I'm a painter so, here's my humble advice. Please guys.......do not use anything other than soap's made for automotive paint ! NO DETERGENT !!! NO CAR WASH BUSINESS, the soap is too harsh. Their is nothing wrong with using water !!! Use soft water if you can, mainly in the final rince. Before I added a dedicaited soft water line from my basement, I did take it to a car wash. I used their "final rinse" only,
(that cycle is soft water) using it to rinse, wash (using my sope) & rinse again. Don't use sponges, they hold sand, dirt ect. Use two, soft mit's, one for the top, the other for the very bottom. Use one side for half of the car the other side for the other side. Keep cleaning the mit in the bucket of soap, if the water looks dirty, put new soap & water in. Clean the tire/wheels first then the car from top to bottom. Use low water presure & I like using the all silicone "water blade" to block off water from running into the interior. Keep the body wet the whole time your washing. Dry using a shammie (spelling)? or the water blade ect... If you have an air compressor, with a water trap, I like using it to aid in blow drying around the headlight buckets, emblems, latches, vents, ect.... that hold & trap water. If I'm not going to be driving it for a while, I take it down the highway to blowdry the chassis off.
I don't believe in NOT washing a car. As long as you do it correctly & dry it properly. Dust, sand, sap,
oil from our hands contaiments & pollution from the air, ect..ect..ect.. are VERY......hard on our paint !!! You MUST, remove it. I also use a "duster" but, between washings (if it's a light covering) & at car shows. Also, invest in a well made breathable soft car cover to protect it.
Please, wash & dry well ! ( car soap, soft mit's, soft water)
Use wax a couple times per year only (keep from build-up)
Use a detailer like meguires, Mothers ect....(using long straight smooth strokes folling with a drying towel)
Dust if it's a light covering
Use a quality cover.
Thanks,
Kevin
Thanks,
Kevin