It's my first brand new car, and my first chance to maintain a car with virgin paint. It's so nice to spend a few hours detailing a car and not see all the mistakes made by the previous owner reflected in the finish.

Like I said, stupid, but there isn't a swirl in sight and I plan on keeping it that way!

 

I have the same blue and it has never been washed by anyone - told the dealer to leave it alone - how do you intend not getting swirls into the paintwork ?

 

By washing it properly.

Foam + Pre-wash + Foam + Two-Bucket method + Proper/clean drying methods.

 

Pretty much the above - some things I have found that help from the pros (of which I am definitely not one).

Use a really good shampoo and use the recommended dilution which creates a ton of lubrication, usually 1 oz per gallon (yes, actually use a measuring cup, some chemist at meguiars did a bunch of testing to come up with the concentration, take advantage of that).

Use a ton of microfiber towels (about 15-20 per detail). As soon as any debris is caught in the fibers, you put it in the dirty pile. If any cloths or wash mitts touch the ground, I throw them in the trash immediately, period, no excuses.

Only use the deep-pile side of microfiber cloths on the paint.

When it comes to drying, never put a dry microfiber towel on the paint. Towels should be soaked and wrung out before you use them for drying, the moisture ads some lubrication.

Nothing that touches the paint touches the wheels.

Have a separate cleaner for the wheels and the tires

Two bucket method, clean wheels last. Use grit guards.

Use synthetic sealant instead of wax and seal it after every wash (this is hardcore mode).

Tear the labels off of all your microfiber towels (seriously).

A lot of it just comes down to not being a cheap a$$ when it comes to microfiber towels, really. You can get decent ones from Costco, $14 for 30 towels. I see dudes drying cars with towels that look so black and gross, it's not worth it. Towels are cheap, paint is expensive.

 

I don't agree with 100% of this, but I agree with about 99% of it and Larry is a really cool guy. Would highly recommend you start here if you want to keep the paint in great condition (you don't need to buy his products but listen to what he has to say):

 

Great video. I use the two bucket system to cut down on the excess water usage as we live in a tight water restrictions in California. Most of the time I take it to do it yourself car wash if I don't have time for long car wash at home.

My next thing to do is properly wax the car. Liquid wax can only go so far.

 

I have one issue with your post.

Wash the wheels first, that way you're not throwing the nastiness from your wheels back onto your nice, clean paint.

Also, I like synthetic sealant on a more infrequent basis, then adding layers of protection with a nice caranuba wax each wash. The sealant provides great, long-lasting protection and the caranuba gives the paint that last bit of pop.



As for that video, yep. If you want all your detailing questions answered, just watch all of his vids between his AMMO NYC channel & his /Drive Clean series on the /Drive channel.

 

To address this point, I don't let my wheels get dirty enough to where there would be any sling from cleaning them and all of my wheel washing is pretty concentrated and precise, so I've never had any issues.

I don't like the idea of brake dust being in the same bucket that would then be used on the paint, so that's why I use this process. I also like that I know that all the clean soapy water I have left in the bucket can be used on the wheels, so I go kinda crazy with the wheel brush, dipping it for every spoke (yes I'm kinda crazy).

I can see why Larry uses an extra bucket *shrug*

 

I dry my car from above with a leaf blower. Never had any problems.

 

I haven't quite raised washing a car to a religious ritual!

Wet car with hose and keep it wet.

Work from top down with big sponge, wet in a bucket of water and a squirt of liquid dish soap, rewetting the sponge often. Roof, windows, hood, sides, front, rear, wheels. I rinse each section as i go, keeping the entire car wet.

Dry car in same order with beach towels. That's it.

Now, a few items in the above will surely get the purists howling. From my point of view the paint is designed to protect the car and is far from delicate. I've taken care of my cars this way for 40 years, I keep my cars at least a decade, and I've never had a paint issue caused by washing in this way.

 

^I have a strong feeling your car does not look as good as the OP's.

 

Ha! Swirls or no swirls. Whatever.

It's not a Faberge egg. It is what it is.

 

Some good points OP. I wish I could be as thorough as a I used to be, but living in an apartment makes it much harder for me to go into such detail with my car.

Two things from above posts...

If the microfiber tower touches the ground, I agree, DO NOT use that on your car, but don't throw it away, use it as a shop rag, or around the house for random clean ups, spills or dusting.

I would never use dish soap on my car as I have learned that it will in fact remove some wax from your car, leaving your clear coat unprotected...anyone also agree/know this?

 

Depends on the soap and the type of wax. There are several different compounds and "flavors" of wax. Soaps I've had the best luck with Turtle Wax ICE, Jetblack for black vehicles, and Blue Coral concentrate (NOT the wash/wax combo).

 

So... I haven't washed my car yet, picked it up October 10th & now it has 2,800 miles on it. Bugs on the front from a trip to Wisconsin last month, etc etc.

I have read so much here and elsewhere that says to stay away from car washes, they'll damage the paint etc, so I haven't cleaned it yet.

However, I am not going to wash the car myself. (I think I last washed a car about 20 years ago..??) It's Minnesota, it's 5F outside, and all the chemicals I would use here (townhouse) would go straight into the drain so that's not cool. Sounds like people go to a DIY car wash facility that has proper drainage for chemicals? Maybe someday I will do that...

In the mean time, how often should my car get a car wash? I've heard it's good to clean your car here in Minnesota because they use salt on the roads & that damages cars (lots of rusty wheel areas on cars here). And, where can I go to get a car wash?

Should I take it to a detailing company... do they do car washes? I know they wax cars... and should cars get a wax after being washed?

I don't need perfect paint, but I do intend to resell the car years down the road when it starts having issues; I'm not driving this car into the ground (or whatever the expression is?)

So basically, what I'm wondering, is where would a person go to have their car washed & how often & what should they ask for, to keep the car in good shape & keep car from rusting, but not necessarily perfect paint :-)

OK, thank you all so much, and I apologize for my ignorance!

edit: This is my first car, hence why I have no idea what to do.

 

Chemicals aren't much to worry about; the soap is harmless. 5F on the other hand is bananas. I'd get it washed once a month or so, get it waxed at least quarterly. Detailers will do it, but it's going to cost. Google your area for highly-reviewed hand-wash car wash facilities in your area. If your town/city is even a little bit metropolitan, there should be one in your area.

The expression down here in the south is "drive it 'til the wheels fall off."

 

Good thread. I agree. This is my first new car and the first car whose paint I'd dare touch myself. I usually left it up to the pros. I intend to practice the craft on the Fit so I can detail my others.

I always washed my others with a foam gun and lots of wash mits and microfiber towels. Never seemed to do much harm, but that R8 video has me rethinking.

 

Yep, what he said! When one gets too anal about having a perfect finish that first ding is too painful. I keep it clean and let the paint do its job. This is the real world, not Pebble Beach.

 

No, but I'll show you pebble beach... :P



For scale:



And the poor Civic:



Rahl071: Thank you for the information! I will see if I can find a hand wash place.. I'm in the Twin Cities so should be something around here. Thanks!

 

In B4 OP's meltdown after 1st door ding.