Hi all,

So the temperature is slowly rising in Quebec and I'm already thinking about what im gonna do about detailing my GD Fit. I've been thinking about getting a foam lance going on and I've been seeing many positive reviews of the Gilmour Foamaster.

I've gathered that you absolutely need a pressure washer to get appropriate foam, no matter the attachment type. I'm not a home owner and don't really need a pressure washer for any other use than my car so I don't see myself dropping three bills on a gas powered one. What solution do you recommend for a cheapskate like me? Is there a cheap electrical one on sale at Wally's world I don't know about? Thanks.

 

1650 PSI Pressure Washer with Auto-Stop

Pressure washers can also peel the paint off your car.

 

Nice find. I'll have to see about shipping to Canada. If they tack on 80$, it makes no sense to order vs buying locally.

I have heard that there is a risk of damage when using pressure washer to clean a car. I was thinking I could use it on its lowest setting while standing a good distance from the car to clean off most of the dirt, then to hook up the foam lance and let the suds lift up the dirt from the paint before scrubbing with my microfibre mitts.

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

I have a power washer and would never use it on a car. You will damaged something with one. Just a bucket and mitt will be just fine and a good rinse after. Then once a year clay bar and wax.

Being old, I just picked up a nice fibre mitt with a longer handle so I don't have to bend to do rocker panels anymore -). Got it at Wal-Mart for $19. Can't wait to use it.

 

I bought an electric pressure washer after driving over a freshly oiled dirt road in a SUV coated the wheel wells with oil. The first time that I turned the washer on and was letting the stream spray the ground as I decided where to begin on the vehicle, I found that I had cut slashes in my asphalt driveway with the pressure stream. Was very happy that I had not sprayed the truck, and never even thought about pressure washing a car again.

 

Snap! I want to try and buff some of the swirls out of my paint this summer using Autoglym super resin polish and then finishing up with the HD wax.

I want something to lift the contaminants off of the paint before I wash so I don't scratch up the paint by rubbing dirt particles around the car. I was thinking a quick lowest pressure rinse and a nice foam coating would be a great prelude to hand washing.

What would you recommend then? Garden hose and clay bar?

Thanks

 

That's what the auto detailers use.

 

Garden hose and TWO buckets of water. Wash from the first bucket then rinse the used sponge in the second to remove any debris and or dirt removed from the car. Then back to the first to get more suds. WET the car good before washing and keep it wet while washing to help loosen dirt before you get to the next spot with the sponge.

IF you are going to wax after (really should after clay baring) use liquid dish washing soap it removes the old wax.

 

TWOooooooo buckets, that's what I needed today. Got freakin' spots all over. Haven't washed a car in 15 years. lol
addit:

 

Hello. Thank you all for the great imput. I'm probably gonna go with the claybar kit from Meguires. It's about 30$ with 2 claybars and the detailing lube so I guess it's alright value?

I already use the 2 bucket method as mentioned. However, I saw this video on youtube about a guy that details his car and he uses one bucket for the top part of his car and one bucket for the lower part. He claims that his two bucket method prevents road contaminants that are lower on the car from contaminating the top paint. I guess that makes sense but if you wash your car from top down I guess you get the same end result anyway. The dude impressed me with his wash method. He rinses his car (i think he uses a pressure washer at low pressure), then foams up the car with a lance, then cleans and dries with an electrical leaf blower! The leaf blower technique seems pretty smart and he insists that it must be electrical because the gas powered ones can throw particles/contamination on the paint.

I'm thinking of picking up a grit guard to put in my rinse bucket so I don't swirl up some grime in the bucket and onto my MF mitt when rinsing.

Now I've got to figure out how to fix my darn front spoiler. Someone appears to have backed up into my car and cracked it. grrr. I'll post about that in the GD forum.

This is how I plan to detail my car this spring:
-clean out those salt stains in the interior with some carpet shampoo and warm water. clean the all season matts. Clean the interior windows with Bon ami foam glass cleaner. That's a great product BTW, I've done it once before winter and haven't touched it up since. It helps slightly with fogging, because if your inner windows are dirty, fogging is worse.

-give the car a quick once over wash, with the 2 bucket technique

-Use honda touch up paint to fix a few nicks and scratches, especially under my front spoiler. I'm still on the fence about whether to use clearcoat or not.

-let the touch up paint cure for at least 24 hours

-clean the car again with the two bucket technique

-buff the tailpipe with mothers mag and aluminum polish

-claybar the car

-polish with Autoglym super resin polish (I want to try to get rid of some of the swirls. Maybe not all but at least improve it a little)

-follow up with autoglym HD wax (this stuff is great for a really deep wet shine that lasts with awesome beading)

Thanks again for your suggestions!

 

Also, I want to install a rear appliqué. Should I do that after the claybar and before the wax? Should I use dish soap to remove wax before installing the appliqué. Also, any suggestions on where to order are appreciated. They are selling them for 70$ before tax here in Quebec

 

You could have had mine. I took it off and threw it out as it is cheap looking piece of crap. Get an after market one that unrolls from inside the trunk.

Crappy Tire sells a cleaner for removing salt stains. Works not bad. Must use it 2 -3 times to get rid of the stubborn ones. I should be OK this year as I have Weather Tech liners.