I use the two bucket method for many reasons: 1) the drought and **** neighbors 2) My detail guy showed me and after having the color corrected I only wash no more waterless detailing etc 3) I was with the top off.

However I have to pay more attention to the nooks and crannies that normally runoff water and soap would attend to, but I noticed the real pain is the area under the red hooks.

What are you guys doing?

 

I have TONS of water, especially RIGHT NOW. So... Bucket, warm water, good splash of Auto Glym soap, mitt, rise mitt between each section washed. Lots of water to rinse off, then strip water off with auto squeegee, finish with soft towels etc... Area under red hooks I wipe out.

 

Two bucket system using soft micro fiber wash mit. Rinse completely. Blow dry with electric leaf blower. Then finish dry, spraying on Meguires Ultimate quick wax and removing with micro fiber towels. Perfect!

 

What's wrong with waterless? I use it all the time

 

I use Optimum No Rinse almost exclusively for washing, awesome stuff

 

Me too. Waterless will scratch your clear coat.

 

Never thought of drying with an electric leaf blower. You don't use a drying cloth?

 

Leaf blower for 98%. Towel for the remaining 2%.

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I've washed mine with water three times in the four years I've owned it. Instead I do the following after every drive:
1. Gently dust with California Duster
2. Use a cobra microfiber towel, coarse side for the rocker panels and behind the tires and the fine side for everywhere else
3. Pinnacle Crystal Mist detail spray (but any quick detailer would work)

The key is to keep the paint microfibers perfectly clean and do not use them for very dirty areas such as wheels, wheel wells, engine etc. Use to wipe the car down once or maybe twice and then throw into the hamper to be washed.

The areas under the read roof clamps are definitely a pain to get to and the hardest area to get clean since they're not easily accessible. They do open into the turn area though so you could technically wash the car and when your done you can pop the rear hatch and use a think microfiber to wipe the area.

 

I've been using a leaf blower for years, started doing it on my Harleys as there are WAY too many places for water to hide, and then started doing on my cars as well. When you are limiting how many times you touch the surface of your car, its amazing how nice the finish can last.

Its not a perfect substitute for a proper detailing, but its great for maintaining it in between. My experience is the same as Lexvan, 98% leaf blower and 2% microfiber towel. I've been using the same leaf blower for at least the last twenty years. The only trick is to make sure you don't whack the car with the leaf blower while you are drying the car, which is easier to do than you may suspect.

 

Also do you wash them with your tops off?

 

I use "Speed shine" from Griots. I spray it on while the car is wet, then I dry it. It’s a detailing trick.

 

Only when the hookers come over.

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I use Meguires Ultimate Quick Wax while doing the final dry with a good microfiber towel. Remove 95% with leaf blower then UQW with towel.

 

not if done properly