You guys who hand wash... how do you dry?

Have a soft water unit in the house....ran a faucet for soft water to the back for washing........leaf blower to get large amount of water off.....then synthetic towel to finish up. In between washes use Rain-X waterless car wash and micro fiber towels

 

That’s a nice setup. Are you the guy who has a webpage, reviews and documents your maintenance and upgrades?

 

Milwaukee leaf blower. Only person in the neighborhood who does this. I get some very odd looks from passersby.

Delighted to learn I am not alone.

 

Leaf blower works well to get the majority, then rub down with the ShamWow of course! Holds 10 times it's weight in water! And sooo soft.

 

Click the picture and it will take you to the website with more details…

 

Lately I use a no contact drive in wash at my local chevron. A big wand moves around my parked truck several times and the last is strong air blast that gets most water off. Then I park in shade and microfiber any wet drops/spots -windows, door jams, hatch, lights. $14 spent saves my worn out body.

 

synthetic chamois or large cotton towel. I do not wash with any king of soap unless I am going to wax it. Just running water, soft sponge and the dirt comes off easily.

 

Agree that this is much better than the ones that touch the body and will give you tons of swirl marks. That said, just be careful how often you do this because the touchless type of soap they are using, and the pH levels needed for that, will wear down your protection layer, faster. I use Built Hamber touchless in a foam cannon, but primarily only in the winter as a pre-wash to get off any salt residue before the contact wash. But it is not something that I would use year round on a regular basis as it may wear down my wax layer prematurely.

 

I used that as well for many years before shifting over to the battery powered blower. The main point of the blower is to limit touching the body as much as possible to avoid introducing any swirl marks.

 

if I'm in a hurry or the car is just "dusty"...DI rinse with a pressure washer and air dry. Otherwise, battery leaf blower, quality microfiber and P&S Beadmaker.

 

How do you go about getting your deionized water?

 

damn look at that bumper!! I need a front shot!!

 

Stihl bg55 gas blower

 

+1 for the Absorber synthetic chamois. I use a leaf blower like others for the jambs and tight spots first.

 

Dang. My Dad showed antique cars at the Pebble Beach Concourse and he wasn’t as fussy as some of you guys about washing them.

 

I'm surprised Shamwow hasn't made an appearance.

 

Post 34

 

I bought that Wooly Mammoth the other day. That thing is almost big enough to sleep under!

 

side note: possibly for sale soon…..

 

^^^^
That’s fierce!

 

I bought a system from this company hooked up to a pressure washer. It is a bit pricey but I use it on my cars and house windows. Can be used on solar panels but I'm not climbing up there!

https://spotfreefinish.com/providin...e-best-water-deionizers/DI-Pro-50D-p105868875

 

damn sexy!!!

 

Microfiber and Mothers Showtime.

 

What is really nice is all the current variety of wash/dry/wax products available today. Especially compared to say the 1960'sand 70's. Technology seems to have come a long way with these products. For me, the most notable is the quality of Carnauba Waxes and the "quick shine" type detail products for between wax jobs. In the old days (I'm 75 LOL) the wax would leave a white, hard residue on the edges of bumpers and other small areas. It was a pain to go around the vehicle with a small brush and rag to clean it off. And of course the paint quality on latter vehicles is better. But a couple old-time products that still work good: 1. Westley's whitewall/tire cleaner and a brush. 2. Dawn dish washing soap and water in place of car wash soap. BUT !!!! Only if you're trying to remove OLD wax. Today, most people use clay. But this old idea for removing wax I still find works. And easier than clay.

 

I miss some of the old Waxes. I forgot the name but one i used all the time would repel dust really well. Don't think any do that now.

 

I don’t wash my T4R at home. It’s too big and tall to mess with at home for this old man. I take it weekly to a good local car wash where I have a “membership”. They take really good care of me.

I do wash wifey’s 2021 RAV4 XLE Hybrid AWD at home with good results. Either weekly, or bi-weekly. I use my STIHL 2 cycle leaf blower to do the primary drying, and then the secondary touch-up drying with a clean soft bath towel. Works for me. Takes me about 25 minutes to do her RAV4, including washing tires and wheels, but not counting vacuuming. I only have to vacuum her car once a month. I give her credit- she keeps the interior really tidy.

Frequent washings make it easier to keep clean, rather than waiting until dirt and bugs get really caked on and baked on.

I get a laugh out of wifey’s two sisters down here. They trash their cars. One has an Infinity, the other a Cadillac. Their hubby’s don’t lift a finger to help them clean their cars. I take pride in keeping clean vehicles.

Wifey’s Cadillac sister is always after her to get a “nicer” car. Wifey defends her RAV4. lol!

F_ck that Cadillac of hers. Seems it’s always going back in to the dealer for one problem or another. A shop queen. I wouldn’t trust that over-priced piece of crap as far as I could throw it.

 

I just hand washed mine, dried it with a leaf blower, used a chamois for extra detailing and finished off with Meguiars quick detailer spray, gives it an extra pop of shine.

 

Anyone else get to deal with the pleasures of well water? My area has "hard water".i normally run a RV filter on the hose but it kills water pressure even with the pressure washer. The house has a water softener that doesn't looked installed correctly. Water pressure is keeping me from doing a whole house filter.

 

Nothing better than Well Water, but it comes with its challenges. Sounds like you need to upgrade your pump and/or holding tank.