Need Washing And Waxing Help

[andy76]

just got my avalanche last week now its time for a bath.
had a toyota truck took it to the car wash and washed it not the drive thru kind.just wandering do i need to stay away from there? will it hurt my paint? they have a brush didnt know if that would hurt it or not.also whats the best wax ?not going to wax it now just wanted to know.

thanks for the replys and help

 

[wolfman]

Zaino on, Zaino off. Sorry I would stay away from them. Here we have touchless car washes but I stay away from them too. I like massaging her myself

 

[dsw7311]

andy76
Dont know what region you are in, but depending on the color of your truck I wouldnt use the brush in the coin carwash unless you have a white or light colored AV. The scratches will show badly on the blues and black paints. If you do use the pressure wash do not get to close to the paint, stay well away (about 18"). My recommendation would be to hand wash with a bucket of water with a cap full of Ivory dishwashing soap and a good wash mit. It may take a while but you will be able to get to more of the nooks and crannies that way.

As far as Wax I have heard a lot of good things about Zaino, but I prefer to use Zymol.

Congrats on the new 03 AV

 

[tpseabird]

Zaino Brothers polish for the paint, Zaino Brothers leather in a bottle for any leather, and 303 protectant for the cladding and interior surfaces (ie...dash).

As for washing, I use both. When I'm short on time, I use the high pressure washes; however, when I plan on really get her cleaned up, I wash her by hand. Regardless, I never use the coin car wash brush on the paint.

TP

 

[wrchism]

In the winter- after muddy four-wheelin' or after getting covered with crud after a long trip on a wet snowy interstate, I'll resort to the do it yourself high pressure wash Use care - the 18" rule mentioned is probably a good one.

What I do is take a bucket, my favorite car wash soap and wash towels, go to the car wash late at night when no one is waiting in line, put the minimum $$ in the machine, wet down the Av with plain water, wash it by hand with a rag and soap, again put the minimum $$ in the machine and rinse it off. As good as doing it at home but without the mess.

IMO - never use car washes with rotating brushes, oscillating strips of who knows what, or even the wash brush that is available at the do it yourself washes. You just don't know where they've been before they touch your Av!

 

[nh_mark]

wrchism,

Thats exactly what I do too.

-Mark

 

[DGonz]

YG you have a Virgen here, YG. anyway can't find YG he'll be around my Baby has been with me for 13 months already and has not seen a car wash yet, Go Zaino you wil not be disapointed, you will love it.

 

[ygmn]

I suggest you read the articles in the two CAFCNA magazines we had......BAsic info on how to wash and care for avy...the link can be found on the home page I believe or in the forum listed for the magazine.....

I could write a book on how to detail cars and trucks...but one has been written at www.autopia.ws

Very well done and the site is a detail enthusiest forum too....

Read...research and make decisions based on what you can afford and what you expect......

If you have specific questions send me an IM......

 

[BgBlkAvalanche]

OK everyone, make sure you are sitting down,
I am very particular about my AV, and wax it a lot, but I also take it through the classic $3.00 car washes every week!! I just don't have the time any more to hand wash it every week, so I find that if I have a really good coat of wax on it, she will come really clean with a drive through wash. I do hand wash about every two weeks or so when I need to get the nooks & crannies clean.
And oh yea, It is BLACK, but so far no major scratches from the wash rags whipping against the paint. I chalk it up to the wax I use: Diamond Bright sealant with teflon. I know a lot of posts and articles claim that teflon really does not do anything different, but I found this stuff about 8 years ago, and continues to outlast any other product I try. I can expect the wax to keep beading up for at least 6 months ( even winter) while using drive through car washes. It used to be sold in stores, but now they only sell direct to dealers. They will still sell it retail to anyone who wants it. I call the 800 number every couple years and re-stock my own shelves.

 

[andy76]

thank you all for the replys and the help.

 

[02-Z66]

i normally wash my AV myself like many of you. now that it is getting cold i'm wondering what i'm going to do. i am sick right now. so i will not be playing in the water right now. not sure if i want to take it to a car wash.
i have been noticing these mobile car detailing guys. i may give one of them a try.

 

[Digital_X]

yeah it is no fun to play in the water when it is cold out, but what i do is i hook a hose up to my waterheaters. i am lucky because they are located right near the garage door. soo when i need to wash in the cold i got really really hot water....

 

[02-Z66]

i wish i had hot water. i envy you.

 

[MurmanZ71]

Hot water should be great for the tires and fender wells, but I think it would assist in removing any real "wax" coating that is on the paint. I have a cold too... , but it is WARM here

Aloha,
Murman

BTW, I use a bucket, car wash, "shammy", Turtle wax 2001 paint protectant (non-wax) and 303 to keep my baby smelling fresh, looking sweet and protected from the SUN.

