Oh The Things We Do For Our MINIs

[batgirlwildcat]

Or in this case... The Great Car Wash Fiasco:

Woke up Sunday morning excited to give Malibu Stacy her 2nd bath, especially since that afternoon we were going to my parents house for a little photo shoot with Mom's festive autumn decorations. So after I eat my Cheerios and watch my video of the previous night's SNL, I throw some clothes on and go down to the garage to start washing the car. Right away I realize that my new Mr. Clean car wash sprayer is not going to fit on my hose because the hose has a spray nozzle permanently attached. Hmmm, what to do? Well, I really want to use Mr. Clean again because I need to improve my skills with the final ionized rinse, so I better run over to Target and get a new hose. Too bad I'm wearing big blue sweatpants, an oversized 2003 University of Arizona Sweet 16 t-shirt, old running shoes, no make-up, and ponytail hair. Not that I usually dress up to shop at Target on Sunday mornings, but this look was not fit for public consumption. Oh well. Sorry fellow shoppers. So of course all the gardening stuff has been moved outside to the nursery area, thus ensuring that I have to walk through the entire Target store in my atrocious attire. Anyway... I get my hose and motor home. Everything is back on track until I look down and notice hundreds of ants crawling all over the new hose! WTF?! Is it made of honey? So I run upstairs to get a can of ant spray and kill as many as I can. Continue washing car... which goes ok until the final rinse - regular water is dripping where Mr. Clean attaches to the hose!! And there are still spots. At this point I'm afraid to use anything to dry the car because I don't want scratching, I'm disenchanted by the entire car washing experience, I'm covered in dirt, water and dead ants, and out of time so I leave Malibu Stacy as is and clean myself up to head over to the 'rents. On the way there I am dissed by another MINI motorer (young male, wearing baseball cap, silver MINI with black bonnet stripes) who does not wave. The first thing I say to Mom when I get there: Malibu Stacy and I are both having a bad hair day.

Hopefully the 3rd bath will go better. I will search NAM, but anyone got any suggestion of what to dry Stacy with (must be easy & cheap - I just want to be able to wash her myself and have her look decent)?

[DrDiff]

When I was indoctrinated in the ways of car washing we had 2-3 old ratty towels that were for soaping the car. Then another 4-5 towels that were WET towels. These took 90% of the water off the car. Then we had 4-5 brand new "CAR only" towels. We called these DRY towels. The DRY towels got the car completely dry. As a DRY towel got old, it became a WET towel, and finally a WET towel becomes a soaping rag.

Some folks do it this way, Chamis for the wet and then diapers for the dry.

[hollis3]

I got terry towels. 100% cotton, white, non bleached. Their only use is to dry the MINI. Cut off the tag. Also make sure to shake it out and rotate often.

[CoryB]

ACK!

Quickly! All 3 of you read this thread. Then go read more here. Then go hang out here and read even more about paint/finish care!

Your MINI will thank you for it!

For easy and cheap, go back to Target and get some Meguiars car wash soap (whatever version they have is fine) and a couple of microfibre drying towels. That should handle the exterior cleaning part.

Then you can delve into the wide, wonderful world of waxes/protectants and what's best to use. Wear fireproof suits when reading as it sometimes gets hot in there.

[KarenTKD]

I tried washing mine by hand last week and after having one wasp attempt to fly in my ear and another land on my cheek, I surrendered. My nerves can't take the abuse. Giles will just have to be happy with weekly trips through the $10 soft cloth car wash.

[fishbulb]

I have used an 'Absorber' snythetic towel for a long time with good results. About $10 at pep boys, etc.

BTW, i LOVE the Malibu Stacy name...

[batgirlwildcat]

Originally Posted by fishbulb

I have used an 'Absorber' snythetic towel for a long time with good results. About $10 at pep boys, etc.

BTW, i LOVE the Malibu Stacy name...

Thanks for the recommendation.

BTW, compliments will get you everywhere...

Karen: I feel your pain. Thanks for sharing. I will never judge those who choose the easy way out of car washing!

[Guest]

I wish I could take the easy way out of car washing . There's some weeks when I just don't have time to wash my car. Unfortunatly my Mini is too small to fit in the car wash! It's so low it can't get onto the track... lol. Oh ya, and cool name for your car . I wish I could be as creative, though I don't think that name would fit me

Originally Posted by batgirlwildcat

Thanks for the recommendation.

