Car wash kits?

[Maximus3311]

Hey everyone just wanted to put this out to your collective wisdom:

I know (in general) running the Bronco through a car wash isn’t ideal. I’m in Colorado and spending a lot of time now up in the mountains…so the bronco is getting pretty dirty.

What car wash kits/soaps/etc are you all using?

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[Sardine]

Basically all you need is:

Adam's Car Shampoo

microfiber washing mit

Two buckets from Lowe's to use the two bucket method if you really care about your paint.

Griot's 3 in 1 ceramic spray wax

Aerospace 303 for all your plastics and rubber (basically everything interior)

Any sort of All purpose cleaner for spraying down really dirty things.

Some microfiber towels from https://theragcompany.com/

For drying I use a leaf blower so I don't touch my paint. The less you touch your paint the less you scratch it.

 

[604Bronco]

 

[helifino16]

Follow these very specific directions from Ford:

You're gonna need a Box with a QR code, a bucket with bubbles and a glove that makes you hand look like a bike helmet.

 

[Shane78]

On the very rare occasion I clean it: Chemical guys everything. Pre wash, foam, waterless wash for touching up spots, and tire shine. I have used over a dozen of their products, and the only one I didn’t care for or found to be mediocre was the interior UV spray, too streaky. The rest are superb.

 

[omi205]

Unless you want micro scratches all over the paint, wash it yourself with two different buckets. No auto wash or do not use the brush at a self wash.

 

[Blksn955.o]

I picked up the Ligit street cars (youtuber) foam cannon and it is legit kick ass. I use chemical guys soap and a power washer.

Picked up a clay MIT and go over after a wash every now and then. Trying out next-gen iirc the name ceramic spay coating.

Let's me see all the paint scratches/pin stripes real good...lol

 

[Stu10]

Chemical Guys has some of the best youtube content around for washing your car. Everything from the two bucket method that has been mentioned above to wax and polishing. Dig around on their website and their videos will also list out what things you should buy. https://www.chemicalguys.com/blog/

I would definitely recommend a power washer and a foam canon if that is in the budget. Helps get a lot of the junk off before you start the two bucket method.

 

[jacknifetoaswan]

If I'm out in the mud and have heavy dirt, I use my foam cannon on the pressure washer with Chemical Guys Mr. Pink soap, using the two bucket method, and a microfiber mitt. If it's just general road grime and dust, I use Optimum No Rinse, again with a microfiber mitt. After I'm done, I dry the whole thing with my blower, then wipe down with a high pile microfiber cloth.

My Mustang is ceramic coated, lives under a cover, and only comes out on nice days, so a quick ONR is generally all I need for that. The Bronco sees weather, so it's more variable.

The wheels on both get Griot's 11026 wheel cleaner and the tires get Adam's Tire & Rubber Cleaner, applied using a Chemical Guy's wheel brush and a Chemical Guy's Alpaca wheel barrel brush.

JR

 

[JimmyG]

On the very rare occasion I clean it: Chemical guys everything. Pre wash, foam, waterless wash for touching up spots, and tire shine. I have used over a dozen of their products, and the only one I didn’t care for or found to be mediocre was the interior UV spray, too streaky. The rest are superb.

I agree, but I use the honeydew car wash

 

[NatureMan]

Mr pinks sucks, honeydew is fine. Adam's blue car wash is so much better for foam Canon.

I've had great luck with turtle wax seal n shine and turtle wax ice spray wax. It is cheap and lasts a long time.

I use obsessed garage drying aid as well. It is expensive and will probably try something cheaper when the gallon runs out.

 

[BlueBronco]

Basic routine:
Soap: Maguire's Gold
"Wax": Mothers Ultimate Hydrid Ceramic Detailer (I will use this on the entire exterior, vinyl wrap, fender flares, bumpers, glass, etc)
Interior: Armor All Air Freshening Protectant - Cool Mist (not very glossy and smells good)
Wheels: I don't recall what brand I use but it leaves the tires an even black and is not obnoxiously shiny
I also use a foam cannon, two buckets, wool mitt and micro towel.

Initial paint prep (wash / clay / paint correct)
"Clay": Mothers CMX Ceramic Spray Coating with artificial clay bar
Polish: Mothers CMX 3 in 1 Polish & Coat

 

[dadjoke]

Follow these very specific directions from Ford:

You're gonna need a Box with a QR code, a bucket with bubbles and a glove that makes you hand look like a bike helmet.

Ohh I thought they were just suggesting that we offer the bronco buckets of fuel and rub it down with big rocks to get that offroad juju going

 

[malt_liqueur]

Aerospace 303 for all your plastics and rubber (basically everything interior)

Is Aerospace that much better than VRP?

 

[cbrenthus]

I use a Ryobi battery powered pressure washer with foam cannon.

1. Spray wheels and tires with wheel / tire cleaner safe for all wheel surfaces
2. Spray Chemical Bros foam on Bronco
3. Rinse using pressure washer. My pressure washer is not very high power, which I like for this.
4. Spray with a hose nozzle with integrated detergent cup, using zip wax in the detergent cup
5. Fill 1 bucket with the zip wax mixed water, the other with plain water
6. Wash with a microfiber mitt, top down, cleanest to dirtiest areas.
7. Rinse with fresh water, then rinse the water off
9. Spray everything but wheels / tires liberally with Turtle Wax Ceramic (I used to use Ice)
10. Dry
11. Rain-X windows and polish with microfiber

For the interior, vacuum if needed and use plain water and a microfiber for everything else.

I also use my drying rag that is no wet and has some Cermic wax on it for the door jambs.




The final step is to post my method and products used on car forums and then have to defend why I use TW products instead of paying 10 times as much for the same stuff with different labels

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