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I've always washed my car by hand and I just moved into a condo and I'd like to find a do it yourself car wash in the Rancho Cucamonga CA area. In MA, where I'm from, there are tons of them. In fact many full service car washes have a few self service bays. They have a medium pressure wand with soap etc. I intend to use my own bucket and soap but figure it would be easier than getting a hose and leaving the condo parking lot flooded with water.
I know there are hand wash car washes but I'm looking for one where I can do it myself. Are there any around?
If not, how meticulous are the hand wash places. I'm careful about keeping the sponge clean (different sponge for wheels etc.) and I'm wondering if their sponges are just going to put someone else's grit onto my car resulting in scratches.
+1. ONR is THE way to go. I use it and it works GREAT!
Still looking for a SELF SERVICE car wash in the area. I still am washing it by hand but I'd like to use a Self Service car wash in between, like after it rains but before I get a chance to give it a thorough washing.
I haven't seen any around and Google hasn't turned up any either. But what I'm looking for is one with a high pressure wand that I can use to wash of the heavy dirt in between washes.
I'm in Rancho Cucamonga CA but I'd go from Ontario, Fontana or west to the Glendora area.
Hello, Just picked up my 2011 phantom back S5. I plan to do most of my wash care at a self-serve wash. Are those brushes with the soap that comes from them ok to wash on the black paint? I'm not looking to scratch or make swirl marks... I already bought microfiber towels to dry... Thanks...
You have to be very careful with black paint as micro-scratches appear immediately, in my opinion the best thing you can use to wash a dark car is a leather and lambswool glove like the one I show you in the photo, always being careful wash the lower areas of the car last to prevent sand remains from remaining in the glove and carefully after rinsing and cleaning it very well.
Likewise, with drying, you also have to be very careful and, as you have said, use a microfiber towel.
This is the way. I am a convert. I still use brake dust cleaner on the wheels and spray those but the paint gets ONR. 2 gal, with another gal in the pump sprayer to pre-spray. That lasts a few washes.
This is the way. I am a convert. I still use brake dust cleaner on the wheels and spray those but the paint gets ONR. 2 gal, with another gal in the pump sprayer to pre-spray. That lasts a few washes.
There is a new rinse-less product P&S Absolute that I now prefer over ONR. Cleans better, slicker too.
I'll have to check this out. I know there are alternatives but I just refilled my supply of ONR so it'll be awhile! I am liking the P&S product pretty well, I will say. Their interior/APC is great and I hear their brake dust cleaner is also very good -- going to try that once I'm out of Diablo.
I bought some of that stuff but never used it. I couldn't make the leap
Aero Cosmetics Wash Wax All. Can't even remember how I bought it. My cars don't get too dirty. So a clean rinse makes me feel safer. Maybe I'm wrong.
I get that. I had the same thoughts. After reading post after post and watching video after video of pros gushing over the qualities of rinseless washes, I changed over. The thing is, it isn't just that it's rinseless, it's that in order to have a rinseless wash you have to deal with the dirt/particles in a way that doesn't scratch the paint. It turns out that these products are just vastly better at doing that. So even if you just add a bit to your normal wash mix, you're winning. But I have been doing maintenance washes with 2gal of water for a month or two now and it's going well. I did get out the pressure washer after returning from a track day just to get the huge layer of crap off. I did the foam gun and still added a bit of ONR to the mix to improve dirt encapsulation.
All that said, I would be happier if I understood the science behind the stuff so I'm still on the lookout for real hard information.
04-06-2010, 04:57 PM
Self Car Wash So Cal?
