HARD water...what is the cure

[thehighheelsgirl]

How bad is it to take my car through the laserwash?

[der Geist]

2 weeks ago Big Lots had shelves of the Mr. Clean starter systems for 4 bucks each. I used one in Sedona on my black benz and didn't have a spot for 6 washes. Just let it air dry too. And Sedona has the hardest water I have ever seen. I cleaned off an entire shelf at big lots. Hopefully a 10 year supply.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by der Geist

2 weeks ago Big Lots had shelves of the Mr. Clean starter systems for 4 bucks each. I used one in Sedona on my black benz and didn't have a spot for 6 washes. Just let it air dry too. And Sedona has the hardest water I have ever seen. I cleaned off an entire shelf at big lots. Hopefully a 10 year supply.

$ 5. at CVS pharmacy here in So.CA

[thehighheelsgirl]

What is this Mr Clean product? I don't own ANYTHING to wash cars with, so if I try I'd be starting from scratch.

[der Geist]

Its a cleaning system that you put on the end of a garden hose. It comes with detergent and a replaceable filter. They say to replace the filter after 3 uses but as I said, I have gotten 6 out of them.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by thehighheelsgirl

What is this Mr Clean product? I don't own ANYTHING to wash cars with, so if I try I'd be starting from scratch.

1-two one gallon buckets (home depot)
2-On Bottle Optimum NoRinse
3- wheel face brush
4-1Z leather cleaner
5-12-20 microfiber towels (at least) and drying towel
6-Sponge (home depot grout sponges are fine)
7-soft brush to clean the top
8-Raggtopp kit (for the top)
9-bottle of plexus (if you have plastic window, works on headlights and windscreen)
10-one gallon of FK1 #425 (cleans dash, glass, paint touch up, wheels)
11-long brush to reach under the car.
12- spoke brush to clean the wheel barrel and spokes
13-Armor All Tire Foam (just bought this works well)...Pep Boys
14-a good cleaning wax (Klasse just to keep it simple).

I'm not recommending car wash soap because you really don't need it. The No Rinse solution mixed into a bucket of water will do the job unless you drive through mud. wiped down the car with a sponge and then use the wheel brush with the water that's left to brush off the wheels and tires. Spray the car down with 425 and you're done (I recommend this spray bottle). I can do all of this in 15 minutes. If I get out the car wash soap and hose that's a lot longer and too much bucket and hose wash wrecks the paint.

[AUDIOGUY]

Alright, Perfectlap, tell me more about No-Rinse...

I gather that I dont pre-wet the car. I get my solution of No-Rinse and water, dip a microfiber towel in it and wipe down the car. I then just dry it with another Microfiber towel and I am done????

Seems too simple.

Is this accurate?

[timothy]

Originally Posted by AUDIOGUY

I gather that I dont pre-wet the car. I get my solution of No-Rinse and water, dip a microfiber towel in it and wipe down the car. I then just dry it with another Microfiber towel and I am done????

Seems too simple.

Is this accurate?

It really IS that simple! It my experience ONR is not that great for cleaning wheels and I still prefer P21S gel ... but that requires a hose.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by AUDIOGUY

Alright, Perfectlap, tell me more about No-Rinse...

I gather that I dont pre-wet the car. I get my solution of No-Rinse and water, dip a microfiber towel in it and wipe down the car. I then just dry it with another Microfiber towel and I am done????

Seems too simple.

Is this accurate?

as Timoty said yes its that simple. I mean think about it. How dirty does an ethusiast car really ever get? If you've got enough wax on the car the dirt should just slide off with the wet sponge (prefer a sponge or sheepskin to MF towel, no pricky ends).

However its not a bad idea to hold the sponge over the panel so that the water trickles down onto the surface. That will lossen the dirt and cut down on the friction. I might do this to all the panels and then go back and wipe down the first panels in that order. Friction is your enemy when washing and drying.

When you wipe the car do it in the direction of the wind. Don't do the back and forth rub. After each pass dunk the sponge and give it a wring. the soil in the water falls to the bottom of the bucket.

When it comes time to dry use a waffle weave towel (no prickly ends). Spraying a quick detalier while the surface is wet is a good idea to lubricate the drying. You get the shine from buffing out the detail spray as a bonus. I don't do this because FK1 425 spray doesn't mix well with wet surfaces. I have to dry the car first and then treat it with 425. You should dry much the same as you wash, one long pass to minimize the amount of contact with the cloth and paint.

For the wheels you just have to use a little more elbow grease if you're using No Rinse and a wheel brush. But if you have five spokes you can wax the wheels and treat with 425. That keeps the brake dust from sticking. The dust usually slides off with one pass. I dont' know about mesh wheels, those are a pain.

If you search YouTube you'll see a bunch of people on there cleaning even Ferraris with NoRinse


p.s.
Woolite in 1 to 3 parts water mix to clean the carpeting. No need to spend money on something else. Just a terry cloth towel or microfiber.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by thehighheelsgirl

How bad is it to take my car through the laserwash?

if it has the jets that spray directly at your doors you might want to stuff a towel in the slats of the air intake to keep any soap and water out.

car wash detergent is really not good for the canvas top. You have to use Raggtopp cleanser for that. The car wash soap attracts dust and breaks down the canvas.