Out of curiosity, I'm wanting to know what all of you use to wash your cars?

I used to be the dish soap and big sponge type, but I've never owned a brand new car before. Everything else was dinged up, scratched up and used. But I want to preserve the shine of my new car's paint as long as possible.

I went through a zillion lovebugs this weekend and have already had to wash the car once to get them off before they ruined the paint. I'll be going through them all again tomorrow. I used plain water and a soft sponge to get them off this time, but would rather do it 'properly' next time.

Any advice? What do you guys prefer?

 

Don't use dish soap. Go buy car washing soap at a parts store. I'm sure you will get many different answers on this topic. Use car soap and a clean spounge and you should be OK.

 

can you go through an automatic car wash with the fit? it seems like it might do some damage to the antenna if you do

 

I wouldn't use a sponge, either. I use those big soft bath towels to wash my cars. The dirt gets lifted into the towel, and doesn't scratch the paint that way. Works well for me.

 

you need to take off the antenna before you go into the carwash

 

Pressure washer
Quality car soap
Bucket and Lambskin wash mit
Synthetic chamois to dry.

 

On my car, I use a car-wash soap from any reputable company with a microfiber towel. To dry the car, I use a big waffle weave microfiber towel.

In between washes I use a some waterless car wash stuff from a local detail shop. The stuff works great. I apply the stuff and wipe it off with, you guessed it, microfiber towels.

Microfiber is the way to go.

 

mmmmmm that s2000 is teh shit.

ROFLMFFAO!!!!!1111!!!

 

Does that little bugger just screw off?

 

^^ Yeah, the antennas just screw off. I'm waiting for the first person to post on here that their antenna has been stolen. My antenna has been stolen twice.

 

Use a Thread Locker if you never need to remove it.
I don't use car washes, so I'll probably go this route.

 

Don't think you'd want to do that considering those automatic car wash leaves swirly scratch marks all over your car.

 

Hmmm...what's wrong with a real chamois besides the resultant dead chamois? For drying, a real chamois has always worked better for me. Also, a "California Jelly Blade" used first cuts drying time to nothing.

Finally, for those like me who hate waxing, use that spray on wax stuff (after the initial water removal with the jelly blade) in conjunction with the chamois.

PS - Anyone who uses dish washing liquid to wash a car needs to have their meal ticket punched "no dessert".

PPS - Those "California" mini-dusters are great on the dash

 

nice s2000 =)

 

I use all micro fiber towels.

 

Thank you!

Smart man.

 

I see my self using this phrase often!

 

I agree 110%

Hey cvc2nr nice AP1

 

I bought a nice microfiber mitt last night and some real car wash soap. Forgot the towel for drying, so I guess I'll be back at Target later to get that.

I may leave waxing up to the professionals. At 5'2", I can't really reach the roof.

 

I agree with the modern wiping/drying items, but in the fifteen years I've had my Miata, my washing solution each time has been a bucket of tepid water with a tablespoon of Johnson's Baby Shampoo cut with a teaspooon of canola (rapeseed) oil in it, as recommended orioginally by the Miata Club of America. It works great, is biodegradable & inexpensive-- try it once --you may like it too.