 

[MagicMtnDan]

andy76
My recommendation would be to hand wash with a bucket of water with a cap full of Ivory dishwashing soap and a good wash mit. It may take a while but you will be able to get to more of the nooks and crannies that way. As far as Wax I have heard a lot of good things about Zaino, but I prefer to use Zymol.

Whoa! Hold on there! Do NOT use "a cap full of Ivory dishwashing soap" (or any other dishwashing soap) unless you want to STRIP OFF ANY WAX you have on your Av!

Dishwashing soap (Dawn is a favorite of many) is typically used by folks wanting to strip off wax to prepare the surface for a complete paint care treatment which often includes clay bar and/or glazing, etc.

For routine washing ONLY USE a quality CAR WASH SOAP!

Try to stay away from any drive through car washes but always stay away from any car wash at a gas station (you know the ones I'm talking about - the large-garage-sized car washes that you pull in to and the vehicle is automatically washed...avoid them like the plague.

The problem with most any car wash you go to is the brushes, fabrics, even sponges and wash mitts are used over and over again so your vehicle gets washed with other vehicles' dirt and grime. What's worse is the dirt can easily scratch your paint. When you wash at home you should always rinse out your mitt after each time it touches your vehicle's paint! That way dirt and grime and foreign objects won't be pressed against your paint.

As for wax, I avoid Zaino just so I don't feel like one of the "Zaino enthusiasts" who talk about Zaino like it's their car/Av! Use a high quality wax and do that every three months if you can.

Most importantly, enjoy your vehicle (and caring for it).

 

[LoopySilverado]

NO car wash ever for this truck! I seen what damage they can do. Bucket and wash mit works best for me and then TrimShine.

 

[Cape_Cod_Bob]

Good advice by Magic Mt. Dan...
Don't use any wash detergents. They'll strip off all the wax.
I read the Corvette forums and these folks are anal about their shine and finish. They would never use a detergent unless they were stripping down to start again. Then they use Dawn to strip off all the wax, usually clay bar the car, then start their wax or Zaino treatments.

Bob

 

[02-Z66]

i would stay away from the wash mitts. they have a deep nap to them. they hold alot of dirt. i have seen then leave scratches behind if you are not careful.

 

[Cape_Cod_Bob]

What would you suggest instead of the mits?
Bob

? i would stay away from the wash mitts. ?they have a deep nap to them. ?they hold alot of dirt. ?i have seen then leave scratches behind if you are not careful.

 

[zimmthumps]

Personally I think that wash mitts are softer than regular rags. I like the thickness and amount of soap/water they hold in them.
I have had a few black vehicles, and have seen them get more scratches from rags & sponges, than from wash mitts.
I am extremely carfeull with my mitts. I always rinse them out thoroughly and then store them in a pastic grocery bag to prevent them from getting crap in them. Then before I wash, I give it a thorough brush up to shake anything out.

 

[Cape_Cod_Bob]

I agree with ZimmsAV.
If you rinse the mitt frequently, that should keep it clean.
Spray off the car first then wash from the top down. I always do the painted surface first then the cladding.
Bob

 

[got_change]

andy remember the time it takes to wash your av, is..quality time. you are hanging out with your ride, and making it right...

I wash my black 1 year old av almost every day, with zip wax car wash, but dont always chamois dry.

I found that a squeege is a fast way to get 90% of the water off and then finish with a towel.

once a month, a coat of mothers gold wax and zymoil the leather.

as we know, wash the black truck, and its only perfect till the wind blows the first layer of dust on it but it sure looks good!!

 

[02-Z66]

i agree with everything you guy's are saying about the mitts. i like the way they hold the soap...and so on. i just had a bad experience with one and vowed never to use one on the paint again.
i now use micro-fiber towels. i get them from Wal-Mart in the auto section. they come in large/small sizes. the cool part is that they come in blue or green. it just so happens that i have a blue and a green truck. the fibers are so closely knit that little dirt clings to it. well, not as much as the mitts anyway. i am very satisfied with them. i will never use anything else.

 

[ygmn]

something to remember...

Everytime you touch the paint you will mar it to some degree.....now your eye may not notice this marring but it is there........

Wash mitts are what you should use...they come in a wide variety, cotton, MF, Polyester, etc etc etc....heck even seas sponges.....

I suggest having one mitt for the paint and one for the cladding and mark them that way.....do not mix them......

Dunk and rinse the mitt often in a bucket of clean water then dip in the soap bucket.......do small sections at a time.

Use a non harsh car shampoo....the more you use the more wax you will remove...not a big deal but something to remember......Dawn or the like should only be used to remove waxes and oils prior to apply Zaino or other polymer wax system....the chemicals in Dawn are harmful to the plactisers in the clear coat and can do damage if used often.....