Wash Routine?

[OilChange123]

I have a white civic 2.0 and I'm trying to develop a wash system I can use once a month. This is is what I have from the research that I've done. I'm just concerned about polishing and waxing. Is that required every wash or should I do it every 2 or 3 washes?

1. Rinse off any dirt and debris

2. Soap and wash with RainX car wash

2. Dry with microfibre towel

4. Clay bar (every 6 months)

5. Polish with Meguiars polish

6. Wax with Meguiars quick wax

7. Finish it off with Meguiars quick detailer

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[darrvao777]

I have a white civic 2.0 and I'm trying to develop a wash system I can use once a month. This is is what I have from the research that I've done. I'm just concerned about polishing and waxing. Is that required every wash or should I do it every 2 or 3 washes?

1. Rinse off any dirt and debris

2. Soap and wash with RainX car wash

2. Dry with microfibre towel

4. Clay bar (every 6 months)

5. Polish with Meguiars polish

6. Wax with Meguiars quick wax

7. Finish it off with Meguiars quick detailer

You definitely shouldn't need to polish and wax every wash. I typically do it every 6 months.

The general recommendation is:
1) Rinse off
2) Wash using the 2 bucket method
3) Dry with microfiber towel + drying aid (many popular options now, I like Beadmaker, if used appropriately I've found my wax layer easily lasts 6 months)

I've also found I can get away with rinse less washing since I do it weekly on my car (ONR is my go to product here)

 

[raf702]

I've started going to the self-washing bays.
1- Rinse with either light or high pressure water
2- Wash with provided soap
3- Spray with high pressure water
4- Wipe down with microfiber towels

Pretty simple process, take your time doing it. Set aside an hour or so to get this done. I will probably do a wash 1x or 2x a month, with occasional wipe downs with quick detail spray.

 

[darrvao777]

It's become a bit of a hobby for me, hard to fit in too many hobbies with a bunch of rugrats running around anyway:

Friday Night: pressure wash the car with ONR in a foam cannon and deionized water. I can let it dry overnight and it gets rid of most of the debris on the car, takes < 30 mins

Saturday Morning: ONRWW wash in my air conditioned garage, takes < 30 mins

Sunday Morning: lightly clean interior, vacuum, etc, <15 mins

Daily driver is ready for another week

 

[madmax1698]

Here's my method:
1)With a garden hose, rinse off loose dirt top to bottom, in the wheel wells, especially in the rear wheels.
In spring, I spend a good 30 mins just spraying the underside to make sure there is no more salt and dirt on the car. The driveway becomes brown after I'm done .

2)Wash mitt + costco brand dishwash soap. I know it's almost a sin to use dish soap, but this one is so weak that it doesn't oxidize the paint. Definitely don't use Dawn or Palmolive to wash cars as these soaps WILL oxidize the paint if used on a regular basis.
Clean the wheels with an other wash mitt that never will be used to wash body panels.

3)Twice a year, before and after winter usually, clay bar the whole car with Mother's clay bar. I use new soapy water as lube for the clay.

4)Dry the car with a clean microfiber towel.

5)Seal the paint with Turtle Wax Ice Seal n Shine.

6)Rain-X the windshield once every 2 months.

7)Dress the tires with Armor-All Extreme tire shine gel.

 

[jorus]

I've started going to the self-washing bays.
1- Rinse with either light or high pressure water
2- Wash with provided soap
3- Spray with high pressure water
4- Wipe down with microfiber towels

Pretty simple process, take your time doing it. Set aside an hour or so to get this done. I will probably do a wash 1x or 2x a month, with occasional wipe downs with quick detail spray.

I've heard the soaps at those places can be low quality, any truth to that...?

 

[raf702]

I've heard the soaps at those places can be low quality, any truth to that...?

No clue, sorry. I'm sure someone has tested to see.

 

[Andre80]

I know it's in Italian, but you can help with the translator,

this guide is really complete and made by professionals

there are all the steps under the "guides" button


https://www.lacuradellauto.it/blog/guida-detailing-auto/

 

[laz's SI]

I’ve always used Turtle Wax car wash , I wash my car once or twice a week , depends on my schedule, dry with chamoise (chammy) towel

 

[silverrascal]

1. go to self car wash and do a pre-wash to loosen dirt
2. high pressure soap then rinse
3. foam the car then rinse
4. bucket wash with hand mitt
5. rinse and then apply Meguiar's hybrid ceramic wax spray
6. rinse again and then towel dry

 

[saiko21]

1. go to self car wash and do a pre-wash to loosen dirt
2. high pressure soap then rinse
3. foam the car then rinse
4. bucket wash with hand mitt
5. rinse and then apply Meguiar's hybrid ceramic wax spray
6. rinse again and then towel dry

why you are rinsing so many times?

 

[madmax1698]

1. go to self car wash and do a pre-wash to loosen dirt
2. high pressure soap then rinse
3. foam the car then rinse
4. bucket wash with hand mitt
5. rinse and then apply Meguiar's hybrid ceramic wax spray
6. rinse again and then towel dry

You can save so much time by skipping step 2 and the rinse of part 6. After applying the wax spray, you can just buff off the residue/haze of the spray with a microfiber cloth.

 

[silverrascal]

why you are rinsing so many times?

The rinse helps ensure I'm not leaving any dirt or debris before the next step.

 

[silverrascal]

You can save so much time by skipping step 2 and the rinse of part 6. After applying the wax spray, you can just buff off the residue/haze of the spray with a microfiber cloth.

I do sometimes skip #2 but I was remembering from the top of my head. I do the rinse per the instructions of the Meguiars HW and it seems to work fine that way.

 

[darrvao777]

why you are rinsing so many times?

I agree, it doesn't hurt but it certainly isn't necessary

My routine:
1. Pre-wash to loosen dirt
2. spray down the car with ONR
3. ONR wash with BRS
4. Dry with optional drying aid
5. Done

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