Washing your LX

[da BoMM]

Gathering from this forum, most give their LX SPECIAL treatment -- when it comes to washing, what's your practice?

As much as I want to baby my Mag RT, I don't have the time to hand wash it, but occasionally, on a Saturday, I'll do it. Most of the time, I get a $5 automated car wash -- it has brushes, etc and does a great job.

Around here we have a lot of "brushless" car washes at gas stations -- I've used them a lot in the past (they run $6-$8 ) but they really don't cut thru the grime -- I'd do a manual wash every 4th or 5th time.

I can see a lot of ways to poll this issue (frequency, type, cost, etc) but I'm gonna start a poll with some general categories.

NOTE: This is a multiple choice poll -- you might have 2 selections that fit.

[NC-SXT]

I use brushless with foam and after it blow drys I take 5 min to finish dry with a microfiber cloth. On days when I have time I use the Mr. clean thing and finish drying with microfiber cloth. Around here even our city water is mineralized so drying is very important. Oh, I do at least 2 times a week.

[FOHN_JARGO]

I like the automated washes with the brushes and hanging rag things. The just do a better job at getting the bugs and junk off.

I have also heard that the high pressure touchless washes can force dirt into the paint. Of course that came from a guy that owns a car wash with brushes.

[CoolVanilla]

I like the automated washes with the brushes and hanging rag things. The just do a better job at getting the bugs and junk off.

I have also heard that the high pressure touchless washes can force dirt into the paint. Of course that came from a guy that owns a car wash with brushes.

Nah, your not going to force dirt into the paint. High pressure water can be a concern around weatherstripping areas, areas that might already be slightly damaged (spidered paint, cracked windshield ect)... but even then we're talking about 1200+psi at contact point; not something you're going to typically find at your neighborhood self serve.

BTW, not to split hairs, but "brushes" are very different from "cloth" washes. Cloth can be defined by a neoprene or cotton looking material, but still be on a rotating shaft. These washes are typically termed "brushless", and are by far better for your paint than brushes. Brushes are those nylon or toothbrush material looking guys that also rotate. Avoid those if you can.

[iRock]

Hand wash my husband forbids me to take the car in a drive through car wash. In fact it was so nice last bight I washed him after work. I park in an unpaved lot and he needed tire shine very badly. And we have our own well with lots of minerals so drying with a microfiber towel is a must.

[boggart]

There's an option or two missing. The option between doing it by hand, and an automated wash. Most of the time, I wash by hand, but the last couple weeks its just been too dang hot. So I've taken it to the carwash, you know, the kind where you dump in $5 in quarters and hose it down yourself...

[Pentagon Magnum]

If I do an automated wash it's only when it's raining and there isn't an opportunity to wash (I suppose I could don the rain slicks and brave the rain, but I think the neighbors would REALLY think I was crazy then).

I've mentioned in another thread the damage those rag type/brush type washes do to the car. If you care for your Magnum, I would suggest not even going near those. The hanging rags catch the wipers and contain mud and rocks that scratch nicely. The nylon spinning brushes scratch horribly- I still cry when I look at my foggy looking tailight lenses with brush marks on them :mad:

So far I haven't seen any damage from the high pressure washes, although I try to use it as infrequently as possible. It does a better job than the rag/brush style unless you have a lot of dryed on bugs, or many weeks of brake dust.

Of course this is only my opinion, and you know what they say about opinions: Opinions are like a**holes and bellybuttons- everyone has one :grin:

[da BoMM]

There's an option or two missing. The option between doing it by hand, and an automated wash. Most of the time, I wash by hand, but the last couple weeks its just been too dang hot. So I've taken it to the carwash, you know, the kind where you dump in $5 in quarters and hose it down yourself...

Good catch -- you're absolutely correct -- I've done those before (they're all over Houston), and you're using paid water and soap to wash yourself --

I'd dump that in the PAID HAND wash category, even though I meant "hand wash by others."

[cadzilla74]

ONLY when no other option is available (case in point, recent trip to Chicago) will I pay and then ONLY brushless wash. Since being turned onto the Mr. Clean Pro System by others in these forums I have never looked back. Really does dry spo- free with no toweling. If any of y'all still have a Parade Sunday insert from a week or 2 ago there was an ad with a Magnum pic in it and a coupon for $8 off! A deal since I paid about $32 at WalMart for it. Wal-Mart stocks the replacement soap and filters. DON'T use any other soap or you'll clog the sucker. Don't over-soap, just spray a layer of it on and use the mitt (the soap refills ain't cheap and the "suds" setting ain't high-pressure anyway). Only complaint, the cap over the unit's "soap filler door" is just a plastic plug and it leaks. If you're an anal-retentive like I am, you put the thing back in the carry-case all nice and neat when you're done. However, in their infinite wisdom ( the only screw-up I can find with this unit), the Mr. Clean folks designed the case so it goes in "soap-filler side down" and the dang thing leaks! So if you have any expensive soap in the reservoir when you're done washing yer car it won't be there next time, it will be all over the inside of the case. My solution, put all items, unit, hose connects, spare filter, soap refill bottle and mitt in the case and then store it upside down. Problem solved.

[iRock]

Our water is so bad the Mr CLean system doesn't help. I wish it did.

[MAGNUM8R]

The Mr. Clean unit works well, I use it for rinsing only, as I do not like their soap. I use Meguires Gold Car Wash. I follow with California squegee, get the big stuff with a soft terry towel. then get out the Makita electric blower to hit all the crannies. Final dry with a microfiber cloth and a little Meguires Gel Wax detailer.
The blower also works great for getting all the water out of the lug nut holes on the wheels. I even open all the doors and hit the interior with the blower.
I sure get some strange looks from the nieghbors when using the blower!!

[cadzilla74]

Magnum8r, I'm living on borrowed time washing this thing twice a week while holler' at my better half to go mow the other side of the lawn 'cause she's raisin' dust as it is! If I went through your routine they'd never find my body or the Mag. She'd just tell the neighbors I was out drivin' the dang thing somewhere and nobody would ever look for me.

[iRock]

MAGNUM8R I need one of those blowers. They sound great.

[MAGNUM8R]

Got it on Ebay, a suggestion from another Forum Member a while back. Came with a really nice drill, (2) 14.4V battery packs, charger and a nice case. $60.00 brand new!!! BTW, works great for blowing dust off the car, I keep it in the back when I go to meets!!

[Magne300Csium]

There is a guy that comes by my office building that washes the cars (usually do the 300 and the Mountaineer at the same time) to my specifications. Since it gets done right outside my windows, I can see exactly what's going on.

My specifications include the inside of the wheel wells and full length of the rocker panels, as well as a thorough job on the inside glass. I am finding that the assembly chemicals on these cars seems to gas for a long time, fogging the inside of the glass.

However, in my area, I have found that the best detail jobs are done at the local shops, not on site. A thorough detail job, including removing all removable scratches is a $200 to $300 proposition.