BTW, compliments will get you everywhere...

Karen: I feel your pain. Thanks for sharing. I will never judge those who choose the easy way out of car washing!

[freez3]

The best way to dry your MINI is with a chamois.

Wash, wet down the chamois, dry, wring out chamois as it absorbs water.
This will get off every drop of water, will not streak and won't leave lint or any film.
Don't worry about runing thru Target like you did... lots o' folks go that way.

[Riddler]

BatGrrl --

That had to be one of the most entertaining posts that I read here in a long time. Thanks for making me almost fall off my chair ... ("is it made out of honey" muahahahaha )

®

[BoCRon]

I gotta say that the Absorber is my absolute favorite car cleaning tool. As a matter of fact I just got home from Wal-Mart with another one, (DH keeps borrowing mine so I bought another one in a very girly color ). As with any drying on your precious, you must be sure there is no grit on the car and none in the drying towel or absorber or whatever. I run mine through the laundry after every use, I don't put soap or anything else in the cycle with it, just the absorber by it's little ol' self and plain clear water. Then store it in the original container still damp. My other secret is to wash the car in my driveway and then pull it into the garage to dry so the sun won't dry the water before I get to the whole thing.
Good luck,
Annette
P.S. My other absolute favorite car cleaning tool is my Zaino cleaning stuff!

[chrisneal]

Originally Posted by freez3

The best way to dry your MINI is with a chamois.

Just your opinion, of course. There are folks in the detailing forum who basically equate chamois with steel wool. Personally, I use a large waffle pattern microfibre towel, and it works phenomenally well. I also bought a real wool mitt for washing.

[K4KAS]

My opinion of course......
What I have used for years on my cars,"The California Water Blade", followed by the one and only obsorber. The obsorber seems difficult at first but after a few uses works really well. Only use the original water blade and the original obsorber. Works very well, and the less contact with your paint with any object the better.

[mybroscoop]

I use an Absorber to get the puddles off the car, i just set it on the wet spot and let it do its thing, then repeat that part for the rest of the car.( I Do not drag the absorber across the paint). I then take a microfiber waffle weave and dry the rest of the water off of the car.

[batgirlwildcat]

Originally Posted by Riddler

BatGrrl --

That had to be one of the most entertaining posts that I read here in a long time. Thanks for making me almost fall off my chair ... ("is it made out of honey" muahahahaha )

®

My pleasure. That's why I told my tale here - I knew my friends and family would never appreciate it like you guys (as well as actually respond to my request for info).

It sounds like I should head back to the store (maybe jeans and a sweater this time?), pick up a few different things, and try them to determine what works best for me. While not quite as tiny as TSB, I do have difficulty reaching the roof, so I know that will always be the worst place for offensive spots on Malibu Stacy. Thanks again for all the advice, and feel free to keep it (as well as your own tales of "MINI spoiling gone wrong") coming. :smile:

[tattman23]

Surprised that no one has suggested this already... Immediately after you rinse for the last time, jump in the wet MINI and ZOOM around for 10 minutes! This gets a LOT of water off your car. I started doing it because my FOUR giant 100% cotton made in USA bath towels usually got too wet too fast for my liking.

So I go for a QUICK motor in a very wet car, then I "blot" with the huge white towels (no rubbing no dragging), then I use a yellow waffle-weave "drying towel" I got from Autopia.com, to get the last 3% moisture off. THEN, as you're circling your car, admiring the fab job you just did, you can spot dry the door sills, mirror caps, boot opening, gas cap area, etc.

THEN, you can open another beer, and start in with the Z6 .

Oh I forgot, clean your wheels first, bathe your MINI second.

Mrs. Tatt is right, I am still obsessed,
Tatt

[batgirlwildcat]

Originally Posted by tattman23

THEN, you can open another beer

Now I see what the missing essential element was.

Nice Bon Jovi quote in your sig. Jon is da man!

[tattman23]

Originally Posted by batgirlwildcat

Now I see what the missing essential element was.

Nice Bon Jovi quote in your sig. Jon is da man!

