Whats your routine and product preferences for washing and waxing?

Davexxxx

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For those who wash at home, what is your routine and product preferences?

I haven't yet found the magic suds that will do everything in one go.

I'm sure open to finding them but haven't yet.

First, we have a good power washer and a whole house water softener.

And I use a basic foam cannon. It does a good job for getting all the larger particulates off but it still leaves a film of fines. It almost even looks clean, until you look at the windshield and can still see the wiper limits.

So, we then follow that up with hand washing, working sections at a time, to not let anything dry before rinsing. We have a dirt strainer in the bucket.

Then follow that up with ceramic detailing sprays (Not a full on ceramic coating)

My Wife and I can tag team a vehicle, in fairly short order.

I mostly use Meguiar's products but I'm not married to them.

I do like their hybrid ceramics, for ease of use but I'm open to trying something else.

If you have clear plastics fading, like older model headlights, their Plastx product, is the best I've found.

On the matte finish plastics, Mother's, Back to Black, is really good. Super easy to work with and makes even old, sun faded pieces, look new again.

For glass, I've found nothing that compares to Invisible Glass cleaner.

On rubber window and door seals, I use 303 protectant. Its good for plastics too. Almost a universal type product.
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cprcubed

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Keeping a car clean isn't rocket science.
No, it's not but what's your point? If the thread isn't useful to you, just scroll on. Cheers!
 

OLDCROW53

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I use J wax car wash but this time of year I have to wash every other day due to the pollen
 

Jewce

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I use the drive-up self-service car wash, so I just go with whatever products they have for washing. But for the exterior and interior plastics, as well as the tires, I use VRP by Chemical Guys. It works well for me — I’m happy with it.

Ford Bronco Sport Whats your routine and product preferences for washing and waxing? IMG_9291
 


Jillrm

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For those who wash at home, what is your routine and product preferences?

I haven't yet found the magic suds that will do everything in one go.

I'm sure open to finding them but haven't yet.

First, we have a good power washer and a whole house water softener.

And I use a basic foam cannon. It does a good job for getting all the larger particulates off but it still leaves a film of fines. It almost even looks clean, until you look at the windshield and can still see the wiper limits.

So, we then follow that up with hand washing, working sections at a time, to not let anything dry before rinsing. We have a dirt strainer in the bucket.

Then follow that up with ceramic detailing sprays (Not a full on ceramic coating)

My Wife and I can tag team a vehicle, in fairly short order.

I mostly use Meguiar's products but I'm not married to them.

I do like their hybrid ceramics, for ease of use but I'm open to trying something else.

If you have clear plastics fading, like older model headlights, their Plastx product, is the best I've found.

On the matte finish plastics, Mother's, Back to Black, is really good. Super easy to work with and makes even old, sun faded pieces, look new again.

For glass, I've found nothing that compares to Invisible Glass cleaner.

On rubber window and door seals, I use 303 protectant. Its good for plastics too. Almost a universal type product.
I love this info! Thanks for sharing. For those of us that live in dusty, pollen filled, sap falling conditions, it's very helpful and appreciated!
 
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Davexxxx

Davexxxx

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I love this info! Thanks for sharing. For those of us that live in dusty, pollen filled, sap falling conditions, it's very helpful and appreciated!
Thanks. You were on my mind when I wrote that (from comments in a different thread) but had hoped others would sing out with their favorites and why.

I'm kinda new to trying to keep vehicles that clean. I use to drive off road, every day for my job so, my truck got washed when it rained. :facepalm:
 

strckerie

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For those who wash at home, what is your routine and product preferences?

I haven't yet found the magic suds that will do everything <snip>
We're retired. Our favorites are 2 coats of ceramic, a brushless car wash, and hiring someone to detail it in the spring.
Cheers!
Ford Bronco Sport Whats your routine and product preferences for washing and waxing? 10185
 

Jillrm

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Thanks. You were on my mind when I wrote that (from comments in a different thread) but had hoped others would sing out with their favorites and why.

I'm kinda new to trying to keep vehicles that clean. I use to drive off road, every day for my job so, my truck got washed when it rained. :facepalm:
Mine, too...I am about to give up on keeping it clean. It was clean Sunday, and Monday it was covered in yellow pollen and that will be how it is until after Easter. By next week, I should have my tent and that should help some. I really liked your suggestion for the Plastx (I still have my 2011 Hyundai Tucson and the headlights are yellow). This whole thing was to figure something out e could work with. You're the best!
 


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Davexxxx

Davexxxx

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Mine, too...I am about to give up on keeping it clean. It was clean Sunday, and Monday it was covered in yellow pollen and that will be how it is until after Easter. By next week, I should have my tent and that should help some. I really liked your suggestion for the Plastx (I still have my 2011 Hyundai Tucson and the headlights are yellow). This whole thing was to figure something out e could work with. You're the best!
It'll take some elbow grease and a few applications but I promise, you will see fairly radical improvement with the Plastx.
 
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Davexxxx

Davexxxx

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It'll take some elbow grease and a few applications but I promise, you will see fairly radical improvement with the Plastx.
And it works on other things than headlights too.

We had some of those little solar powered landscaping lights and the panels were fading.

Cleaned em right up.
 

Dude

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What I decided to do was an experiment with using great quality Paint Protection Film (PPF) on many parts of the vehicle (professionally applied) followed by professionally applied ceramic coating

wanted to see how well the combination worked to keep the car clean and less damage from small rocks etc

both companies provided links of how to clean the vehicle and I posted some of that info (https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/critters-nesting-in-2024-bs-big-bend.13794/post-229020)

their instructions seemed painful at the time but in reality has worked out well

there is a $7 spray only (touchless) car wash close by and I can I hit that once a week or so depending on how dirty I get the Bronco Sport - and the blow dryers aren’t too strong to negatively impact the PPF

Every few weeks or a month or 2 I’ll use the ceramic product provided by the shop I used (see pic), it’s an easy spray (on a microfiber towel) and wipe

The exterior of the vehicle is the easiest to keep clean

Ford Bronco Sport Whats your routine and product preferences for washing and waxing? IMG_4349
 

BSBB4Les

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We have an AutoWash here in town that I use. Multiple wands for various applications. I use low pressure rinse, then wash, then rinse again. For the lower non painted parts I use their bug/mag away foam (acid free). The final rinse is a spot-less rinse. All soft water. Afterwards, I dry with a chamois and multiple microfiber cloths. Finally, I use Meguiars hybrid ceramic detailer. In between washes on normal weather conditions I use a California duster and microfiber cloths used exclusively for the ceramic hybrid detailer. My BB looks better than the day I drove it off the lot 7k miles ago!
 

wireman

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One of the few good things about living in SoCal is the weather and ease of keeping vehicles cleaned and detailed.

Hardly any rain for 8 out of the 12 months. 4 rainfalls since January 1st till now and the rainy season is about over till November.

Once I get my cars cleaned, it's just a California duster every other day and then use a spray detailer a couple of times a week. I can do one car in about 10 minutes.

Clean and detail the interior every couple of weeks.

Being older than dirt now gives me time to coddle my cars and sit back and admire them.

I guess there my kids now.
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