HOW-TO: Wash you car like a PRO (using CarPro Reset)

[Dr_Pain]

The shop was ROCKING this weekend, and actually had something happen that had not happen in a looooooong time. What happened?? Well, a customer asked if they could drop off their car, stay and watch the whole process from start to finish, so they could learn. This is definitely a departure from our "usual" maintenance washes, since we normally shuttle the cars (or the car gets dropped off). In any case, I always welcome my customer to stay if they watch. This always pay off in the end, from fact that they see what their hard earned money is paying for, over going to a "tunnel of swirl" or a production shop.

The process of washing her 2014 Black Mustang was uneventful, but a couple of questions were asked which got me thinking. It is interesting the hear the misconceptions and falsehood that are floating around in people's mind, even more funny to see the lightbulb moments when they hear the "truth".!! So let's tackle some of those questions:

1) Are you actually going to wash my black car in the full mid day sun??? (it was 2pm, not a cloud in the sky, and about 75 degrees)
2) Aren't you afraid the soap will dry on the paint?
3) Aren't you afraid of water spots?

Although I didn't have time to take pictures of the process on her Black Mustang, I thought it would be great for our forum membership to see the process in action, and to try and debunk some of the fallacy (or better described as misconceptions). So yesterday I took care of my daily driver (2103 Tuxedo Black Ford Raptor), and did everything "wrong". LOL!.

First I went to church and made sure to stay parked in an uncovered area (to cook it). I then brought the truck to the shop and left it outside, while I was tending to another vehicle which was left overnight for a long detail. It was about 1:30pm when I finally got around to start the process. Time of day was about the same (as the mustang), conditions and ambient temperature were about the same, and brand and color were identical. It is sugarcane season down here so a LOT of field mud on the road.

** NOTE: I am not going to describe in details the "3 bucket technique", wash methodology and drying theories, but if there is enough interest I may create a specific How-To on those subjects. Let me know!

Here is the truck as it stood (DIRTY DIRTY LITTLE BEAST!!!):




This is the result of a light rain and all that field mud in the road. I should note that my truck is coated!!

Wash Tools and Products:
1) Chenille Microfiber wash mitt (all my Microfiber Madness wash products were dirty from the day before): LINK HERE!
2) CarPro Reset LINK HERE!
3) Waffle weave MF towel: LINK HERE!
4) Grit Guard LINK HERE!

Washing of the paint was done using a traditional 2 bucket technique (and used 1 bucket for the wheels, fender wells and running boards)



Do you need fancy pre-labeled buckets? Heck no! I got the blue bucket FREE when painting the football field at our highschool. I cleaned the inside well and put some grit guard in it and call it a day. A "Pro" is defined as a smart, extremely knowledgeable, and well seasoned individual, and let me be the first to say how smart it is to use FREE STUFF, ROFL! One bucket was my soap dilution and the other is my rinse bucket (each with a grit guard). I always have 2 wash mitt or Incredisponge (LINK HERE!) at all times. One being used, while the other is soaking in the rinse bucket, then soaking the wash bucket (to help dislodge the grit, and for the soap surfactants get to work on the wash mitt itself).

After a good wash (safe technique apply), I rinsed the soap off, and dry!

.... and that is it folks!!......WELL, not exactly!!!

---

QUESTION: How can you wash a WHOLE black vehicle in the full sun, using traditional soap without all hell breaking loose??

First, let's answer the second and third question (and the first question will answer itself)

QUESTION: What makes the soap dry on the paint?
ANSWER: #1 the ambient temperature plays a HUGE roll in that, but more importantly #2 the temperature of the panel.

What I did not show in the process was the "pre-rinse", which serves multiple purpose.

1. It loosens the surface debris
2. It pre-moisten the cakes on stuff and allows of easier removal
3. .... but BEST is that it actually cools down the panel

If you put your wash mitt on the panel and it is "smoking", or if you take the mitt off the paint and you literally see the water evaporating before your eyes, then you don't stand a chance. HOWEVER if you pre-rinse the panel until it cools down, then you can wash the panel and take your time. Make sure that you have a dripping wash mitt (which will also help). If you want to be technical about it, we could discuss the heat transfer thermodynamic laws as it pertains to water mass, but I think you get the idea. Did you catch the other trick? Yep, even with traditional washes you can wash panel per panel!!!!





Did you see how I keep my drying towel handy???

QUESTION: So how do you avoid water spots???
ANSWER: SIMPLE, have more than one drying towel, wring them out often, and rotate through them often. Water spots cannot occur if there is no water on the panel! The HUGE waffle weave I use (or Microfiber Madness Dry Me Crazy towels LINK HERE!) are absolutely FANTASTIC at removing water off the paint quickly, before it has a chance to evaporate (leaving those pesky minerals on the paint in the form of a water spot)

Here is a handy little way to dry your towels "on the fly" (see how BIG that waffle weave is??)



Before I forget, I always keep my Master Blaster on hand for those hard to reach places, body lines, gaskets, door handles (before they create those nasty mineral encrusted deposits).




Compressed air or a leaf blower works also.

GENERAL RECAP:

1. Quality Products and Quality Tools (Reset, Microfiber Madness etc..)
2. Quality technique and understanding of those techniques (3 Bucket Technique, panel by panel, etc..)
3. "Cool" panel and keep it cool (with pre-rinse and dripping wet wash mitt, etc...)
4. Dry quickly with more than one huge towel

Did I miss anything??? Oh yea.... the after!!



Disclaimer, the after picture is actually after I applied Reload 2014V1, for which I will have a How-To (based on some of my experimentation). As a teaser I will tell you that I applied FULL strength in the FULL sun (just to continue the trend of doing things "wrong"!! So be on the lookout

[Old Tiger]

Great read Doc! I used to collect car washes until I tried RESET. It gets a coated car so clean it almost squeeks! Very spot resistant too IME. It is my exclusive wash now. I am all in on the Madness line too!

[EVOlved]

A pair of great how to's Claude keep up the great work and the great contribution to our passion!

[Corey]

Excellent and entertaining read Claude! Thank you for your always generous contributions to the community!!

[Moldavite]

thanks for sharing

[fdresq4]

It gets hot in Louisiana? Nice truck BTW! Thanks for the very informative post.

Steve

[Worthrj]

Can you please tell me what pressure washer you're using?

[AceMartinez]

Excellent! I would have love to experience your service but unfortunately, I may live far from your shop and from where I live, the roads are filled with dust. I would love it if you shared more in detail of your technique. The soap always dries up on my paint and of course, the annoying watermark after all the cleaning, then I would need to wipe the entire car again, and I drive an SUV. Help

[Genesis]

Dude you should use a Merino wash Mitt not that crap, but really appreciate you post!

[fdresq4]

Dude you should use a Merino wash Mitt not that crap, but really appreciate you post!

1. If Claude uses it...it's not "crap" unless otherwise noted by him.
2. I use to use that particular mitt on the lower half of vehicles and will at times. Nothing wrong with it as long as it is used properly and cared for.

BTW...the original post is over a year old.