Why, thankya ma'am! It's to do with the White Sox having won 2 of the 4 games they need, to win the World Series! Not to mention that it would have made a better theme song (in my humble op.) for the 'Sox than the Journey tune they have selected (Don't Stop Believin') .

Oh, and just make sure you put off havin' that ice cold essential element, until AFTER you get back from your zippy "air dry" ride.

Tatt

[JRZYMINI]

Originally Posted by batgirlwildcat

..., an oversized 2003 University of Arizona Sweet 16 t-shirt,...

I'm UofA class of '96! Go 'Cats!

[batgirlwildcat]

Originally Posted by tattman23

Why, thankya ma'am! It's to do with the White Sox having won 2 of the 4 games they need, to win the World Series! Not to mention that it would have made a better theme song (in my humble op.) for the 'Sox than the Journey tune they have selected (Don't Stop Believin') .

Nothing against Journey, but I have to agree.

Originally Posted by tattman23

Oh, and just make sure you put off havin' that ice cold essential element, until AFTER you get back from your zippy "air dry" ride.

Of course!

[batgirlwildcat]

The day after The Great Car Wash Fiasco... it rained.

Malibu Stacy's 3rd bath went a little better, even though it took place at 8:30PM, half in-half out of my garage. It was a last minute thing, since we were in the Borrego Springs Parade with the West Coast MINI Club the next day. I used the microfiber towels (thanks for the advice) and did a fair job of getting rid of spots, dispite less than ideal lighting. Of course I still got schooled by all the hardcore detailers when I showed up for the parade. I'm a "reformed perfectionist" so a few spots here and there don't bother me, but I s'pose I'll have to start keeping a bottle of quick detailing spray in my boot now, lest the MINI Beautification Squad reprimand me for negligence.

[thefuturequeenofnebraska]

okay my .02...
im a big fan of Harley Davidson's products for my car... I cant think of the name of the cleaner... but it works VERY well... then to dry... they have a towel that comes in a little plastic carrier... you keep it wet (weird i know but it works...) try that for your carrying around towel... PLUS its smooth and super soft... = no damage to paint

good luck with washing Malibu Stacy in the future...
(oh and it rained in San Diego?!?!?!?!)

[MINIclo]

Originally Posted by thefuturequeenofnebraska

then to dry... they have a towel that comes in a little plastic carrier... you keep it wet (weird i know but it works...) try that for your carrying around towel... PLUS its smooth and super soft... = no damage to paint

As mentioned a couple times above, Tori, it's called The Absorber. I like that but I really love the microfiber towels! I buy loads of them at Costco!

[tattman23]

Originally Posted by batgirlwildcat

The day after The Great Car Wash Fiasco... it rained.
I'm a "reformed perfectionist" so a few spots here and there don't bother me, but I s'pose I'll have to start keeping a bottle of quick detailing spray in my boot now, lest the MINI Beautification Squad reprimand me for negligence.

QD (great for bird-bombs), Glass Cleaner, Meguiar's #40 for interior, and a few microfibers (i also keep an old soft paintbrush for FAST brush ups of those annoying interior nooks and crannies), will fit in a small box in the boot (and can be arranged to stay upright, which is important to some).

Some folks go to greater extremes than others with this, but my workplace is a construction/war zone right now, and no one's car stays clean for long .

If there's too much slide around space in my box, I just throw my baseball mitt, handball goggles and gloves, and spare workout headphones, in there to fill the gaps - you get the idea...

Happy Halloween,
Tatt

[The Short Bus]

Originally Posted by batgirlwildcat

While not quite as tiny as TSB, I do have difficulty reaching the roof, so I know that will always be the worst place for offensive spots on Malibu Stacy. Thanks again for all the advice, and feel free to keep it (as well as your own tales of "MINI spoiling gone wrong") coming. :smile:

That's when you find a hot guy and ask him to reach it... then grab his butt while he's cleaning it

Ok, my age is showing... does charming gentleman sound better?

I SHOULD clean my wheels more. Even though i keep wax on them, it's so long between wipe downs and washes that they're always black. Maybe i should keep a rag with me and wipe them clean everytime i stop somewhere And i have a bad habit of not drying my MINI after washing. I always wash, take pictures, then drive off