Best way to wash your new pilot ?

[cpmorsch]

Just wanted to gets some thoughts on the best way and best materials to wash a new pilot. First wash is coming up and want to do it right!!!

Does anyone use an automatic wash or is it all by hand ?
What is the best cleaner out there?
Should I use a pressure washer?
Sponge v Microfiber brush etc.

Just would like to see the feedback

2006 EXL-Res Sage Brush Pearl

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by cpmorsch
Just wanted to gets some thoughts on the best way and best materials to wash a new pilot. First wash is coming up and want to do it right!!!
. . .

Rain!

[UNCWDave]

It depends on who you ask. Check out www.autopia.org if you really want to learn how to wash your car.

Of course, some may say that those guys go overboard. I have been following the suggestions of people from Autopia.org and I must say that my year-old Pilot looks much better than a co-worker's year-old Pilot that gets hit with any old rag she has around the garage.

Good luck with the new ride.

UNCWDave

[paulfciampa]

Hey, Hose the car dow first. Use any good car wash with lots of bubbles. Use a clean terry cloth and turn it over and dip it into the bucket often to get the grime to float off the cloth. You want to avoid swirling the dirt on the paint which will make small scratches. You can be gentle as you swish the foamy cloth over the paint. Start from the top down and rinse each section after you have washed it.

Avoid washing in direct sunlight. I usually splash a soapy cloth over the section I will wash to break-up the dirt and this helps to float it away.

Good luck

[Sportymonk]

Use a car wash soap instead of the dishwashing stuff sitting in the kitchen. Use a chamois cloth to dry it. Stoner's Invisible Glass is an excellent cleaner, would never use Windex again.

[andyschneider]

So I spent most of my life using Turtle Wax Zip Wash and a wool mit to wash my cars, followed by a brisk drive to blow the water drops off. But with 4 cars, 3 kids, and close to zero time, I discovered the Mr Clean Auto Dry car wash system. I use that with a soft brush on a 4' pole - making sure to spray a good amount of soap on the car AND the brush each section, rinsing well, and then using the sheeting action rinse setting (uses the filter), and I've had excellent results. My son's Civic is the Rally Red and shows virtually no wear from washing after 2.5 years, and it cuts my washing time by 50%. Plus I can use the same setup on those colder fall/spring days and even on a warm day in the winter - you don't need a bucket of suds to get the job done.

But the key is keeping the car real wet and the soap level up to prevent scratching as much as you can.

andy

[th10000]

I second that Mr. Clean Auto Dry. Works great and is half the work. The filtered rinse is particulary valuable here in FL where the water is very hard - the filter removes most of the minerals so no water spots.

[mattchalmers]

that uses a drive through service? I am sure there is a reason no one else is doing that...

[jay]

Originally posted by mattchalmers
that uses a drive through service? I am sure there is a reason no one else is doing that...

In the winter I'll do the touchless drive-thru, or when I need to wash the car and just don't have time to do it by hand. There's a fancy new carwash about 2 miles from my house, and the touchless drive-thru even does a blow-dry.

When I have time to wash, I use the Eagle One Bucket-Free car wash with a large sponge. No dipping in a dirty bucket for me. And with the good base of Klasse AIO and sealant I put on, the car washes up easily. For the final rinse, I prevent spotting by removing the nozzle from the hose, allowing the water to gently stream over the vehicle.

[cpmorsch]

Thanks for all the replies - does any one use a pressure washer on their Pilot? Or are you all hands on except for the autowash folks? Any issues with a power washer? I have a karcher 1700 psi pressure washer that has an automatic dispenser and will use the Meguiar's Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo & Conditioner. I used the pressure washer on my last car and it was very effective. When I traded in the dealer thought the car was immaculate for being 10 years old.

[jay]

Originally posted by cpmorsch
Thanks for all the replies - does any one use a pressure washer on their Pilot? Or are you all hands on except for the autowash folks? Any issues with a power washer? I have a karcher 1700 psi pressure washer that has an automatic dispenser and will use the Meguiar's Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo & Conditioner. I used the pressure washer on my last car and it was very effective. When I traded in the dealer thought the car was immaculate for being 10 years old.

Be careful with the power washer. A couple of members power-washed the paint right off the wide plastic side molding. All it takes is a small rock chip to crack the paint on the molding, and the power-washer at just the right angle to peel the paint off!

[787_Pilot]

Has anyone used one of these to wash their vehicle?

http://www.homemadesimple.com/sites/...roseries.shtml

I'm on the fence whether to buy one or not. Just curious if their claim of giving "you a spot-free clean and shine with zero hand drying—guaranteed" is true or not.

787_Pilot

[jl_ss]

Originally posted by 787_Pilot
Has anyone used one of these to wash their vehicle?

http://www.homemadesimple.com/sites/...roseries.shtml

I'm on the fence whether to buy one or not. Just curious if their claim of giving "you a spot-free clean and shine with zero hand drying—guaranteed" is true or not.

787_Pilot

I have one of those. The final filtered rinse absolutely does give spot free dry. However, the Mr Clean soap will also remove the wax from your vehicle. I hand wash and rinse with a bucket, Meguiars car wash soap, and a hose. Then I give a quick final rinse with the Mr C on the filtered rinse setting. Works great.

[deezee123]

Do you have to use the Mr. Clean soap - or would one of the premium quality cleaners (such as Zainer's Show Car wash) work with it?

[andyschneider]

I see no reason why any liquid soap wouldn't work in the Auto Dry system. I've used mine for 3 years now (just about worn out from dropping it about a zillion times) and never thought about using a different soap. I will disagree about the removal of the wax. After washing at the next rain storm, water still beads up nice. It seems to be about the same as most of the wash soaps you can get in the auto parts aisle.

During the winter, or when I'm feeling lazy, i use one of the new touchless types that goes around your car. We have a bunch up here in NH now, and you can pick/choose the level of soaps you want, and even get an undercarriage wash as you drive into the bay. Does a great job and doesn't have anythign touching your car. And the air-dry at the end (along with the spot-free rinse, same as with the Auto Dry system) does a good job as well. Hand-washing does do a better job, but I'd rather leave a bit of road film on the windows with the touchless vs. going thru an all-cloth wash and scratching things up....

andy