car cleaning

[afcbadam]

what is your top tip for cleaning a car.

mine - wash the wheels before the car

[afcbadam]

4399 members so i should imagine 4399 + cars. somebody must clean their car.

[BlackMagic]

what is your top tip for cleaning a car.

mine - wash the wheels before the car

Always wash the wheels last - they're invariably the most dirty and personally I wouldn't wish to be spreading really mucky (or worse still gritty!) water over my pristine bodywork so the wheels ALWAYS get done last.

4398 members don't wash their cars!:D

[deano78]

i agree always wash wheels first. then wash the car, that way any brake dust being flung off will be washed away and not left eating into your paint. and always use 3 buckets, two with wash solution (one for wheels one for body work) and one with clean water in to rinse your mitt/sponge in after each panel so grit isnt trapped onto your mitt/sponge. another tip is rinse with an open hose instead of a gun type attatchment. this makes the water sheet off, making it easier to dry or gives less waterspots if you dont intend to dry.

[afcbadam]

Always wash the wheels last - they're invariably the most dirty and personally I wouldn't wish to be spreading really mucky (or worse still gritty!) water over my pristine bodywork so the wheels ALWAYS get done last.

4398 members don't wash their cars!:D

wash then first with a different bucket and sponge than the car. whats the poing in cleaning the car only to get dirty break dust coloured water on it.

[afcbadam]

i agree always wash wheels first. then wash the car, that way any brake dust being flung off will be washed away and not left eating into your paint. and always use 3 buckets, two with wash solution (one for wheels one for body work) and one with clean water in to rinse your mitt/sponge in after each panel so grit isnt trapped onto your mitt/sponge. another tip is rinse with an open hose instead of a gun type attatchment. this makes the water sheet off, making it easier to dry or gives less waterspots if you dont intend to dry.

you mean nothing on the end of the hose dont you. is a jet washer any good for rinseing

[deano78]

you mean nothing on the end of the hose dont you. is a jet washer any good for rinseing

yeah a hose with nothing on the end. pressure washers are fine for rinsing but you will get water spots if you dont dry the car.

[BlackMagic]

wash then first with a different bucket and sponge than the car. whats the poing in cleaning the car only to get dirty break dust coloured water on it.

If you wash the wheels last how are you going to get brake dust on your paintwork? Am I missing something?

[MrBitsy]

If you wash the wheels last how are you going to get brake dust on your paintwork? Am I missing something?

I too always wash the wheels last. I wash the roof, boonet and boot then rinse. I then do the sides and rinse. I finish off by washing the wheels then a gentle rinse. Finally, I take the gun off the hose and sheet the water over the car.

If brake dust is going to get onto the paint surface and stick, it will do so if the wheels are done first - washing won't get it off, so I don't see any benefit in using double the wash solution.

[deano78]

I too always wash the wheels last. I wash the roof, boonet and boot then rinse. I then do the sides and rinse. I finish off by washing the wheels then a gentle rinse. Finally, I take the gun off the hose and sheet the water over the car.

If brake dust is going to get onto the paint surface and stick, it will do so if the wheels are done first - washing won't get it off, so I don't see any benefit in using double the wash solution.


if you wash your wheels first and flick brake dust on the paint work (more so if you use a between the spoke type brush) the brake dust will be wet or encased in water, then you wash your car and it comes off. if you wash your wheel last and get dust on the bodywork, the water will dry and leave the brake dust on your paint. also, using one bucket of wash solution, the grit you have taken off the paint will be dwelling in that bucket, call me anal ( i admit i am anyway) but i dont want to be rubbing that grit all over my alloys, and not only that, the water will be pretty manky and the cleaning power of the shampoo greatly reduced. I do it as a living so i have to be pretty OTT i suppose.

[capese21]

Use a lambs wool wash glove and never a sponge as they trap fine grit which causes swirl marks.

Buy some good quality car wash and never ever use wahsing up liquid as it contains salt.

[MrBitsy]

The brake dust will be encased in water if the wheels are washed last - after I wash the wheels, I do the final rinse of the whole car ready for drying. I can understand why you do it the way you do, but I don't see there can be any difference by doing them last - I certainly wouldn't wash and dry the car, THEN do the wheels :)

I pre-wash the car, allow it to soak and then rinse. I then use the two bucket method to wash the car, finishing with the wheels (I always use two separate mits, one for the car and one for the wheels). I guess most of us have coated the wheels with a sealant of some description, so I can't really see the mit is going to be loaded with grit.

If the wheels are wash first, doesn't grit from the car go over the wheels?

I think it comes down to a thorough wash routine - I personally don't think either way is 'wrong' :)