Cactus

Steve I just wash the Big Blue towel with all of my bath towels and dry them also and it did not effect them at all. One trick I do after the car is clean and rinsed is take the nozzle off and let the smooth flow of water flow over the car and then then the water sheets off making it easier to dry. I would like to try one of those blades but I am worried about it marking but you should be ok with silver.

Traffic53

rubber hoses really are the way to go. they do exactly what you want them to.

MarkD

Steve, the Sonus (and other brands) drying towel can be washed normally. I also have a couple of Meguiars drying towels I bought at a local store that work well.
That is the squeegee I have and the "surgical" rubber on it is extremely pliable and has not scratched my dark colored cars. The squeegee/drying towel system works well.
Now, if you want to make car washing that much better, get a CR Spotless system. Makes washing a pleasure. I am on well water and used to stress about getting the water off asap. Our water is practically a paste, the solids are so high. Not anymore! The thing is awesome.

Steve 96C4S

[QUOTE=MarkD;4542867]Now, if you want to make car washing that much better, get a CR Spotless system. Makes washing a pleasure.QUOTE]

"CR Spotless system?" I'm afraid to ask, but what IS that? Sometimes I feel like I'm the last one on the block to get the 411 on information.

Thanks guys. I'll check into everything you suggested and more.

Man, my head is spinning, but I think I know what I'm going to do. I'll post all my "buys" after I make them and let you know what I end up with. It'll be a compilation of everything you folks suggested + and minus some stuff. I'm still unsure whether to go with the portable Griots Hose Reel... I haven't found anything else that's made of metal and won't fall apart after a few years that I like as much as the Griot's.

Steve R

leonardjohnr

As for hose reels... the first and last word is Hannay... I have a number of them for both Water and Air... You won't go wrong... and you'll probably never need another... http://www.hannay.com/

Hope that helps...

177mph

Wow - not alot of griots fans on here!!!

dhicks

I use Optimum http://www.optimumcarcare.com/products.html wash solution, polish and wax oh and their blue towels and PC pads from Autogeek. The opitimum poli-seal is fantastic, leaves a really nice deep shine on black paint, usually finish off with there spray wax which I use one of the blue drying clothes to dry......very happy with all their stuff......but I have never used a blade....would alwsys be scared of getting some grit under there and causing scaratches!!!!

FGL28

I like Griots car wash. I used it at this years Porsche Parade. some of their little stuff is cool. I also like Porsche wax and ALL of Meguire's stuff; but they are local to me. As for microfiber, I like the stuff from Costco and, Target. The key, according to the Meguire's guy who came and explained detailing to a BMW club function, is to wash the microfiber separate and replace them often. The mitts as well. Get a great bucket, I love Griots but a janitorial one with wheels will work as well. Enjoy washing the car.

MarkD

[QUOTE=Steve 96C4S;4542917]CRSpotless is a water DI (deinonizing) system. Removes TDS (total dissolved solids) from the water. No worries about "hard water" spots from tap water.
Amazing thing. You could actually just rinse it after washing and let it air dry... I haven't been brave enough to do that yet but it takes the stress away from a spot here or there drying before you get to it.

If you think this is mind boggling, look here: https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...ferrerid=35947

Steve 96C4S

Mark, that is facinating stuff about that deionizer. A little too complicated for my simple life, but it must be cool to have one of those.

I still haven't seen anyone post a hose reel here that equals the Griot's freestanding one, so I might just go for it. The Hannay ones look nice, but I'm trying to stay away from the all green color scheme.

So now it's down to the Sears Craftsman hose or the Griot's hose for me.
If Sears has that lifetime warranty, that's kind of hard to beat. It's not like I'm going to send a heavy hose back through the mail to Griot's if it stops working!
Sears is local so I can just stop in and exchange it.

Steve R

MJBird993

Well I am a Griots fan, sorta... yes, much of his stuff is rebranded and very expensive, but I believe that many if not all of his cleaning/waxing products are his. The quick detailer and especially the interior cleaner are absolutely awesome. His wheel cleaner is just like P21S but a bit cheaper (and smells better). He does stand behind his stuff, and I have bought some things (like the window cleaner) that were lousy and I had no problems with a refund. And I believe everything has a lifetime guarantee as well, so if the hose or reel or whatever goes south, he'll replace it.

I can't speak directly to the hose, as I have some old hose I got at Lowe's or wherever and it's still going strong, and it's gotta be nearly 20 years old. Yes it kinks easily and is dirty, but it doesn't leak and it's in the sun for half of the day.

I have used a "California water blade" and it's great for quickly wiping off the water. No, I have never used it on my Porsche and probably never will. If you get one bit of dirt on that blade, you're going to have a nasty scratch. Fortunately that happened on my Chevy truck, and it was an improvement.

Thanks for the info on the deionizer. That's something I've wanted for a while, we'll see if I can afford it.

Michael

Steve 96C4S

Man, I really appreciate that info on the california blade causing a scratch in your truck. I will NEVER use a blade now on my Porsche.

I can't believe people use them successfully without scratching. I would never risk it. Towels for life... that'll be my new anthem.

Steve R

george_k

I buy a thousands of $$ worth of stuff for work from McMaster, as one poster had mentioned earlier, they have top quality stuff, mostly made un the good ole USA, at reasonable prices.

MarkD

If the "blade" scratches your paint... the car wasn't cleaned and rinsed properly
No matter what you use to dry (except a leaf blower) has the potential of retaining a little piece of grit and scratching the finish. Your only defense is a throrough job... or a leaf blower.

Re. the DI system, it is great but you hjave to look at long term cost too. You have to replace the resin that filters the water when the TDS on the little meter gets too high. Cost depends on size of the system you buy. Hit the web site to see refill cost.
I am on well water and TDS is over 800 (that is crazy high per CRSpotless owner) on the incoming side. The larger system I bought is still doing it's job with TDS at zero after about a dozen washes. That is more than I thought I'd get! It is absolutely necessary for me... every little drip left a spot in the past.
It really is fantastic. No affiliation by the way.

Black993

a leaf blower?! I've seen it done on bikes, but never a car....