|
|
Safe Car Washing Guide
Beau Technique basic wash regime for eliminating swirl mark infliction on your pride and joy.
So you want to wash your car, but "What's the correct procedure?" I here you ask.
The typical method on the Sunday morning is, squirt some of the wife's fairy into a bucket and fill it to the brim with water. Letting it go crazy with the suds its creating. Chuck that old sponge out the shed in there and dust off the shammy you had lying under the kitchen sink unit ready to dry it. How wrong can you be? Extremely, that's how!
Get yourself a brew and pull up a seat. This is where the fun begins.
Firstly. If you imagine a flat surface and another flat surface in contact with each other. If there was anything between them, is this safe?
The typical method on the Sunday morning is, squirt some of the wife's fairy into a bucket and fill it to the brim with water. Letting it go crazy with the suds its creating. Chuck that old sponge out the shed in there and dust off the shammy you had lying under the kitchen sink unit ready to dry it. How wrong can you be? Extremely, that's how!
Get yourself a brew and pull up a seat. This is where the fun begins.
Firstly. If you imagine a flat surface and another flat surface in contact with each other. If there was anything between them, is this safe?
The beginning.
So here is the dirt particles on your cars paint...
Typical daily wash technique over view.
Here is the flat surface in the guise of the painted surface and a normal average sponge placed upon each other trapping the dirt... This is what majority are doing with the paint on there car.
The basics of what is happening.
Back to the beginning. 2 flat surfaces with grit and grime particles sandwiched between them. Is this safe? The answer........... No!
The basic fundamentals of car washing is to do it in the safest possible manner without inflicting any dreadful scratches or swirl markings on the painted finish. Heres where the journey begins. So you've realised That your typical wash method is a somewhat little less desired.
'What is the best way of washing my beloved car without distressing or tarnishing its finish?' I here you asking, the key is pampering the car.
'What is the best way of washing my beloved car without distressing or tarnishing its finish?' I here you asking, the key is pampering the car.
Typical way's to achieve safe and effective car washing.
1: Using a pH balanced, slick / well lubricated shampoo solution which will seriously help with lifting and removing the grime from your cars painted surface. This aids in encasing the dirt particles in solution making for safer removal.
2: Changing that old dirty sponge for a plush lambswool washmitt or non silicone open pour sponge like the Zymol or Raceglaze ones on the market. These are much softer and forgiving than a typical spone or course terry cotton mitt. These will not only remove the dirt very effectively but they lift the dirt away from the painted surfaces to reduce the chances of marking the paint.
3: Washing from top to bottom.
Times I have seen people washing the bottom half of there car then working at the top. Which in all honesty, is a touch confusing as the bottom of the vehicle suffers from the upper most dirt on a car so they are transferring dirt from the lower sections to the top, thus enhancing the chances of surface damage. Being on the safe side of the wash system will ensure your vehicle will stand the test of time. Not tiring one little bit and should you have a quality carnauba wax or acrylic / polymer sealant on your vehicles paint. It will continue to be protected for its recommended period of time. Firstly on the agenda, the wheels.
2: Changing that old dirty sponge for a plush lambswool washmitt or non silicone open pour sponge like the Zymol or Raceglaze ones on the market. These are much softer and forgiving than a typical spone or course terry cotton mitt. These will not only remove the dirt very effectively but they lift the dirt away from the painted surfaces to reduce the chances of marking the paint.
3: Washing from top to bottom.
Times I have seen people washing the bottom half of there car then working at the top. Which in all honesty, is a touch confusing as the bottom of the vehicle suffers from the upper most dirt on a car so they are transferring dirt from the lower sections to the top, thus enhancing the chances of surface damage. Being on the safe side of the wash system will ensure your vehicle will stand the test of time. Not tiring one little bit and should you have a quality carnauba wax or acrylic / polymer sealant on your vehicles paint. It will continue to be protected for its recommended period of time. Firstly on the agenda, the wheels.
Media to use when washing your car.
Wheel Woolies or an EZ detail brush.
Swissol / Envy or generic soft horse hairstyle brush or Valepro non scratch wheel brush.
Sheepskin wheel mitt ( any mitt or sponge will suffice ).
