Washing by hand or machine

Snacky · July 19, 2002

Found this link about hand vs machine washing. What do you think?

General Lee 01 · July 19, 2002

It's surprising....

I don't trust machine washing, you don't know whether or not it'll miss a spot.

But you're assured to know not a spot will be missed when you do it by hand.

Welp, that's what wax is for......

Jpshostr · July 19, 2002

Washing???

If you must though, I think a pressure washer does a damn good job. Blasts that mud and crap (literally) right off.

Zane · July 19, 2002

ACk! Machines NEVER come near my cars!! even in the dead of winter i hand wash!!

Only vehicles i take through the auto wash is the test vehicles we get here...

Kansas Kid · July 19, 2002

If you must though, I think a pressure washer does a damn good job. Blasts that mud and crap (literally) right off.

I tell you what Jp, how about we let some of these people who are so adamant about washing by hand come and wash the cow crap and mud out of the wheelwells of your truck. (can't use mine since it hasn't rained here in over a month) I bet that they won't be so dead set on hand washing anymore....

Zane · July 19, 2002

If you must though, I think a pressure washer does a damn good job. Blasts that mud and crap (literally) right off.

I tell you what Jp, how about we let some of these people who are so adamant about washing by hand come and wash the cow crap and mud out of the wheelwells of your truck. (can't use mine since it hasn't rained here in over a month) I bet that they won't be so dead set on hand washing anymore....

well yea...

CMNTMXR81 · July 19, 2002

I only wash by hand. I damn near take the doors, hood, tailgate/trunk/hatch off to get into all the nooks and crannies...BY HAND!

It'll take me 6 or 7 hours just to wash alone. We haven't even started getting into waxing/polishing and detailing the vehicle.

When I get the Camaro ready for shows, I usually start about a week in advance cause that's how long it takes me to get EVERYTHING. And we're talking about a car that never sees inclement weather.

NeXuS1 · July 19, 2002

only way to get my stuff clean is to scrub by hand. plus would you trust a machine around a rare car? the emblems, etc are VERY expensive so thats another reason i keep the machines away.

for the most part the truck sits dirty. no point in washing it anymore. it collects tons of dust anyways.

gmcjoe · July 19, 2002

LOL, that 'study' is posted by a car wash site, go figure

I took my lease trucks through the car wash. Nothing I buy ever does, they leave too many fine scratches for my taste :angry:

Dad's black Yukon looks like a spiders web on a sunny day because of the car wash scratches

carguru · July 19, 2002

LOL, that 'study' is posted by a car wash site, go figure

Yeah, what are they going to say? Automatic car washes suck? There is some truth in that report. If you scrub the paint hard or drop the wash cloth/sponge without rinsing, you could scratch the finish. I only hand wash. If an absolute must, I would only take it to the do it yourself place to rinse. No way do I even use the automatics. They recycle the water. If all the dirt is not filtered, then they are shooting it back at the vehicle at high pressure. Kinda like sandblasting the paint.

CMNT, hate to see what you have to do to the truck first wash after the last snow up there. LOL. Must be at least 12-13 hours of scrubbing. Of course, I can't say much. Any of my vehicles that sees road salts in winter, I end up spending at least 6 or 7 hours with to make sure all of the gunk is off.

General Lee 01 · July 19, 2002

Speaking of Washing.....

Does anybody here wash the under-carriage (SP?) of your truck\car?

gmcjoe · July 19, 2002

Speaking of Washing.....

Does anybody here wash the under-carriage (SP?) of your truck\car?

During the winter months, I head to the self-serve spray wash weekly to spray the salt ( :angry: Michigan ) from the truck, including the underside.

In the warm months, the wheel wells get washed every time I wash the truck (at least once a week if time permits)

Nothing like a clean rig

carguru · July 19, 2002

Speaking of Washing.....

Does anybody here wash the under-carriage (SP?) of your truck\car?

Yep. Since my driveway slopes down, you can see the undercarriage of my truck. I try to keep it clean.

CMNTMXR81 · July 19, 2002

LOL, that 'study' is posted by a car wash site, go figure

Yeah, what are they going to say? Automatic car washes suck? There is some truth in that report. If you scrub the paint hard or drop the wash cloth/sponge without rinsing, you could scratch the finish. I only hand wash. If an absolute must, I would only take it to the do it yourself place to rinse. No way do I even use the automatics. They recycle the water. If all the dirt is not filtered, then they are shooting it back at the vehicle at high pressure. Kinda like sandblasting the paint.

CMNT, hate to see what you have to do to the truck first wash after the last snow up there. LOL. Must be at least 12-13 hours of scrubbing. Of course, I can't say much. Any of my vehicles that sees road salts in winter, I end up spending at least 6 or 7 hours with to make sure all of the gunk is off.

Yup, I grab my chamois, buckets and brushes and head over the dealership, throw it up on the hoist and use their power washer for the undercarriage.

Otherwise, I pretty much keep up with it throughout winter so not much gets outta reach. Heck, my neighbors must think I'm nuts cause if it's a nice sunny day, I'll be outside in 20 degree weather washing the truck.