What's your exterior car wash routine?

[jo.jacques]

I probably do too much:
Foam cannon with bilt hamber auto foam , sit for five or minutes, power wash off.
Foam again, microfiber mitt rub down (dunk mitt in water bucket with each panel), power wash off.
tw hybrid wet wax and microfiber cloth to dry.
writing it down sounds like a bunch but it goes pretty quickly. Faster than me driving to the nearest car wash.

Yep, same here. I know "its a Jeep and its supposed to be dirty" but cleaning my truck/car is just like meditation for me. Put on some music, crack one open, and enjoy a beautiful day.

Once im done with the "body cleaning" routine, I generally:
- Apply plastic/vinyl conditioner on my unpainted fenders and tonneau cover
-Clean glasses inside and outside with microfiber and vinegar
-Do 10-15 passes with a microfiber cloth to catch any drips from all these panels (I know, Im crazy)
-Stare at my amazing truck from a distance for a good 30minutes

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[JET_83]

Mopar car was concentrate, two bucket with a microfiber mit.

 

[nas4a]

I go for longevity over deep shine. I wash and dry with microfiber, then do 2 coats of Collinite 845 Insulator Wax and Power Lock. It’s a pain in the ___ to put on, but it protects for 6 months or more. During that time, I usually just hose off.

 

[punk'n]

I typically hand wash each of my cars once a week. I use Meguiar's Wash and Wax followed up with Griot's spray wax while I'm drying them. Then the wheels get cleaned with Griot's wheel cleaner using their wands to get into the barrels.

In the winter, when it's below freezing and I can't wash myself, I keep a monthly account at the local car wash so I can get them washed every day if I want.

Unfortunately, they just sold the local car wash at the end of January and the new owners have stripped it to replace with new equipment. So, today I whipped up a quick under-carriage sprayer to get the underneath salt off.

 

[MikeyK]

Mother’s car wash with a few drops of rinse aid and Dawn…different sponge for top and bottom… dry with soft towel…hate water spots

Drive…get dirty…repeat

 

[DirkG]

Rain. Which isn't much in SoCal. Ha.

 

[ArmyMP]

Can wash right before it rains apparently

 

[Pakdoc]

I bought mine in GATOR color. Washed it twice in a year and a half. Did use NuFinish!

 

[maddocmuc]

Rain…..

 

[DPF140]

Mother’s car wash with a few drops of rinse aid and Dawn…different sponge for top and bottom… dry with soft towel…hate water spots

Drive…get dirty…repeat

What drilled hole size did you go with? 1/8"? Ive considered making one of these for a while but thought I would need some kind of "V" shape... but if straight holes work well, I'm gonna give it a go!

 

[punk'n]

What drilled hole size did you go with? 1/8"? Ive considered making one of these for a while but thought I would need some kind of "V" shape... but if straight holes work well, I'm gonna give it a go!

I'm guessing you are asking me?

Yes, I drilled 1/8" holes. 5 each per side of the T connector. Of the 5 on each side, I drilled 3 straight and 2 at a slight angle. In the photo below, I have it hooked up to an expandable hose (it was about 30 degrees out) so I lose some pressure. It still sprays about 2' high.

With my normal garden hose, the pressure will be better and therefore should spray higher. I suggest slightly smaller holes if you do not have decent water pressure.

Of course, you could always lift it up if it doesn't spray high enough for you. I wanted to be able to just slide it underneath while it sprays up.

 

[DPF140]

I'm guessing you are asking me?

Yes, I drilled 1/8" holes. 5 each per side of the T connector. Of the 5 on each side, I drilled 3 straight and 2 at a slight angle. In the photo below, I have it hooked up to an expandable hose (it was about 30 degrees out) so I lose some pressure. It still sprays about 2' high.

With my normal garden hose, the pressure will be better and therefore should spray higher. I suggest slightly smaller holes if you do not have decent water pressure.

Of course, you could always lift it up if it doesn't spray high enough for you. I wanted to be able to just slide it underneath while it sprays up.

Yes, thank you! I have a heated garage with hot water so I like to quickly hose off my cars when the roads are extra sloppy. This would be perfect cause my main focus is undercarriage and fender wells. I’m just aiming to knock off the majority of the brine and clumps of salt to slow down the rust. Lord knows you can’t really avoid it around the Great Lakes!

 

[Iowafarm]

I was mine at east once a week. And in the winter after it snows or we get ice on the roads I underbody wash. Have a stand by pressure washer with a burner and soap injection. I use mostly meguiar's for my cleaning because that is what my parts guy sells.

 

[Panthers65]

bought the HF electric pressure washer, converter, Microfiber on a pole, and a foam cannon off amazon.

Pressure wash it to remove anything loose and large
Foam Cannon
Hit the big areas wit the microfiber on the pole
Take the microfiber off and hit the "detail areas", around the taillights, door handles, fender to grill area, ect...
Pressure wash the foam off
Either dry with a leaf blower, or hit the interstate for a mile or two.

 

[IPRoutes]

2 bucket wash every two weeks with:

https://a.co/d/9K5PNKp
Optimum No Rinse
and
https://a.co/d/ibIVMY9
Adams Detail Spray as drying agent.
or
https://a.co/d/93VhMOx
Alternative to Adams Detail Spray is Turtle Wax Wet Wax.

Though the TW Wet Wax gives a better shine which is a transparent spray, on white color, Adams Detail Spray which is pink in color is easy to wipe off without missing some spots and avoids over spraying.

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