranty period — my concern is more to do with it holding up the pin striping.

 

[chorky]

I’m thinking hard ceramic as well, about $1,200 is the average I’ve been quoted. It’ll cut down on wash times for sure as nothing will really stick to the paint. It should last the warranty period — my concern is more to do with it holding up the pin striping.

yeah. So i just talked with a few places thursday about that. one body shop, one tint shop that does ppf, and one ceramic coat specific shop. They all said the same thing basically. Ceramic will ‘help’ reduce pinstriping or light scratches from leaves and needles that are on bushes as you drive by. But it really wont do much of anything for harder twigs and branches. Even ppf wont do a ton. Of course it will do some. More than just ceramic. But even the ppf can get torn. So it really depends on your specific situation. i am also trying to decide if doing ppf on some key areas (grille, a pillar, b pillar, door sills, door sides, bottom rocker pannel, and hinges) with doing ceramic on the rest of exposed parts is worth it or not. I have been quoted anywhere from 3-6K for that specific coverage/treatment.

but. Knowing I am going to get scratches no matter what I do its awful hard to decide if that money is worth it or not. My intent is to keep the gladiator a minimum of 10 years. Hopefully 20. I believe for about 5K you can get a whole wrap. But a wrap is no better than the ppf really. So potentially within a month of having it it can get significantly damaged (in my area anyway). Or just dont go off highway. But its a Jeep…..

i wish these modern paints were as tough as the 90’s stuff. My OBS had scratches sure but held up way better.

personally - i think that ceramic is best for those who stick to the highways and dont risk any sort of brush. Otherwise its money wasted IMO. And ppf is best for those who might see some brush but try to avoid it at all cost. I am not a fan of brush but to avoid it at all cost for me would essentially mean only going to developed areas and staying on main forest service roads. Which are all traversable by a honda civic.

its a very tough decision….

 

[dcmdon]

I do touches self wash about once a week. It cost me $5 and doesn't harm the paint. The truck looks good enough. I do dry the windows with a towel to avoid spots.

I'd rather have the truck not 100% clean and not do paint damage than run it through a normal wash.

Ideally, I'd wash it at home using a 2 bucket method, but if I held out for that the truck would never get washed.

in the winter the priority is getting the salt and ice off it anyway, more than making it look perfect.

 

[PaJeeper]

Just got mine ceramic coated and so far am very impressed, so much so that we just got our sons new WRX done for his birthday yesterday. We’re buying him the Adams “starter kit” I’ll call it off Amazon. I think it sells for about $130 and comes with everything you need( interior, exterior and tires) except the 2nd bucket for the 2 bucket method. Even comes with a foam gun for use with a garden hose. The couple times I’ve washed mine since it’s been coated I soak it down with the pressure washer, hit it with the foam cannon, rinse, dry and I’m done.

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