[Connerrandell]

Hey all!

I brought my 2014 SE hatch up to the self serve car wash today and used the presoak setting before i did anything else and it really helped. All the dirt and massacred insects came right off the front of the car. I plan on doing it myself in the future but it was just too hot today.

I was wondering what kind of pre soak you guys use when detailing your car.

Also, If you dont use any sort of pre soak, what do you do to get your shine?

 

[mmmfloorpie]

If I go to the self serve car wash, which is only in the winter, I don't even bother with the first rinse/pre soak. The skeptical part of me just imagines pre soak being another word for "tap water". I just start it on soap and get it all soapy right off the bat.

I also never use the brushes. They are used on thousands of cars and are probably never replaced. Don't want them scuffing up the paint! Usually I'll take my own brush and find a friend/family member who wants to get their car washed too. While the other person is spraying the car down with the soap, I'll use the brush. Then we switch cars and repeat.

The only way to really get a good shine is to use a polish/and wax. They have those detailing sprays which a lot of people seem to like.

 

[rabbitrider]

I'm a big fan of Meguiar's Gold Class. While there are brands / products that other might recommend, Gold Class is top shelf and available just about everywhere.

If you really want to take care of your car / paint you should use microfiber towels, two buckets, and very light pressure. Microfiber is preferred over brushes because they will help prevent swirls and other light scratches in your paint that you might get from other wash towels / brushes.

I should warn you... once you go down this road it can be very addictive and troublesome. Once you start noticing paint swirls, you see them everywhere. Even in supposedly "well detailed" cars!

It starts with a good wash... next thing you know its adding a clay bar... then its just deeper into the rabbit hole. Good Luck

 

[sailor]

Moved to the Auto Washing, Detailing & Paint Protection area.

You'll find a LOT of info. here and comments made. Check the recent one where a member shows his "Foam Cannon" wash method!