So say your MINI was washed a week ago and it hasn't rained at all. You've dusted and spot cleaned all week. The car looks fantastic. Now it's the weekend. Should one wash it even though it looks perfectly clean, or just do a good quick detail?

Thoughts???

 

Depends on what will make you feel better about the car, you know, depends on your mood at the time. I just got through washing my MCSa for the second time in two days. I killed a pigeon yesterday and had to clean off the remaining feathers and buff out a scratch left by the flying beak, or perhaps it was a cartwheeling tallon? But it rained on the car after it was washed and so I had to rewash it tonight to make the world balanced again.

I usually will wash once a week, more if I've been out pigeon hunting. One can really "clean up" if he takes it once through the Greasy V parking lot. Tons of pigeons there.

If I haven't hit any vermin or fowl since a good wash, I'll give it a go with the California duster. But I don't like to use it too much on the backside because of the MINI's dust problem. If there's a good bit of dust, it'll get a wash, sometimes with nothing but a slow sheet of water from the hose. Then it's dried. Another trick I learned along the way. Don't go overboard with shampoo when water alone will do the trick.

 

One more thing, this will REALLY get the OCD detailing folks in an uproar. My favorite way to dry the car is not with a chamois, real or otherwise. No sir, my favorite way to dry the car is with a Stihl model 600 leaf blower. Dries the car in about two minutes with nary a water spot to be found. And there is nothing that touches the car other than a "gentle" stream of air, at 200 mph.

Let the condemnations begin. But don't knock it until you've tried it.

 

I sure know what you mean!!!

 

i only wash my car once or twice a year unless it goes through rain. i don't drive it in wet weather.

I cal-dust, QuikD, clay, wax a couple of times a year. that's all. yes,
the bottom of the chassis is very clean.

my commuters i wash once every week if it's not raining on the weekends.

 

^^ Smart @$$ ^^ !! (I'm envious). I only have to drive once, to work and back, before I start to wonder if the boot's too filthy for some QD and a micro fiber towel vs. a bath .

 

^^ i dust the boot after each drive.

 

Do the pigeons have Large Talons? LOL..Sorry could'nt resist...

 

Surely this leaves swirls on the paint?

 

not if you do it correctly. Try the California duster.

 

I don't use CA dusters and I live in CA!

The reason is simple. The first time you use a CA duster it picks up dust. That's fine. But what happens the next time you use it? You start dragging dust that you picked up the first time. Sure you can shake it off, but IMO it's MUCH better to use a clean MF towel with some quick detailer as a lubricant.

As for the original question from the thread. Have you considered something like QEW? Quick Easy Wash from ProtectALL? You just put a capful in a bucket with 2Liters of water. Drop a MF towel in it, and wring it out only slightly. Gently plop it on to the paint, and wipe away the dust and dirt on the paint. Dry it immediately with another MF towel. And continue over the whole car. You don't need to rinse off QEW and it uses minimal water. Just put the MF towel back in the solution, wring it a few times, soak it, then apply back to paint.

I consider this between doing a full quick detailing and washing the car. Although for me, I would normally just be happy with qding the car from week to week.

Even after it rains, like it did last night and today. If you soak the water up with an absorber or MF drying towel, then QD any remaining spots, next time you pull the car out, it won't be filthy! It'll look just washed. Of course this only works if the car isn't caked in mud and grime.

Richard

 

I use the Mr. Clean car wash system. It works great & all I need is the Mr Clean System attached to the hose, my permanently black discolored wheel washing mitt, & my regular car wash mitt. No need for drying & it only takes me about 5 min (I don't wash the top as I have a convertible ).

 

I used to have a weekly or bi-weekly washing schedule, by hand, chamois dry and done. Now that I'm back to a white car, though, in the city, it takes about three days to turn grey!

 

with the amount of dust that builds up on the rear, i think it's
actually safer to use a Cal duster than to use a detailer and towel.

you're still dragging the dust across when you wipe your panels with
the detailer + towel... presumably with more contact and force.

but that's just me. and I use to live in CA.

 

It's definitely a situation that requires a judgement call. I would much rather lubricate a surface, then blot it off before dragging dirt across my paint. LOL. Of course, if it's all waxed and cleaned, and just has a light coat of dust on it that might be different. I don't clean my boot 5 times a day anymore--now that I'm coming upon 3 years. LOL. Once a day is fine by me.