Quick question on soap/rinse.

AddictedToBavarian · 06-23-2012, 07:58 AM

Before I manually wash the car I soap/rinse it of course. However, I used to put the water and soap solution right on the dirty car. However, I've been told recently to rinse the dirty car FIRST, and then use the soap/water solution. Thoughts?

psnt1ol · 06-23-2012, 10:25 AM

More than 95% of swirls on cars are from improper washing technique. dragging large dirt particles around with a wash cloth or mitt could result in swirls. by rinsing first, you are getting rid of the larger particles prior to touching the car with a washing media. I would normally do a foam pre-wash first to loosen the dirt then rinse before i wash using the 2 buckets method.

AddictedToBavarian · 06-23-2012, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psnt1ol

More than 95% of swirls on cars are from improper washing technique. dragging large dirt particles around with a wash cloth or mitt could result in swirls. by rinsing first, you are getting rid of the larger particles prior to touching the car with a washing media. I would normally do a foam pre-wash first to loosen the dirt then rinse before i wash using the 2 buckets method.

Ok, I was just curious to know if in the pre wash you would rinse then foam or foam then rinse. Before the 2 bucket wash.

psnt1ol · 06-23-2012, 02:50 PM

Rinse, foam, rinse then wash. Others would rinse, foam, and go directly to wash. Foaming helps loosen the dirt so I normally let the foam dwell a bit (2 - 3 minutes depending on the temp ) before rinse. It is not an good idea to the foam to dry completely... it will create another set of problems.

this is what I found by doing it this way.... by doing a foam pre-wash, both your wash and rinse buckets stay cleaner. At the end, my bucket water is relatively clear. In the past, I didn't foam and my bucket water was usually very dark. This is kind of what you want to minimize swirls.

I seen a pro ,who only works on exotic cars, who went a step further. He rinse, foam, rinse again, then wash the car with the foam gun. He had a mitt on one hand and the foam gun on the other. he shoot the foam into the mitt while wiping (in one direction only) on the car. horizontally on flat surfaces ( hood, roof, trunk) and vertically on the sides. I think it is a bit of an overkill but then he was washing a $200,000 car.

kjang · 06-24-2012, 02:30 PM

I usually foam first (then rinse and 2bm). This makes the foam stick way easier on a waxed/sealed car; otherwise it just rolls off like you were rinsing. Another method I've been wanting to try out is rinse-foam-2bucket; the concept is that the foam will loosen the particles and already provide ample lubrication for the 2bm. It also assumes that particles will still be on the car even with foaming so you still might be swirling up the car.

06-23-2012, 07:58 AM	#1
AddictedToBavarian My other ride is a Bianchi Infinito 96 Rep 2,767 Posts Drives: Miss my E92 but love my E46 M3 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: North Jersey iTrader: (2)	Quick question on soap/rinse. Before I manually wash the car I soap/rinse it of course. However, I used to put the water and soap solution right on the dirty car. However, I've been told recently to rinse the dirty car FIRST, and then use the soap/water solution. Thoughts?
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

06-23-2012, 10:25 AM	#2
psnt1ol Lieutenant 31 Rep 547 Posts Drives: e90 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: san francisco iTrader: (0)	More than 95% of swirls on cars are from improper washing technique. dragging large dirt particles around with a wash cloth or mitt could result in swirls. by rinsing first, you are getting rid of the larger particles prior to touching the car with a washing media. I would normally do a foam pre-wash first to loosen the dirt then rinse before i wash using the 2 buckets method. __________________ What is absolute control???? Having the means and the abilities to exercise it at will but....chooses not to.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-23-2012, 02:50 PM	#4
psnt1ol Lieutenant 31 Rep 547 Posts Drives: e90 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: san francisco iTrader: (0)	Rinse, foam, rinse then wash. Others would rinse, foam, and go directly to wash. Foaming helps loosen the dirt so I normally let the foam dwell a bit (2 - 3 minutes depending on the temp ) before rinse. It is not an good idea to the foam to dry completely... it will create another set of problems. this is what I found by doing it this way.... by doing a foam pre-wash, both your wash and rinse buckets stay cleaner. At the end, my bucket water is relatively clear. In the past, I didn't foam and my bucket water was usually very dark. This is kind of what you want to minimize swirls. I seen a pro ,who only works on exotic cars, who went a step further. He rinse, foam, rinse again, then wash the car with the foam gun. He had a mitt on one hand and the foam gun on the other. he shoot the foam into the mitt while wiping (in one direction only) on the car. horizontally on flat surfaces ( hood, roof, trunk) and vertically on the sides. I think it is a bit of an overkill but then he was washing a $200,000 car. __________________ What is absolute control???? Having the means and the abilities to exercise it at will but....chooses not to.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-24-2012, 02:30 PM	#5
kjang Private 0 Rep 58 Posts Drives: 2006 Barrique Red 325i Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Central New Jersey iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW 325i [0.00]	I usually foam first (then rinse and 2bm). This makes the foam stick way easier on a waxed/sealed car; otherwise it just rolls off like you were rinsing. Another method I've been wanting to try out is rinse-foam-2bucket; the concept is that the foam will loosen the particles and already provide ample lubrication for the 2bm. It also assumes that particles will still be on the car even with foaming so you still might be swirling up the car.
	Appreciate 0 Quote