First time detailer in apartment complex

[MoneyJohn]

Hello folks,

I live in the neighborhood where we do not have coin washes. All automated car washes cost ~$20 to get OK washing with a lot of stuff as is which you clean once you are home. To be honest, I am fed up paying $400/year for 2 cars to get sh!tty cleaning done. So I am considering cleaning myself at home a couple of times during the summer/fall season so that the carwash place cleaning will suffice to deal with until next summer. I do not expect to be 'detailing' in definition sense but just clean up good enough.

The problem is, I live in an apartment complex with no access to running water or electricity in the parking lot. Plus, officially we are not allowed to wash cars in the parking lot but have noticed a few residents doing basic cleaning in the guest parking lot. I don't know them so didn't ask them what they use.

So here I am,
What stuff do I need to get a basic cleaning done, other than car wash detergent, brushes, microfiber towels, and a spray bottle? I got turtle wax a long time ago with same intention but it never materialized. I got Mother's clay bar kit as well with the intention of cleaning the windshields but haven't done that either. Now the windshields are in a pretty bad shape due to sap and I will have to do it. So I thought, I might as well do whole car step by step. How difficult is using a clay bar on the whole car, that has never been clay barred?

Any input with or without material to use is welcome.

 

[SatinSilver]

A rinseless wash will be a good option for you. Just slop the soap mixture on the car then wipe gently with a plush microfiber towel. My favorite is Duragloss Rinseless wash. There's also spray and wipe products but the first one will be a little more forgiving. I like people starting with the first option then migrating to a waterless wash(spray and wipe). When I do a waterless and it's been a while since washing I like going to the coin wash first just to get the big stuff off. Since that's not an option for you I'd go for the Rinseless.

Here's a few videos on it:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=duragloss+rinseless+wash

Here's a good product from Ultima:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPYwZIgfJlE

 

[skyactiv]

Sounds like your spending a lot of Money, John.
A bucket and a battery powered pressure washer?!

 

[walterjay]

Easy one. Meguiars Ultimate Waterless Wash and Wax and three or four high quality microfiber towels. No need for a drop of water.
When i first saw this stuff I thought it was crazy. But I found out that it was in use on Concours cars and other car shows. I have been using it for two years now and on both of my new cars. They look dazzling and repel rain and other gunk like you wouldn't believe. At first I was afraid of scratches, but I can honestly say I have yet to see a single scratch. Just follow the directions. Try it and see.

 

[JamesBond]

I live in the city and park on the street. I have a bucket, rag, 3 gallon jug and diluted car wash soap in a spray bottle. When it rains I fill the bucket and jug with water from the tub and go out in my running clothes and flip flops and wash the the car and the rain rinses it off. The water in the jug is to rinse off wheels or other spots the rain might miss. If it's not raining very hard I even smear around some spray wax just for fun.

It's not perfect but I'm not paying for the cruddy drive through washes around here. Once or twice a year I drive the 30 minutes to the coin op spray it yourself wash to blast out all the crud that builds up between panels, and plastic bits etc.

The inside of the windows, interior and door jambs, get cleaned with water when it's not raining.

 

[RyanY]

Originally Posted By: walterjay
Easy one. Meguiars Ultimate Waterless Wash and Wax and three or four high quality microfiber towels. No need for a drop of water.
When i first saw this stuff I thought it was crazy. But I found out that it was in use on Concours cars and other car shows. I have been using it for two years now and on both of my new cars. They look dazzling and repel rain and other gunk like you wouldn't believe. At first I was afraid of scratches, but I can honestly say I have yet to see a single scratch. Just follow the directions. Try it and see.


How do you clean the rims when you go waterless? I would like to try waterless sometime but my rims always look like [censored] if I don't use wheel cleaner.

 

[walterjay]

I use the waterless cleaner on them. I do them last. Spray them and use one of the wet towels that you have bee using. If you want perfection, spray them lightly again and wipe them off with a clean microfiber cloth. And again I recommend a high quality microfiber cloth for the process. Go to Autogeek and get the green ones that they sell. Don't use the stuff they sell at Pep Boys or Walmart.