Wheel cleaner ( in serious circumstances ) Beau Technique recommend our very own ( non acidic ) safe wheel cleaner.
Bucket with grit guard.
pH neutral shampoo solution. Beau Technique recommend our very own car care shampoo or users choice.
Swissol / Envy or generic soft horse hairstyle brush or Valepro non scratch wheel brush.
Sheepskin wheel mitt ( any mitt or sponge will suffice ).
Wheel cleaner ( in serious circumstances ) Beau Technique recommend our very own ( non acidic ) safe wheel cleaner.
Bucket with grit guard.
pH neutral shampoo solution. Beau Technique recommend our very own car care shampoo or users choice.
Safe wheel cleaning:
Cleaning the wheels can be simple or can be taxing depending on how bad the wheels are. A standard used car wheel will have a build up of one month maximum. This will be slightly blackened with brake dust but not thick or caked on. To clean wheels of this calibre, firstly, rinse the wheel ( working on each individual is better than all at once ) now with your Wheel Woolies / EZ detail brush and shampoo solution. Clean the inner most wheel, ensuring you get round all the spoke areas.
Cleaning the wheels can be simple or can be taxing depending on how bad the wheels are. A standard used car wheel will have a build up of one month maximum. This will be slightly blackened with brake dust but not thick or caked on. To clean wheels of this calibre, firstly, rinse the wheel ( working on each individual is better than all at once ) now with your Wheel Woolies / EZ detail brush and shampoo solution. Clean the inner most wheel, ensuring you get round all the spoke areas.
With your Swissol / Envy brush ( a typical harris paint brush will do just ensure the metal section is well wrapped up with insulation tape so you wont damage your wheels with the metal cowling of the brush ) and your soap solution. Brush from top to bottom ensuring you get in all the nasty build up areas round the wheels nuts, badges etc. I tend to use a sheepskin wheel mitt ( any mitt or sponge will be fine dedicated to the wheels ) to ensure all the wheel has been washed thoroughly. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a microfiber cloth and so on with each wheel.
You may find a dedicated wheel cleaner such as Beau Technique ( non acidic ) safe wheel cleaner may be needed to remove slightly heavier build up of brake dust.
You may find a dedicated wheel cleaner such as Beau Technique ( non acidic ) safe wheel cleaner may be needed to remove slightly heavier build up of brake dust.
Snow foam.
If you are lucky enough to own a foam gun or lance then 'Foaming' or snowfoam is yet another safety procedure of the wash process which really does help.
Media to use for snowfoaming your car.
A snow foam lance dedicated to your brand of pressure washer or a Gilmore foamster II which can be attached to your garden hose.
A quality snowfoam. Beau Technique recommend Valetpro advanced pH neutral snowfoam, Bilthamber auto foam, Envy bubbly jubbly.
Your now ready for the snowfoam!
A quality snowfoam. Beau Technique recommend Valetpro advanced pH neutral snowfoam, Bilthamber auto foam, Envy bubbly jubbly.
Your now ready for the snowfoam!
Complete and even coverage is king:
Mix the foaming product as per the instructions. Typically, 25-50ml or 1" to your foam lance or foamster, add this after you have filled with water as so not to lose any of the cleaning properties of the product. With long sweeping motions, foam the car either side to side or up and down. Even coverage is a key in the process so the foam has chance to loosen the dirt from the whole of the vehicle instead of random sections.
Use the snowfall to its full advantage.
Leave to dwell for around two minutes. This gives you opportunity to use a soft hair brush and agitate all the tricky areas. Then rinse thoroughly. You can foam again if vehicle is heavily soiled prior to wash stage to ensure the safest possible wash is given.
Mix the foaming product as per the instructions. Typically, 25-50ml or 1" to your foam lance or foamster, add this after you have filled with water as so not to lose any of the cleaning properties of the product. With long sweeping motions, foam the car either side to side or up and down. Even coverage is a key in the process so the foam has chance to loosen the dirt from the whole of the vehicle instead of random sections.
Use the snowfall to its full advantage.
Leave to dwell for around two minutes. This gives you opportunity to use a soft hair brush and agitate all the tricky areas. Then rinse thoroughly. You can foam again if vehicle is heavily soiled prior to wash stage to ensure the safest possible wash is given.
