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How long does it take you to wash your car?
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05-30-2013, 06:23 PM | #1 |
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How long does it take you to wash your car?
Just curious how long you guys are taking to wash your cars. For me, it can be anywhere from 2-3 hours at least to do the exterior. I rinse then wash my wheels (including lug holes, barrels, the face, and the tires 3 times) then rinse again, then rinse and 2 bucket method for washing the exterior and rinse again, then sheet the car, blow dry it, then go over the whole exterior with CG's V7 with a waffle weave, and last but not least apply tire gel. This is on an E90 for reference. I feel like I take too long, but I like a thorough wash rather than a quick get-it-over-with wash.
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05-30-2013, 06:30 PM | #2 |
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Takes me 2 hours to wash and dry my car by hand. I wash the rims and tires first then the body after all that i put tire gel.
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05-30-2013, 07:03 PM | #3 |
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3 hours seems to be the norm for me since my car is JB. I been tweaking my process lately and got it closer to 2. This is still a work in progress. I am hoping someday I could get down to about an hour and half without sacrificing quality.
My current process looks like this. Wheels and wheel well (power wash) Foam pre-soak Rinse (power wash) Foam and wash with one bucket (rinse) Rinse (power wash) Sheet, Blow, dab w/MF Spray detailer and tire dressing I am toying with the idea of incorporating GD method to my current process. No wash mitts...just plush MF towels in soap bucket.
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05-30-2013, 07:34 PM | #4 | |
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05-30-2013, 07:59 PM | #5 |
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05-30-2013, 08:08 PM | #6 | |
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If I am on a client's vehicle with paint corrections to come, it will naturally be a different story. Much shorter time since I don't have to be as careful.... I will be buffing it out anyway. I thought you had your wheels opti-coated. If so, it shouldn't take long to do. Opti-coat is probably the best coating for wheels IMO and I have install a few in the past year (CQuartz, CQuartz UK, Gtechnig Exo, Opti Coat). I didn't put a coating on my car because I like to try out new products way too much. I been trying out the CarPro Hydr02 touchless sealant for the last 3 weeks and it made wheel cleaning process so much easier. No cleaner or soap. I take my power washer to them and they were clean in less than 10 minutes.
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05-30-2013, 08:26 PM | #7 |
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I don't think the frequency of wash is a factor. On some paint system like BMW Jet Black (Soft paint), marring from washing is very real. Great care has to be employ for a simple maintenance wash. A harder paint system is much more forgiving and this is why the detailing community refer to the "BMW Jet Black " not as a color but as a full time job. Yes.... it will scratch if I sneeze on it too hard.
And besides.... this is one of the few tasks that my wife wants no part of so it is therapy for me. "Me" time...... I will be in so much trouble if she ever see this....
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Last edited by psnt1ol; 05-30-2013 at 08:34 PM.. |
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05-30-2013, 08:31 PM | #8 | ||
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05-30-2013, 08:50 PM | #9 |
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depends on how long it was before my previous wash
if it has just been a week and the car is only dusty, i just do a quickie with the hose and two buckets. maybe 45 minutes to an hour including setup time i'm pretty lazy with the wheels too |
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05-30-2013, 09:40 PM | #10 | |
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Hey Otruba_843. I been using CG V7 for over a year now. The durability is questionable especially if it is over a wax but it seems to be doing much better now since I polycharged it. By polycharging it, V7 is even more easier to apply (much less buffing). I always like the way it looked but it is just not as hydrophobic as I like it to be. The more hydrophobic a surface is the easier to dry with a blower. There are other products that is more hydrophobic but not many could rival the look. IMO The practice of sheeting is a must if you are looking for a faster drying time with this product. The time I specified earlier includes set up and take down time ( the buckets, pressure washer, water softener & filter, and all the hoses between them). so I guess I am close to my "hour and a half" goal.
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05-30-2013, 10:06 PM | #11 | |
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05-30-2013, 10:45 PM | #12 | |
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Reload is a good option if you are looking for a spray sealant that is more durable but since you are a wax guy..... any sealant over a wax will have a shorter than norm life-span, unfortunately. Personally speaking, since I still have over a gallon of V7 as well as a liter of Reload. It will be a long while till I buy another spray sealant.
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05-31-2013, 02:03 AM | #13 |
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2-3 hours for me.
Spray off all loose dirt and then wash one panel at a time. Work the wheels. Do a final rinse spray down, check for any dirt and grime I may have missed, then spray once more after hitting it. Roll the car into the garage to hand dry then hit up with wax then spend the next 2 hours on the interior. Definitely looking to using a clay kit this weekend.
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05-31-2013, 08:24 AM | #14 |
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wheels/brakes/wheel wells alone are about an hour. Washing and drying about an hour. Sheeting the water before drying makes drying trivial. Interior anywhere from an hour to two depending on if I am cleaning leather as well.
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05-31-2013, 08:51 AM | #15 | ||
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For spray waxes you can try Optimum Spray Wax. It's good for in between waxes and pretty easy to apply. For sealant's I've heard Blackfire Crystal Seal or Optimum Opti-seal is real easy to use. Spray on and walk away no buffing required. Last edited by Zero_09; 05-31-2013 at 09:09 AM.. |
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05-31-2013, 11:35 AM | #16 |
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3 hours car wash every week
4 times a month that is 12 hours/month 144 hours/year 1440 hours in 10 years and 2880 hours in 20 years |
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05-31-2013, 02:47 PM | #17 | |
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People must be talking about a full in/out detail. Washing weekly it takes me about 20 minutes to do the wheels, 20-25 to wash the body and maybe 10 to dry it after flood/sheet rinse. That's less that an hour. A quick vacuum and interior wipe down, tire dressing and a final detail spray and it's still under 90 minutes. |
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05-31-2013, 03:01 PM | #18 | |
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05-31-2013, 03:38 PM | #19 |
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My weekly wash takes me about 2 hours just the exterior. I like to take my time and do a good job.
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05-31-2013, 04:14 PM | #20 |
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05-31-2013, 06:51 PM | #21 |
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2-3 hours is ideal for a good hand wash... It's relaxing and I enjoy the time to do things correctly. I'm curious if anyone is using a specific technique in the process.
How to you achieve optimal results? Do you leverage a two bucket technique? |
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05-31-2013, 07:55 PM | #22 | |
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Brush my teeth after every meal - 5 mins 3 times a day - 15 mins one week - 1.75 Hr 52 weeks - 91 hrs 10 years - 910 hrs 20 years - 1820 hrs Daily Shower - 20 mins one week - 2.33 hrs 52 weeks - 121 hrs 10 years - 1212 hrs 20 years - 2423 hrs Average daily commute to work and back - 1.5 hrs one week - 11 hrs 52 weeks - 572 hrs 10 years - 5720 hrs 20 years - 11440 hrs In 20 years times... I will spend 3/4 less time in washing my car then commuting. Spend 19 % more time than taking a daily shower. Spend about 50% more time than to brush my teeth after every meal. I fail to see how this is relevant.
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