 

[danez_yoda]

Before all that waterless stuff came out I just filled two buckets with water. One was my soap bucket and one was my rinse bucket.

Soaped the card down with the soap bucket then with a seperate big dogbone sponge go after it with the rinse bucket.

Use a carwash soap that doesn't make much suds (mix it thin) but use a thick soft wash mit. rinse with a dogbone sponge that holds lots of water.

Then towel dry.

If you want start waxing it.

done.

 

[JLawrence08648]

What about a commercial car wash and a lithium ion buffer?

 

[David2431]

What would happen if you took a garden hose with a pistol sprayer to a park or campground that had a spigot?

Just askin'.

 

[MoneyJohn]

Thank you folks.

@skyactiv, that washer looks awesome. I will research more. There was another kind on IndieGoGo, Norshire. They don't take individual orders but bulk orders only. Its shame because it looks really great and it is multipurpose.

I also liked the idea of using Meguiars Ultimate Waterless Wash and Wax but I think, the car needs to be relatively clean before I use that. Mine is pretty dirty in nook and crannies.

I am curious if anybody used these 12V washers.

 

[funkymonkey1111]

Look into Optimum No Rinse. It is a rinseless wash. You mix it 1:256 parts water--wipe it over the car then dry it. You can do a small car with less than a gallon if you're judicious. If you're doing 2 cars, you could mix up 3 gallons and be done.

it can be mixed at 1:16 for a quick detailer to keep your car clean between washes, too.

Optimum markets their "Big Red Sponge" to work perfectly with the ONR.

 

[NYSteve]

I'll agree with everyone that says rinseless is the way to go.

For clay, that gets harder. Since you have not clayed and you said you had sap and stuff, you'll want to get some Car Pro TRIX which removes both Sap, Tar and Iron particles. You'll also want something like a medium grade clay towel. Used with the proper lube, like Glide, it will remove all the contaminants.

However, the medium grade will put some slight marring in the finish. this shouldn't matter since you'll want to use a polish or All In One(Compound,polish,wax) to remove swirls and protect your newly clean surface. top with whatever sealant you like and you're good. Expect to spend about 6-8 hours doing all this. If you get a dual action buffer, expect to spend $500 or so for everything.

you'll be kinda set for life afterwards but it is a labor of love.

 

[HYUNDAIFAN0001]

Yeah - not a fan at all of the water-less method, and definitely not if clay-barring will be a step followed (which I agree is a good idea for detailing).

Normal steps in a full detail that includes a smooth shiny finish and clear-coat protection are:

A good wash, then clay bar, then polish (if needed and/or swirl removal required), then glaze (if a car-show shine is the goal, then sealant/wax (sealant lasts longer), then a topical spray wax.

If a car is new and/or in very clean and swirl-free finish condition...

A good wash, clay bar, sealant/wax, and spray wax will usually do the trick and result in a very nice, smooth, shiny exterior finish.

Sealants provide longer protection than waxes, while waxes - especially carnauba waxes - provide the optimum shine (but don't last as long).

For those last 2 steps - here we use Meguiar's Ultimate Liquid wax - which is actually a very good and easy-to-apply polymer sealant - and then top off with Chemical Guy's Blazin' Banana Spray wax, which features refined carnauba wax in it and provides a great shine and added UV protection.

Microfiber towels will be needed for nearly all the steps - Walmart sells a big pack of them for under $10.

 

[MoneyJohn]

Thank you folks,

@NYSteve, I do not have a power supply in the guest parking. Unless dual action butter is 12V, no way I can use it.

@Hyuandaifan,
Although the car show finish is not my goal, I would like to keep the car looking new instead of dull. Subaru's paint is thin (or so is said) and has already started losing luster. I would like to avoid that.

In an ideal case, I would like to go the way you suggest the first time but would like to do in the least amount of water possible. That was the reason I asked, how difficult is clay barring a car that has never been clay barred.

 

[funkymonkey1111]

Originally Posted By: HYUNDAIFAN0001
Yeah - not a fan at all of the water-less method, and definitely not if clay-barring will be a step followed (which I agree is a good idea for detailing).