The 2 bucket wash method.
Your second application of snowfoam is dwelling right now so the next faze is the 2 bucket wash method. Fill one bucket with fresh water only, if you only have the one grit guard, place it in this. Fill your second bucket three quarters full. Add the recommended amount of you pH balanced wash solution then top this bucket up ( cappucino method as it boosts a quick shot of foam ) this will activate the soap and not lose its valuable lubricity that is needed to wash the car safely.
Your second application of snowfoam is dwelling right now so the next faze is the 2 bucket wash method. Fill one bucket with fresh water only, if you only have the one grit guard, place it in this. Fill your second bucket three quarters full. Add the recommended amount of you pH balanced wash solution then top this bucket up ( cappucino method as it boosts a quick shot of foam ) this will activate the soap and not lose its valuable lubricity that is needed to wash the car safely.
Media to use for washing your car.
2 x merino lambswool washmitt or Zymol / Raceglaze sponge ( these are very forgiving and non silicone ).
2 x buckets. At least one with a gritgaurd but better with 2.
A quality pH balanced wash solution. Beau Technique recommend our very own car care shampoo.
Swissol / Envy brush............not the one you have used for the wheels.
2 x buckets. At least one with a gritgaurd but better with 2.
A quality pH balanced wash solution. Beau Technique recommend our very own car care shampoo.
Swissol / Envy brush............not the one you have used for the wheels.
Get stuck in!
Now dip your fresh washmitt or sponge into the soap and start to work. Lightly stroking the paint with no pressure. Let the lubricity of the shampoo solution and the weight of the mitt / sponge do the work for you. I find straight lines are best as working in a circular motion can also inflict damage on the surface. If you didnt agitate all the tricky areas during the foam stages. Use a soft hair brush to work generally round all the badges, grilles etc as you go. |
As you will see from the next diagram. The mitt / sponge lifts the dirt and draws it away from the painted surface as so not to damage the finish and cause the dreaded "Swirl" markings...
Correct media. Washing top to bottom. Safest wash for your car.
Work from the top most section of the vehicle downwards. A panel at a time then dip in your rinse bucket and ring the mitt / sponge out in that bucket. Now run your fingers through and if your happy dip in the wash solution once again and repeat. Remember the tail end of the vehicle will be almost as bad as that of the lowest section of the car so class this area as the bottom. Once the whole of the car has been washed. Rinse thoroughly once again. Spend particular attention to all the areas that will hold the dirt i.e. door joints, grilles, crevices etc, expect this to take another 10-15 minutes.
Just look at that grime.
Literally the bucket to your right is actual grime that you would have been transferring around your vehicles fragile painted surface. The bucket to the left is actual wash solution left and clearly showing clean solution which has been used to wash the vehicle. The 2 buckets do actually work and assist in a safer wash regime… |
Media drying your car.
A plush, quality microfiber drying towel, a prime example is the Uber plush towel from I4detailing.
A quality quick detailer. This misted prior to drying will add lubricity and gloss to the finish and reduce any forms of streaking. Beau Technique recommend Valetpro citrus bling or Autoglym fast shine and lube.
A quality quick detailer. This misted prior to drying will add lubricity and gloss to the finish and reduce any forms of streaking. Beau Technique recommend Valetpro citrus bling or Autoglym fast shine and lube.
Drying your car.
You may of seen so many people using a hydra blade. These are made of a silicone based product and helps remove water very quickly. Speed isn't everything, remember this. At the beginning I explained about the two flat surfaces, imagine this once again and you will frown when seeing one of these used. They can cause so many varied amounts of damage it really isn't worth it. Mist the car with the quick detailer. Majority of these have polymers which enhance the gloss of the paints finish but not only that. They are very slick to the touch which helps the towel glide along the paint safely so your not only getting a safe drying process. Your getting a glossy, streak free finish. You may feel as though this isn't for you. Just think though. If you don't take your time and give your car that extra bit of tlc. It could not only cost your car its finish but it could cost "YOU" in the long term as your cars finish will have diminished and will look in poor and sorry state due to wash marring, swirl infliction and potentially scratches.
Your done.
You may feel the need to dress your tyres or clean your glass here after but for now, why not stand back and admire your hard efforts.