Bins

Bought a new toy for washing the car today.
A turtlewax squeegee car dryer to help dry the car more easily. (only £10)

After rinsing the car, I squeegeed the water off before using the chamois.
A really good job. I was easily impressed.
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Jgordon

A friend of mine and I washed and waxed our cars yesterday. He had one and I tried it, but I couldn't get over that squeaking as I used it on my car. Any particles of dirt or dust, and that thing will have a field day on your paint. That was the first and last time I used one.

Bins

Very true.

Works well but have to be careful, and rinse well.

Palting

Used my car early this spring. Couldn't wait for good weather. Result? Had salt crystals all over the car. Weather was too cold to hand wash, and didn't have a heated garage. Rather than have all that junk sit on the new car, brought it to a car wash. It was one where high pressure jets delivered soap, rinse, wax(?), and spot free rinse. Nothing else touched the car. More importantly, there were no tire guides to chew up the wheels due to the differing front and rear track widths of the car. Works fairly well, but nothing beats a hand wash/wax. I know it's probably sacriledge to subject yout precious Porsche to an automatic car wash, but I wonder how many actually do?

Bins

Not me. I just cant get myself to trust them!!!
And it kinda relaxing to wash my own car.
Now gardening, I cannot stand!!!!!

Porsche928Driver

I spent many years on and off detailing cars. Don't use it!
As stated before, any dirt or debris will get caught in the blade and rubbed along the paint. Let alone the blade itself rubbing.
Use a clean cloth, towel or chamois. The best cloth to do everything is a cloth baby diaper.

John..

I thought these would be okay for the car's finish, but I was wrong! I used the California water blade on my Audi S4 a few times. Then one day I looked at the paint, and you could see the very tiny scratches in the finish (funny, they were all in a straight line too). I had to buff the car with some compound, but I was able to get rid of the scratches.

I now just use it to remove snow from the glass of the car (it works well for this). I am sticking with the absorber for drying purposes.

Bins

Hummmmmmmmmmmmmm...

Youve given me second thoughts on using this.
I saw a car rental company using one so I though it would be fine.

Thanks for the info.

Regards.

Porsche928Driver

Keeping with this train of thought, that's why you never run a car through a car wash that has the brushes! The brushes over time will leave small scratches in the paint surface. You would have to lightly buff your car once a year just to try to keep the mirror finish from looking "fogged". At a "self serve" car wash, don't use the soap brush on anything except the wheels!

Use the plain old wash mitt to wash. Rinse off the car with water. Then, a chamois is OK if you open it up and pull off the excess water only. Use soft towels to remove the remaining water. I keep at least a half dozen towels ready to use...
Don't forget the door jams and other hatch and hood areas!

When applying wax, nothing beats a small soft cloth or towel to apply. Again, use a soft towel or two to remove the wax.

Many, myself included, use cloth baby diapers. If anyone knows of something softer and better than a cloth diaper...I'd like to hear about it.

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Jgordon

For washing, I use a chanille mitt (long fibers to draw dirt up and away from paint). For glazing, I use these yellow flannel cloths that Larry Reynolds at Carcareonline.com sells. They strike me as vey good and very gentle. for wax, I apply with my fingers (yes, I'm ****, as well as somewhat attracted to my car) and buff off with the flannel cloths. an old flannel nightgown will work as well, or flannel sheets. Flannel is just the softest thing I can find.

WHATEVER you do, make sure you move in STRAIGHT LINES ONLY!!!! And only in the direction of the airflow over the car. None of the "wax on, wax off" circular motion.

Any other suggestions, I'd be happy to hear them.

Porsche928Driver

Businesses like car rentals and auto dealerships will use blades and other products because it's fast and easy.
I have seen many a auto dealership have scores of cars taken to the local car wash down the street and run the cars through the brushes because it was quick and easy. It takes alot of manhours to handwash several dozen cars or more!
Been there as one of the drivers...
When I worked at Ziebart, part of the speech given when someone had a Zieglaze paint protection done was the "no brushes at the car wash".

Many of my friends have purchased those lovely fancy products as many do work. But as one friend found out on the factory "original" paint on his 63 T-Bird, they will scratch! I got a free six-pack of beer for buffing out all the microscopic scratches from a blade to remove water and his duster that he never shook out.