Normal steps in a full detail that includes a smooth shiny finish and clear-coat protection are:

A good wash, then clay bar, then polish (if needed and/or swirl removal required), then glaze (if a car-show shine is the goal, then sealant/wax (sealant lasts longer), then a topical spray wax.

If a car is new and/or in very clean and swirl-free finish condition...

A good wash, clay bar, sealant/wax, and spray wax will usually do the trick and result in a very nice, smooth, shiny exterior finish.

Sealants provide longer protection than waxes, while waxes - especially carnauba waxes - provide the optimum shine (but don't last as long).

For those last 2 steps - here we use Meguiar's Ultimate Liquid wax - which is actually a very good and easy-to-apply polymer sealant - and then top off with Chemical Guy's Blazin' Banana Spray wax, which features refined carnauba wax in it and provides a great shine and added UV protection.

Microfiber towels will be needed for nearly all the steps - Walmart sells a big pack of them for under $10.


Did you read the part about the fact that this guy is in an apartment with limited water options?

Nobody here has described a waterless wash, but instead a rinseless wash. That you aren't a fan of this method doesn't make it any less appropriate for this situation

 

[MoneyJohn]

Originally Posted By: funkymonkey1111


Did you read the part about the fact that this guy is in an apartment with limited water options?

Nobody here has described a waterless wash, but instead a rinseless wash. That you aren't a fan of this method doesn't make it any less appropriate for this situation


No worries, mate. Its OK.

While this is not an ideal method for me, I appreciate the input. I am seriously looking for options where I can have access to running water and electricity at some other friend's place. If they allow me, this information will come in handy.

 

[HYUNDAIFAN0001]

Originally Posted By: funkymonkey1111
Did you read the part about the fact that this guy is in an apartment with limited water options?

Nobody here has described a waterless wash, but instead a rinseless wash. That you aren't a fan of this method doesn't make it any less appropriate for this situation

If someone is living where they can't fill a bucket or two of water to wash a car...they have bigger issues to deal with than what kind of product they use to wash their car. I feel for this person having to deal with such limitations - it seems quite unfair to be subjected to have such restrictions.

Washing is washing - these other "waterless", "rinseless", or other names for doing it in a non-conventional way is nothing more than a "work-around".

Different strokes for different folks...but I know of no one where we live that would ever entertain using those methods.

 

[SatinSilver]

The people that have negative things to say about rinseless or waterless washes are those that have never tried them. My suggestion would be to try them and judge for yourself. Just this morning I used waterless wash on the front end, hood, roof and rear hatch of the car. So pretty much everything but the sides. So you can pick and choose what areas you want to clean. Spray and wipe with a plush mf towel. The top areas take the brunt from the sun and can bake various things into the paint. Plus with rain in the forecast the sides would quickly get dirty again. I can spot clean on a daily basis if I notice something that should be cleaned up asap so it doesn't bake into the paint. Plus the cleaner leaves protection behind. So spot clean instead of washing the entire car which can be a fool's errand.

Plus I did this at a park overlooking Lake Erie. Very enjoyable. Also did a quick pump out of the p.s. fluid which I've been doing twice per week till I go through the quart of fluid.

 

[HYUNDAIFAN0001]

Originally Posted By: SatinSilver
The people that have negative things to say about rinseless or waterless washes are those that have never tried them. My suggestion would be to try them and judge for yourself. Just this morning I used waterless wash on the front end, hood, roof and rear hatch of the car. So pretty much everything but the sides. So you can pick and choose what areas you want to clean. Spray and wipe with a plush mf towel. The top areas take the brunt from the sun and can bake various things into the paint. Plus with rain in the forecast the sides would quickly get dirty again. I can spot clean on a daily basis if I notice something that should be cleaned up asap so it doesn't bake into the paint. Plus the cleaner leaves protection behind. So spot clean instead of washing the entire car which can be a fool's errand.

Plus I did this at a park overlooking Lake Erie. Very enjoyable. Also did a quick pump out of the p.s. fluid which I've been doing twice per week till I go through the quart of fluid.

That makes it a Band Aid solution.

It defies the "do it right or don't do it at all" wisdom that has lasted hundreds of years.

Nonetheless - Enjoy.